Warwickshire RFU your first choice for local news. ( Facts not Fiction )
22nd June 2008 Latest News
Full tIme Vacancies in WFRS ! But not for Warwickshire Retained Fire fighters!!
If you are interested in becoming a full time firefighter then go to http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/ Here you will find if you are an employee of a local Fire and Rescue Authority or from the military you can apply.
If you are an RDS firefighter who is employed by Warwicshire Fire and Rescue Service then you can not apply ?
How can this be so , questions must be asked as to the fairness of this decision and the logic behind it .
Promotion of opportunity for Warwickshire RDS ? .
RDS staff are already employed by Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service , have the skills and competencies required and could transfer internally at a fraction of the cost !!
With WFRS under pressure to make efficency savings its a no brainer really.
Comments or enquiries from any interested parties outside the fire service always welcome. http://www.anthony/.morgan@rfuonline.co.uk
17th June 2008 Latest News
Calling all WRFU Members
Does your primary employment involve driving "in scope" vehicles?
If so you are strongly advised to go to http://www.rfuonline.co.uk/ and fill out an on line survey ASAP.
Responding to more than one turn out a night or even at the wrong time could result in a driver contravening EU regulations 561/2006
The RFU needs this information in order to lobby the Dept for Transport for a derogation for our service, it is important that we fully understand the scale of the impact that this legislation is currently having on our members and the communities they serve.
13th June 2008 Latest News
Remember where you read it first !
Hereford and Worcester Joint Service Review Update .
A report from the Strategic Director of Community Protection and County Fire Officer will be submitted to the WCC Cabinet on June 19th 2008 to seek members approval to progress the joint service review with Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service.
Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Authority approached WFRA early this year, seeking to further develop the combination option and this report now addresses how that option could be taken forward
In addition the Member and Officer Review Group that was established in Oct 2007 is also to be reconvened to consider the options for service improvements and efficiences through closer arrangements.
This group review group will be charged with concluding the review , including any stakeholder consutations required to inform its final outcome, with the view to making recommendations to each Authority in September 2008.
Information can be found at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/web/corporate/pages
8th June 2008 facts not fiction !
Information from Audit Commission :
Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Authority Performance
Report April 2007.
2006 Direction Of Travel Score Improving Adequately
Overall Service Assessment Score 2006. 2
Performance Indicators Score 2006 2
Operational Assessment of Service Delivery 2
Financial Standing 3
Value For Money 2
Financial Reporting 3
Financial Management 4
Internal Control 3
Scoring where by : 4 is the highest - 1 is the lowest
Retained Duty System costs per 1000 persons in Warwickshire
20007/08 Estimate £3,048
Wholetime Duty System cost per 1000 persons in Warwickshire
2007/08 Estimate £14,134
Cost per head of population
Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service £39.60p
Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service £37.20p
Information obtained from the Audit Commission Web Site
2nd June 2008 Message from Chair of Warwickshire Retained Firefighters Union
My committment to representing our membership in Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service with information that is in the public domain will continue.
AJJ Morgan
Chair of Warwickshire Retained Fire fighters Union and
National Vice President
16h May 2008 latest update
Merger with Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service is back on the agenda !
A feasibility paper is being collated by WFRS to look into the possibility of merging or closer collaboritive working between Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service and Hererford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service.
Options to deliver a better service are : Status Quo, Expanded Collaboration, Full Combination
A full joint case will be developed and presented to elected members in the autumn should the Full Combination be the preferred option. In the mean time a summary report for WCC Cabinet in June is being prepared to request elected member approval for WFRS to consult on the 3 options.
Views or comments are always welcome !
28th April 2008 latest update
WRFU is seeking your help!!!
Presently WFRS has a strategic reserve of 3 fire appliances and its becoming an increasing occurence that WFRS is removing RDS appliances from RDS stations to fill the shortfall of applances at Whole time / Shift stations when three machines are defective due to mechanical failure.
As an example at Bedworth during 2007, the RDS appliance was removed to other stations for over 700hrs, this equates to just over one month !!
WFRU would like to know if this has happened at your station and what effect it is having on you, your colleagues and your local community ?
Contact WRFU at anthony.morgan@rfuonline.co.uk
21st April 2008 latest update
As the investigation to the Atherstone fire continues, WFRS has identified a significant increase in work load. William Brown is seeking a temporary increase in staff to address the short fall required.
Mr Brown is recommending
3 Officers to a critical Incident Investigation Team
2 officers to the Service Delivery Team
2 Officers to support the County Fire Officer and County Legal Team
1 Officer to provide direct staff support to the County Fire Officer
The costs are as follows ( 4 posts ACFO and 3 x AM = £50,000
Critical Incident Investigation Team (3 Officers) = £160,000
CFO Staff ( 1 Officer ) £40,000
Internal Legal Support Team ( 2 Officers)=£125,000
Service Delivery Support Officers ( 2 Officers ) = £120,000
Community Fire Safety =£50,000
Total £545,000
7th April 2008 (latest update)
Community Protection Budget 2008/09
WCC has approved a budget of £24.699 million for the Community Protection Directorate. This represents an increase of £624,000.
The fire and rescue budget for 2008/09 has been funded for inflation only with no efficency savings required. However, it is important to highlight that there may be additional funding requirements during 2008/ 09 as events following the Atherstone Fire continue to unfold.
The report from William Brown goes on to say that aditional requirement is for additional capacity within the service. A separate paper would be submitted on this subject.