Election of National Treasurer

CIRCULAR 2011HOCO386MW
30^th August 2011   
TO: ALL MEMBERS

Dear Brother/Sister,

ELECTION OF NATIONAL TREASURER

I am pleased to inform you that at the closing date for receipt of nominations in the election for National Treasurer, Brother Warren Gee has been re-elected to office unopposed.

Best wishes.

Yours fraternally,

MATT WRACK
General Secretary
MW/PW/JW

AssetCo in the High Court today

AssetCo got a month stay of execution in the high court today.

MEDIA RELEASE

FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said: “Privatising emergency services is stupid and dangerous. The long, slow death of AssetCo is a perfect illustration of this. We still do not know what is going to happen to London and Lincolnshire’s fire engines. They are, we believe, going to be the property of AssetCo’s creditors when AssetCo finally goes under. I call on the London Fire Brigade and the government to bring the fleet and their maintenance back into public ownership.”

***ENDS***

For further details contact Francis Beckett  on 020 8349 9194 / 07813 001372

London’s Fire Brigade urged to “learn from its mistakes” and stop new privatisation

MEDIA RELEASEThe day before AssetCo – the troubled company which owns and maintains all London and Lincolnshire’s fire engines – faces likely winding up, the Fire Brigades Union spoke out against new plans for further privatisation of the fire service. It urged the London Fire Brigade to “learn from past mistakes.”

The London Fire Brigade is leading plans to privatise the control and mobilisation service, so that when you dial 999 you will be put through to employees of a private company instead of fire brigade employees. Under the contract, the successful bidder will take on the management of call handling software, IT maintenance and support, data management and business continuity services.
The Brigade also has plans to privatise the training of firefighters, and until recently AssetCo itself was the preferred bidder. “The contract may now be given to the Kingdom of Bahrain, despite that kingdom’s known human rights abuses”, said the FBU’s executive member for London Ian Leahair.

“Every time the London Fire Brigade privatises something, it all ends in tears” said Ian Leahair. “AssetCo is a nightmare for them which may yet end up with London’s fire engines all being owned by the company’s creditors. The Private Finance Initiative, on which they have placed such reliance, has been shown by the Treasure Select Committee to offer poor value for money for taxpayers.

“Why can’t they learn from their mistakes and let their loyal, professional staff get on with the job? It means resisting political pressure from Councillor Brian Coleman, who chairs the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, but the professionals in charge of the London Fire Brigade need to learn to stand up for themselves and the service they lead.

“It would send a clear signal that the London Fire Brigade was cleaning up its act if it were to announce tomorrow morning, on the day when AssetCo is likely to go under, that it will cancel all further privatisation. I urge the Brigade to do just that.”

***ENDS***

Media contacts:-

Gordon Fielden 07854998515
Paul Embery 07854998508

Record spending by Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service on consultancy fees and employment agency payments

MEDIA RELEASE

The Fire Brigades Union has uncovered that Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service in the first seven months of this year has spent over half a million pounds on consultancy costs and employment agency fees alone. This almost equals the entire amount spent on these services over a four year period, 2005-2009.

If BFRS continue at this rate it will result in a total yearly expenditure of nearly one million pounds.

At the same time as this massive increase in consultancy costs, senior managers are proposing a number of reviews incorporated within their recently published ‘Public Safety Plan’ that are specifically aimed at reducing front line costs. Should they be approved in September, it will likely result in the biggest cuts to front line services ever seen across Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes, cuts that will have a real and noticeable detrimental impact on the level of service currently provided to the public.

Senior managers have been visiting crews on fire stations to discuss these proposals and informed them that around 40 firefighter jobs will need to be cut in order to deliver front line services in a more “economical” way and meet the level of savings required by central government.

FBU Brigade Secretary James Wolfenden said; “I am truly shocked by these revelations, and absolutely certain that the public would not support this massive increase in consultancy costs at the same time as senior managers are proposing to make some of the biggest cuts to front line services in the history of the Brigade.

“If the Authority keeps paying this much public money to private consultancy firms and employment agencies they will hit a total yearly expenditure of just under a million pounds. This figure is equivalent to the wages of 35 firefighters.  This is an irresponsible fiscal policy and must be addressed. The Fire Authority has an obligation to provide the best service possible to the public they were elected to represent. To savagely cut front line jobs and service provision whilst this reckless spending on consultants continues is inexcusable. The Authority needs to be doing everything in its power to protect and safeguard the frontline fire and rescue service and ensure that the public suffers no detriment as a result of spending cuts.

“In a cost cutting measure Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Fire Authority have already approved the removal of a full time fire engine at Great Holm Fire Station, serving one of the fastest growing cities in Europe and a reduction in the number of firefighters that crew fire engines county-wide.

“Local people want their family kept safe from harm by fire fighters not consultants. I would urge members of the public and local politicians to strongly oppose any cuts to front line services. 

“These cuts will have an adverse impact on the service provided to members of those communities. Attendance times will be increased meaning that people will have to wait longer for a fire engine to arrive.  In an emergency time is critical, quick intervention can and does save lives.”

***ENDS***

Press contacts:

Milton Keynes & North Bucks:

James Wolfenden 07827 300143 and Matt Bliss 07930 546020

South Bucks:                               

Kieron Hall 07827 300144

Notes to editors:

A freedom of information request submitted to BFRS identified that in the four years between 2005 and 2009 a total of £638,413 was spent by the service on consultancy fees and employment agency costs during the four year period.  FOI Response attached separately.

Recent guidance issued by the Prime Minister and CLG now requires Local Authorities to disclose financial transactions over £500. Information regarding these transactions is located on the Buckinghamshire Fire&Rescue Service website,(http://www.bucksfire.gov.uk/BucksFire/What+we+spend+and+how+we+spend+it/Spend+over+£500.htm) identified that in the first 7 months of this year, from January to July, BFRS spent a total of £567,292  on consultancy fees (364,135) and employment agency fees (203,157). A figure that over a period of just seven months is nearly the equivalent of the total spent over a previous four year period.

Firefighters from Great Holm fire station in Milton Keynes will be distributing 10,000 leaflets to neighbouring communities over the coming couple of weeks as part of a campaign against the removal of a full time fire engine. 

On 2 May last year David Cameron, speaking on the Andrew Marr show, stated; “Any Cabinet minister, if we win the election, who comes to me and says ‘here are my plans and they involve front line reductions’ will be sent back to their departments to go away and think again.”

London Fire Brigade “stretched to breaking point” during riots

MEDIA RELEASE

The London Fire Brigade was stretched to breaking point during the recent riots, the Fire Brigades Union said today. 

The union statement contradicted a claim by the chair of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, Brian Coleman, that other Brigades were not needed. 

“The Brigade did not have enough fire engines, and other Brigades came in to deal with incidents in Enfield and other places. The control room was overwhelmed with the number of calls, and did not have enough staff to deal with them all” said FBU London Region executive member Ian Leahair.

“Mr Coleman wants to reduce London’s firefighters, fire engines and fire stations, so he has to pretend we had enough to cope with our busiest few days in recent history.  But we did not.  The London Fire Brigade was stretched to breaking point” said Mr Leahair.

***ENDS***

Media contacts

Ian Leahair                07854 998505 

Gordon Fielden        07854 998515

Bournemouth floods “show recklessness of fire service cuts”

MEDIA RELEASE

The floods in Bournemouth show the recklessness of government proposals to cut the fire service, the Fire Brigades Union said today.

“This emergency required 100 firefighters and 20 fire engines” said FBU general secretary Matt Wrack. “If the proposed cuts had taken place, we could not have mobilised enough firefighters or fire engines, and they would have taken longer to get there because of fire station closures.”

Mr Wrack also called for a clear duty to be placed on the fire service to plan for major flood incidents.  “This would show the case for proper planning, training and equipment, and for the additional resources the service needs to undertake this role” he said.

“Our members have once again done a magnificent job.  Bournemouth received a fortnight’s worth of rain in just half an hour. Our members rescued members of the public from a collapsing wall and from cars floating down streets.  There was a major gas leak.

“Every time there is flooding, firefighters have to go out and improvise so as to protect the public.  Each time, we repeat our call for national planning, so that next time it will not come as a surprise, and we will have enough firefighters and the proper equipment and planning.

“During the election, David Cameron promised our members they would have the people and the resources to do the job.  I call on him now to honour that promise.”

***ENDS***

Media contact

Francis Beckett  020 8349 9194 

Election of CSNC National Chair

CIRCULAR 2011HOCO373MW                                                                         
18^th August 2011
TO: ALL MEMBERS

Dear Brother/Sister,

I wish to advise you, in accordance with the Rules of the Union, that the Executive Council has decided to conduct an election for the position of CSNC National Chair.

The current holder of the post, Sister Kath Smith, is eligible for re-election.

Nomination forms will be dispatched by Head Office to All Brigade Committees in the near future.

Best wishes.

Yours fraternally,

MATT WRACK
General Secretary                                                                                                    
MW/PW/JW

Election of NWC National Chair

CIRCULAR 2011HOCO372MW                                                                          
18^th August 2011
TO: ALL MEMBERS

Dear Brother/Sister,

I wish to advise you, in accordance with the Rules of the Union, that the Executive Council has decided to conduct an election for the position of NWC National Chair.

The current holder of the post, Sister Dona Feltham, is eligible for re-election.

Nomination forms will be dispatched by Head Office to All Brigade Committees in the near future.

Best wishes.

Yours fraternally,

MATT WRACK
General Secretary                                                                                                    
MW/PW/JW

Election of B&EMM National Secretary

CIRCULAR 2011HOCO371MW                                                                          
18^th August 2011
TO: ALL MEMBERS

Dear Brother/Sister,

I wish to advise you, in accordance with the Rules of the Union, that the Executive Council has decided to conduct an election for the position of B&EMM National Secretary.

The current holder of the post, Sister Samantha Samuels, is eligible for re-election.

Nomination forms will be dispatched by Head Office to All Brigade Committees in the near future.

Best wishes.

Yours fraternally,

MATT WRACK
General Secretary                                                                                                    
MW/PW/JW

Fairer commutation campaign – Pension Ombudsman’s response to GAD questions

CIRCULAR 2011HOC0368SS                                                                                  
15^th August 2011
TO:         ALL OFFICIALS

Dear Brother/Sister,

Officials and members have received several updates on the Fairer Commutation Campaign and will be aware that the issue has been with the Pension Ombudsman for a substantial length of time.

Progress on this issue has been very slow, although the Legal Advisor and Investigator assigned to the case has been in regular contact with my office on behalf of the Pension Ombudsman.

As part of the ongoing process the Pension Ombudsman wrote to the FBU on 27^th July 2011 outlining his findings in relation to questions raised by the Government Actuary’s Department (GAD).

This correspondence deals with issues raised by GAD around three specific issues: 

1.  Time limits;

2.  The Administrator question;

3.  Maladministration.

The paperwork refers to one case only. This case was one of six test cases selected by the Pension Ombudsman with an agreement that any decision will apply to the other complaints.

Time Limits

GAD submits a position that the complaint was lodged too late and that it should be time barred. The Pension Ombudsman explains the reasoning for his decision on this issue and his conclusion accepts that the FBU submissions, made in a letter of 11^th May 2011, are not time barred.

The Administrator question

GAD submits an argument that any investigation, if not time barred, should be confined to alleged maladministration that occurred on or after 6^th April 2005 because prior to this date there was no mechanism under which this could have been made. The Pension Ombudsman explains that GAD had a statutory duty prior to this date and concludes that he may investigate not only after 6^th April 2005 but also before.

Maladministration

GAD submits an argument that there was no maladministration on or after 6^th April 2005. The Pension Ombudsman concludes that this member has made a complaint that is within jurisdiction and potentially has substance. He concludes that normal investigative procedures should be followed.

This correspondence from the Pension Ombudsman confirms that the full investigation will proceed.

Officials and members will receive any updates as they become available via Head Office circulars and the FBU website
Yours in Unity,

SEAN STARBUCK
National Officer           
SS/EMH

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