Agenda item

This Council notes the complete failure of the previous Government's policy of forced regionalisation of England's Fire Control centres, closing 46 local centres to be replaced by 9 super-centres. Nearly £500 million has been wasted without answering a single emergency call nor mobilising a single Fire engine.

This Council endorses the recent report of the Public Accounts Committee which found the project to be one of the worst failures it has seen and expressed astonishment that no-one has been held to account for this scandalous waste of money.

This Council further notes that in October 2005 the Liberal Democrat Group on Greater Manchester's Fire & Rescue Authority tabled a motion expressing that the Authority was “alarmed at the escalating costs of the Regional Control Centres and calls on the Government to halt the project for an independent enquiry into the public funding" and  "we believe that the location of the North West Control Centre should be determined by locally elected members and senior fire officers with local knowledge and experience, rather than by faceless civil servants in London”.

This Council believes that instead of claiming civil servants kept him in the dark, Lord Prescott and successive Labour Fire Ministers should take responsibility for the appalling mess they created.

This Council believes that the people of Stockport are entitled to have their Fire emergency calls answered by the most efficient and effective Control centre possible.

This Council therefore expects its Fire Authority members to continue to work with the Chief Fire Officer to deliver a modern, reformed Control centre for Greater Manchester's residents, and to ensure that all future options are examined carefully to make certain they provide value for money.

Moved by:                  Cllr Wendy Meikle

Seconded by:           Cllr Pam King

MOVED AND SECONDED

This Council notes the complete failure of the previous Government's policy of forced regionalisation of England's Fire Control centres, closing 46 local centres to be replaced by 9 super-centres. Nearly £500 million has been wasted without answering a single emergency call nor mobilising a single Fire engine.

This Council endorses the recent report of the Public Accounts Committee which found the project to be one of the worst failures it has seen and expressed astonishment that no-one has been held to account for this scandalous waste of money.

This Council further notes that in October 2005 the Liberal Democrat Group on Greater Manchester's Fire & Rescue Authority tabled a motion expressing that the Authority was "alarmed at the escalating costs of the Regional Control Centres and calls on the Government to halt the project for an independent enquiry into the public funding" and  "we believe that the location of the North West Control Centre should be determined by locally elected members and senior fire officers with local knowledge and experience, rather than by faceless civil servants in London”.

This Council believes that instead of claiming civil servants kept him in the dark, Lord Prescott and successive Labour Fire Ministers should take responsibility for the appalling mess they created.

This Council believes that the people of Stockport are entitled to have their Fire emergency calls answered by the most efficient and effective Control centre possible.

This Council therefore expects its Fire Authority members to continue to work with the Chief Fire Officer to deliver a modern, reformed Control centre for Greater Manchester's residents, and to ensure that all future options are examined carefully to make certain they provide value for money.

AMENDMENT MOVED AND SECONDED

Delete all text after “This Council notes” and replace with the following:

“the concerns within the recent report of the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee with regard to the development of Regional Fire Control Centres across the Country.

“This Council Meeting welcomes the fact that the previous Government has developed a state-of- the-art Regional Control Centre. This multi-million pound Centre presents a positive opportunity for Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service to develop a modern, efficient and effective Control Centre for the benefit of Greater Manchester and other parts of our region. The new purpose built facility offers a compelling case to provide significant savings and value for money to the taxpayers, and at the same time to provide first class improved service for our residents and the region as a whole.”

For the amendment 17, against 38.

AMENDMENT NOT CARRIED

It was then

RESOLVED – (39 for, 17 against) This Council notes the complete failure of the previous Government's policy of forced regionalisation of England's Fire Control centres, closing 46 local centres to be replaced by 9 super-centres. Nearly £500 million has been wasted without answering a single emergency call nor mobilising a single Fire engine.

This Council endorses the recent report of the Public Accounts Committee which found the project to be one of the worst failures it has seen and expressed astonishment that no-one has been held to account for this scandalous waste of money.

This Council further notes that in October 2005 the Liberal Democrat Group on Greater Manchester's Fire & Rescue Authority tabled a motion expressing that the Authority was "alarmed at the escalating costs of the Regional Control Centres and calls on the Government to halt the project for an independent enquiry into the public funding" and  "we believe that the location of the North West Control Centre should be determined by locally elected members and senior fire officers with local knowledge and experience, rather than by faceless civil servants in London”.

This Council believes that instead of claiming civil servants kept him in the dark, Lord Prescott and successive Labour Fire Ministers should take responsibility for the appalling mess they created.

This Council believes that the people of Stockport are entitled to have their Fire emergency calls answered by the most efficient and effective Control centre possible.

This Council therefore expects its Fire Authority members to continue to work with the Chief Fire Officer to deliver a modern, reformed Control centre for Greater Manchester's residents, and to ensure that all future options are examined carefully to make certain they provide value for money.