Following Friday’s High Court judgement against the Isle of Wight council, this in from the Fire Brigades Union (FBU). In their own words. Ed
The recent High Court Judgment against the IW Council, regarding adult social care policy (judged as unlawful), re-enforces the view of island firefighters that the IW Council has not fully consulted the public on a wide range of changes to public services.
As the judge highlighted in this case, ” “¦ leading to those consulted being unable to “give intelligent consideration and an intelligent response” and “Consultation document provided insufficient information”.
Lack of consultation for fire control move
With regard to the transfer of the IW Fire Control Centre to Reigate in Surrey, the FBU has consistently highlighted to the public and local politicians the lack of full consultation with the public, as well as insufficient assessment of risk.
Andrew Cooper, Acting Regional Fire Control Rep (Southern Region), said “The judgement against the IW Council, with regard to adult social care, exposes the ethos and demeanour of the Council, along with many of the local politicians, to such changes to public services, the level of consultation with the public and even the council complying with its own internal guidance.
“With the National Audit Office, in July 2011, finding that the failed FiReControl project (scrapped in December 2010, after 8 years and £630m): ‘Essential checks and balances in the early stages of the project were ineffective. It was approved on the basis of unrealistic estimates of costs and under-appreciation of the complexity of the IT involved and the project was hurriedly implemented and poorly managed.’ Amyas Morse, head of the National Audit Office 1 July 2011. Could history be repeating itself once more?”
Several months behind schedule
The project management of the transfer of the IW Fire Control to Surrey has been shown to be lacking, with the project now five to six months behind schedule, along with increased costs to the taxpayer.
Full costs to the taxpayer are unknown.
Plea to Chief Fire Officer
Ricky Matthews, Regional Secretary (Southern Region), said, “We urge the new Chief Fire Officer, Steve Apter and The IW Council to re-consider the ill-conceived, flawed, substandard project-managed transfer, and allow the public to be fully informed, consulted and listen to their views.
“It is important to ensure that any future High Court (or indeed Coroner’s court, in the unfortunate event should someone should die as a result of the transfer), should not find weaknesses, ineffective project management, lack of full risk assessment or lack of full and meaningful consultation with the public.
We feel sure the public would welcome such a move and opportunity for the local community to be consulted and informed, with such fundamental changes to a locally delivered, emergency public service. It is the right thing to do.”
