Local government

Buckinghamshire firefighters slam hiring of “damaging and divisive” former chief fire officer in Northamptonshire

12 Jul, 2022 By Ben Duncan-Duggal

Buckinghamshire firefighters have criticised the decision to hire their former chief fire officer in the same role in Northamptonshire, calling out the damaging and divisive culture he created during his tenure at Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service. Mark Jones was Buckinghamshire Fire and...

Cumbria PCC refuses to respond to FBU letter on fire service takeover plans

11 Jul, 2022 By Ben Duncan-Duggal

Cumbria police and crime commissioner Peter McCall has refused to respond to a letter from the local Fire Brigades Union on his beleaguered and controversial attempt to take over the fire and rescue service. The union has now made a formal complaint to the Cumbria council monitoring officer. After...

FBU writes to demand Cumbria PCC drops fire takeover plan after consultation loss

25 May, 2022 By Ben Duncan-Duggal

The FBU has today written to Cumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Peter McCall to ask he drops his plan to become Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC) after the public rejected the proposal in a consultation. The letter asks “As the voice of the public and the staff have responded, the FBU...

East Sussex FRS BA wear credit Eddie Howland

Cumbria PCC loses own consultation on becoming PFCC

13 May, 2022 By Ben Duncan-Duggal

Cumbria PCC Peter McCall has lost his own consultation on becoming a PFCC (Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner), which he had backed. Out of the 363 public and stakeholder responses only 46% of respondents wanted to see a Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner in Cumbria, whereas 54% preferred the...

Firefighter beside a Grenfell Silent Walk

FBU “remains humbled” by suffering of Grenfell community as “aftermath” section of inquiry starts

12 Apr, 2022 By Ben Duncan-Duggal

The Fire Brigades Union has said that it “remains humbled” by the suffering of the bereaved, survivors and residents of the Grenfell community as Module 4 of Phase 2 of the inquiry starts. Module 4, which began yesterday, is dealing with the aftermath of the disaster in terms of how the bereaved...

Urgent action required – Opted out of 2015 scheme

25 Mar, 2022

Circular ref

2022HOC0159MR

Dear Brother / Sister Urgent Action Required – Opted Out of 2015 Scheme The email below has been received by the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) this morning (25 March 2022) at 08:50hrs from the Local...

Public urged to have their say on Cumbria PFCC plan as opposition grows

15 Mar, 2022 By Ben Duncan-Duggal

The Fire Brigades Union is urging firefighters and members of the public to have their say on a controversial plan put forward by the Cumbria Police and Crime Commissioner to take on management of the fire and rescue service and to become the Police Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC) for Cumbria...

18 firefighter jobs threat from Cumbria PFCC three fire station closures risk

24 Feb, 2022 By Ben Duncan-Duggal

Fire Brigades Union analysis has revealed that 18 firefighter positions could be under threat if Cumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Peter McCall decides to move ahead with a plan to become Cumbria Police Fire and Crime Commissioner, due to the three fire station closures that could result from...

Fire and Rescue Service Matters - Firefighters say "no" to PCC takeovers

20 Jun, 2021

In March, Home Secretary Priti Patel announced plans to consult on possible changes to fire governance. The Home Secretary proposed consulting this summer on “whether to mandate the transfer of fire and rescue functions to the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner model across England where boundaries...

Fire and Rescue Service Matters

Fire and rescue service matters: Austerity continues for the fire and rescue service

12 Feb, 2020

On 6 February 2020 the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) announced their final local government finance settlement for 2020-21. The settlement funding assessment determines the amount of central government funding that will be allocated to local fire authorities in the...