Fire Brigades Union Scotland
3/8/2010
The FBU notes and shares the concerns
of the Chief Fire Officers over the future of the fire
and rescue service funding, however we do not agree
that budget cuts should ” undoubtedly lead to
the closure of fire stations and scaling down of operational
resource including fire appliances.” Instead we
believe these resources should be the very focus of
the overhaul and that the organisation should be shaped
in such a way as to deliver the provision that currently
been set as the minimum required. Scottish Fire and
rescue services have - for a number of years now –
produces risk based fire cover plans. Unless the risk
in a community has substantially changed the need for
resources has not. Only once all ancillary, non-core
functions and duplication have been removed should consideration
be given to reducing the service we deliver to people
of Scotland.
The FBU believes that the fire and rescue
service in Scotland can continue to deliver a world
class resource to all parts of our country but in order
to do so in the coming years the focus of spending must
be clearly and absolutely on providing as much of the
service that people expect as possible. The FBU is absolutely
focused. We are not afraid of change, we will discuss,
negotiate and we will work in partnership. We must look
at our structures, governance and how we operate but
we cannot accept front-line cuts in the delivery of
a vital emergency service.
John Duffy
Scottish Secretary
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