Labour party councillor fire and rescue charter

Conference recognises the budget pressures on Fire Authorities across the UK caused largely by the lack of a long term investment strategy by central Government to underpin the demands of a modern Fire and Rescue Service.

However, it is a source of huge frustration and quite often anger amongst our Members that Labour-led Fire Authorities sometimes appear to be leading the way in cutting establishments, closing stations, and reducing the number of frontline appliances and firefighters whilst ignoring the evidence presented locally and nationally by the FBU when carrying out these savage cuts, cuts often undertaken without adequately holding Chief Fire Officers to account.

Conference calls on the Executive Council to work with the Parliamentary Labour Group to establish a Labour Party Councillor Fire and Rescue Charter, specifically for those in elected office who take up a place of governance on structures relating to the Fire and Rescue Service.

This charter could include, for example, a requirement to engage in good faith with elected Officials, a duty to apply robust scrutiny to any plans presented by the Fire and Rescue Service or management and oppose proposals that would increase the risk to firefighters or the public.

This charter would encourage a policy of the FBU supporting only those Labour Councillors who will oppose the cuts agenda and work with the FBU starting at Constituency Labour Party level and also to actively promote Labour Councillors to gain places on Fire Authorities to support local Officials opposing reductions in establishments and fire cover.