Governance of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS)

Conference, May 2017 saw the dissolution of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority (GMFRA) and the legal responsibility for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) taken by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA).

This change came about as a result of the Greater Manchester devolution programme and the subsequent election of Andy Burnham as Greater Manchester Mayor.

This shift in governance and the necessary statute required the TUPE transfer of all GMFRA employees into the GMCA. As a result of our Union’s efforts, there has been no change to any Grey Book employees’ terms and conditions through this transfer and we remain fully aligned to the NJC.

The concern of the FBU in Greater Manchester relates to the governance of our service since this transfer. On the abolition of the Fire Authority, the new statute gave the Mayor the ability to establish a fire committee made up of cross-party councillors. We understand that this committee was formed and convened on a small number of occasions before a decision was taken to disband it, presumably by the Mayor’s Office.

Some 18 months after our take-over by the GMCA there is no evidence of a democratic, accountable committee through whom the governance of GMFRS can be observed, advised or challenged by the FBU.

Additionally, we believe that the Mayor has devolved his responsibility for the running of GMFRS to the Deputy Mayor and PCC Bev Hughes, again we do not believe there is any facility for devolving this responsibility available within the statute laid down.

Clearly, our concerns around the democracy and accountability within the governance of GMFRS are matters that the FBU must press. It is fundamental to the future of our service in Greater Manchester that any decisions taken which impact on our Members and shape the future of our service are scrutinised, transparent and open to challenge.

Conference demands that work commences immediately to challenge through any necessary channels this perceived breakdown of democracy in the governance of GMFRS, with an aim to re-establish the fire committee and to ensure that no such undemocratic practices are permitted within any other Brigades where devolution has been adopted.