Motion 40
Funding the Fire Service - 10 Years of Public Sector Reform
“That this Congress notes the amalgamation of 8 Scottish Fire Brigades into a single Scottish Fire and Rescue Service in April 2013, hailed by many as an exemplar of public sector reform.
“Congress notes that the projected savings from amalgamation was estimated at £340 million, but further notes that these savings now exceed £900 million.
“Congress notes that despite the promises that savings would be reinvested back into the service, firefighter numbers have decreased by 1,250 over the last decade, with fire stations and appliances unavailable, stations across the country in varying states of disrepair, with a massive disparity of provision from station to station, and around £880 million needed to address this capital backlog.
“Congress further notes that the offer of further reform, of truly transformative partnership working through expanding the firefighter role, has been ignored and must now be seen as nothing more than another good idea that the country can’t afford.
“The public have shown through the summer’s consultation on proposed cuts to the fire service in their communities that they are opposed to reductions in their safety and the continued degradation of public service provision.
“Congress believes that the fire service led the way on public sector reform and along with the communities they serve, are paying the price now.
“Congress, calls on the General Council to lobby the Scottish Government to adopt the following:
- any reform must be worker led and demonstrate value to society, not shareholders and accountants;
- any savings made through reform must be reinvested back into the public sector;
- capital budgets need immediate uplifts to address the public sector’s crumbling estate; and
- a new model of scrutiny and accountability needs to be created and implemented, based on the tenets above.”
Mover: Fire Brigades Union (FBU)
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