FBU Raise Concerns About Secretive Fire Authority Meeting
September 22, 2011 by webmaster
Filed under Local Press Releases
MEDIA RELEASE
22 September 2011
The Fire Brigades Union in Berkshire has expressed concerns about the increased range of Royal Berkshire Fire Authority business that is being conducted behind closed doors.
At a meeting of the Fire Authority Management Committee on the 19th September the FBU questioned why several issues of public interest were subject to the exclusion of the public.
Among the issues dealt with in Part 2 of the meeting, which excludes the public, were:
- Agenda item 18 – Resilience – verbal update from the Chief Officer
- Agenda item 19 – The sale of Cookham fire station
- Agenda item 21 – RBFRS Restructure
- Agenda item 22 – Windsor crewing options – a”Local Fire Engine”.
Berkshire FBU chair, Maurice Whyte, said ‘We appear to be entering a regime of secrecy, which greatly concerns the FBU – the fire service is a public service and should be held publicly accountable. Any restructure of the Brigade will inevitably alter the way it functions and the public have a right to know how this will affect them. ’
He added ‘The people of Cookham deserve to know what is happening with the sale of their fire station and what impact this will have on their community. The people of Windsor deserve to know the nature of their fire service provision. In particular, Royal Berkshire Fire Authority should inform them of its ongoing discussions with councilors in the Royal Borough. Windsor already has a local fire engine and the FBU feels that the public should be consulted if this is going change in any way’.
***ENDS***
Media contacts:
Maurice Whyte – Brigade Chair – 07917 065867
Mark Stollery – Brigade Secretary - 07917 065868
Paul Watts – Brigade Organiser – 07917 065869
Link to full Agenda of the meeting: http://library.rbfrs.co.uk/public_agendas/ai0lab00.doc
