Minutes:
Jim Maloney – Area Manager, Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service gave a presentation that sought to outline the challenges faced by the Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service and the proposals for a merger with the Dorset Fire & Rescue Service.
Points made included:
Wiltshire and Dorset financial forecasts
· Wiltshire needs yearly savings of between £3.1million and £3.9million from a £25million budget. This is equivalent to 83 to 103 full-time firefighters. (Wiltshire currently has 144).
· Dorset needs further savings each year of between £2.3million and £3.2million from a £30million budget. This is equivalent to 61 to 84 full-time firefighters (Dorset currently has 210).
Financial Headlines
• Financial pressures are growing and outlook for public sector finance remains gloomy.
• At least £3.1m-£3.9m (Wiltshire & Swindon) and £2.3m-£3.2m (Dorset) annual savings to find within immediate future.
• Able to broadly balance the books so far but now very different and difficult choices ahead.
• Prudently built up reserves to support transformational change.
• Need key decisions in 2014 to allow a lead in time for transition issues and Combination Order.
Recommendations at December 2013
· Subject to a due diligence and a full business case in September 2014, that both Authorities work towards the goal of a combined Authority in April 2016 whilst maintaining local identity.
· A joint Political Oversight Board is established and councillor nominations be agreed through the Chairmen and Clerks to the Authorities.
· Programme arrangements should be formalised to develop and deliver converged functions under single management teams.
· A joint bid be developed and submitted to DCLG to try to secure resources from both the government’s £30m Efficiency Resource Fund and £45m Fire Efficiency Incentive Fund. The bid to be approved by respective Chairmen, CFOs and Treasurers.
The key benefits
· Work at a local level with the police and ambulance and other partners by being a more effective Service with greater resources to offer.
· Have more of an influence as we will be the fourth largest combined fire authority in England by station, and the sixth largest by budget.
· Deal with an ageing workforce by recruiting more new firefighters.
· Have a wider view and ability when it comes to managing our risks.
Consultation Scenarios
1. Wiltshire Fire Authority to stay independent and increase collaboration with Wiltshire Council, and Swindon Borough Council
Should the fire authority and its fire and rescue service stay separate and independent as it is now, and increase collaboration with Wiltshire Council, Swindon Borough Council and other partners?
2. Wiltshire Fire Authority to stay independent and increase collaboration with Dorset Fire Authority while also collaborating with Wiltshire Council and Swindon Borough Council
Should the two fire authorities stay separate and independent, with the fire and rescue services collaborating more closely with each other and increase collaboration with Wiltshire Council, Swindon Borough Council and other partners?
3. Wiltshire Fire Authority to merge with Dorset Fire Authority to create a single Combined Fire Authority while also collaborating with Wiltshire Council, Swindon Borough Council, Bournemouth Borough Council, Dorset County Council, and the Borough of Poole
Should the two fire authorities merge to create a single fire authority and fire and rescue service and increase collaboration with Wiltshire Council, Swindon Borough Council , Bournemouth Borough Council, Dorset County Council, the Borough of Poole, and other partners?
Note that all options involve working more closely with all our Local Constituent Councils, our respective Police Forces and South West Ambulance Trust.
Consultation includes:
· At recent meetings it was agreed to extend and move the consultation to run from 21 July to 20 October (13 weeks). Extraordinary single item Authority meetings in November.
· Public leaflet and questionnaire: Independently coordinated and distributed to 12,000 households.
· Residents forums: Independently coordinated and managed with 8 in Wiltshire and Swindon and 8 in Dorset.
· Business and voluntary sector forums; Independently coordinated and managed with 2 in Wiltshire and Swindon and 2 in Dorset.
· Presentations to constituent councils and Area Boards.
· Information and presentations to staff and key stakeholders.
· Consultation portal, press releases, social media, posters etc.
· Independent analysis, report and feedback by ORS.
· Accreditation by Consultation Institute using the Compliance Assessment Scheme.
· Met with Minister and DCLG Officials on 16 June to discuss business case and council tax equalisation. Further meeting requested with new Fire Minister.
· Met with Chief Fire and Rescue Advisor on 19 June to discuss business case and compliance register.
· Currently scheduling further MPs briefing for October.
· Both Authorities have separate meetings in November to decide.
· That the Bradford on Avon Fire Station was ideally placed to service the Bradford on Avon community.
· That Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service was not looking to close fire stations in order to make cost savings.
The Chairman thanked Jim Maloney for his presentation and for attending the Area Board meeting.