West Midlands is best region for fire authorities
The West Midlands has been officially recognised as England’s best performing region of fire and rescue authorities for 2005 / 06.
All of the five fire and rescue authorities that make up the West Midlands Regional Management Board (WMRMB) - Staffordshire, Shropshire, West Midlands, Warwickshire and Hereford & Worcester - achieved Good ratings under the Government’s Comprehensive Performance Assessment process.
Councillor David Hinton, Chairman of the WMRMB, said: “Achieving a 100 per cent Good rating at regional level is a tribute to successful collaboration on a wide range of projects and to a dedicated workforce.
“This is a great achievement for the fire and rescue authorities in the West Midlands region and we are justly proud of it.
“As WMRMB now enters its third year, it does so having firmly established its foundations on which to build a safer environment for the collective communities of the West Midlands region.
“Our foundations are built on tried and tested approaches to collaborative working based on our successes and a willingness to recognise and learn from things that could be done better.
“We continue to offer support and guidance to other regions in our collective pursuit of delivering a modernised fire and rescue service to the nation.”
The success of the WMRMB is highlighted in its annual report for 2005 / 06, which can be found on the http://www.wmrmb.co.uk website.
WMRMB was formed in April 2004 with the aim of delivering the Government’s plans for modernising the fire service and ensuring effective co-operation between the region’s fire and rescue authorities.
It is required to address six main topics, as set out in a National Framework:
Integration of common specialist services (eg fire investigation)
Development and implementation of effective resilience plans for large scale emergencies
Introduction of regional personnel and human resources functions
Development of regional approach to training
Establishment of a regional control centre
Introduction of regional procurement within the context of a national procurement strategy.
The annual report for 2005 / 06 outlines its achievements in these areas. These include successfully developing and implementing strategic policies for risk management planning, fire investigation and health and safety, and developing and implementing a regional policy to support the introduction of new fire safety legislation on October 1.
The WMRMB has overseen the implementation of additional resources for decontamination and urban search and rescue, four high volume pumping units and 96 thermal imaging cameras, as well as introducing a specialist hazardous material identification team.
The annual report states that the WMRMB has developed and implemented regional policy documents regarding development of staff, firefighters, supervisory managers and workplace assessment.
It has also established a full-time regional Fire Control Project Team to co-ordinate the region’s preparations for the transition to a Regional Control Centre.