Press release:

2007/03/28: A press release from Paul Fletcher, Brigade Secretary, Isle of Wight Branch of the FBU has been issued.

 

Press Release 28/03/2007

For immediate release

 

Kind words have been said about the work carried out by the Fire Brigades Union following the recent victory for retaining control of our fire service.

I will not deny a lot of work has been carried out by officials of the FBU and UNISON, but it does not stop at last week’s decision. We will continue to be involved in the discussions regarding further implementation of the modernisation agenda that is going to continue to affect and improve the Islands Fire Service.

However, on behalf of all our members I would like to take this opportunity to thank the residents and businesses on the Island for their outstanding support throughout the campaign we ran.

If it was not for their efforts in the early stages of the public consultation phase, attending meetings, writing in to the Chief Executive, contacting Parish Councils, insisting that the option to retain control of our fire service be reintroduced into the debate, we may not be in the position we are today.

It has allowed the Islanders, the Isle of Wight Council, Island Brigade Management and Fire and Rescue staff through their representative bodies to have a say how the service is to continue to improve, providing a first class resilient service the residents deserve.

The vote by the full council reflected the overwhelming views of the electorate and enabled the right decision to be made.

Thank you once again.

Paul Fletcher, Brigade Secretary, Isle of Wight Branch of the FBU

Ends

 

Notes to Editors:

The Fire Service Merger - THINK again! campaign was a joint campaign between the local branches of the Fire Brigades Union and UNISON. The proposed merger of the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service was one of three options currently out to consultation to the public. Subsequently at a Full Council meeting of the Isle of Wight Council, a vote was taken on 21 March 2007, where the vote by councillors was unanimous (38-0) in favour of the status-quo option.

More details can be found at www.fireservicemerger.com.

Contact:

Paul Fletcher, Brigade Secretary, Isle of Wight Branch, FBU.

Telephone: 07917 065 859

Isle of Wight FBU, Newport Fire Station, South Street, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 1JQ

28/03/2007 (2007/03/28): Download press release issued by Paul Fletcher, Brigade Secretary, Isle of Wight Branch of the FBU as a PDF .

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Full Council Meeting: 38-0 in favour of status quo option

2007/03/21: At the Full Council meeting of the Isle of Wight Council held on 21 March 2007, councillors voted 38-0 in favour of the status quo option.

FBU Fire Options Appraisal Report for the Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service

2007/02/22: In response to the previously published Options Appraisal Report (more details on the Options Appraisal Report here), the Fire Brigades Union has published a report into the options appraisal for the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service. The report is made available as a hard copy report or downloadable document

The report includes an Institute of Public Finance report commissioned by the FBU into the proposals (the IPF report is in the appendix).

A hardcopy of the FBU Options Appraisal report has been supplied to:

All Isle of Wight County Councillors

All Isle of Wight Parish Councils

All Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service Staff (Firefighters and Support Staff)

All Regions of the Fire Brigades Union, including all national officials of the union.

Local UNISON Officials

All local media: Island Pulse, Isle of Wight County Press, Solent TV and Isle of Wight Radio.

You can download the report in the section below or request a hard copy of the report by writing to:

FBU Fire Options Appraisal Report
FBU - Isle of Wight Branch
c/o Fire Station
South Street
NEWPORT
Isle of Wight
PO30 1JQ

Please ensure you provide your name and address, including postcode. Thank you.

Downloadable FBU Fire Options Appraisal Report for the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service

The FBU Fire Options Appraisal Report for the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service is available as a downloadable document (PDF) here (635KB).

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Public Consultation has ended but what happens now?

2007/02/11: With last Public Consultation Meeting was held on 15 january 2007 there followed several focus group meetings of a representative group of Island people; the process now goes into the final stages prior to the full council meeting on 21 March 2007.

The following procedure now takes place:

Opinion Research Services Ltd will report on the results of the consultation process by 23 February 2007.

A draft Council Paper will be put together by the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service from colleagues in Legal, Financial and Risk, Isle of Wight Council.

The draft paper and the report from Opinion Research Services will be considered by the Director's Team and Aim High meeting on 27 February 2007.

The papers that will be put before the full council, on 21 March 2007, will be available to the public on 13 March 2007.

The full Council meeting will take place at 6pm in the Council Chamber at the County Hall, High Street, Newport, Isle of Wight.

 

Fire Service Merger - THINK again! Computer destop Images available for download

2007/02/11: We now have Fire Service Merger - THINK again! destop images available for download here.

 

The last public consultation meeting: Monday 15 January 2007 in Brading

2007/02/11: The last public consultation meeting was held on Monday 15 January 2007; with the majority of those attending voting for the status quo option.

 

Incorrect website address on consultation questionaire

2007/01/15: As reported by Isle of Wight Radio (www.iwradio.co.uk) on Friday 12 January 2007 (2007/01/12) the questionaire issued by Opinion Research Services Ltd shows an incorrect website address for individuals to complete the questionaire online.

The questionaire states 'ors.co.uk/iow' when in fact it should be 'ors.org.uk/iow'.

Subsequently it has also come to light that question 6 on the second page does not have boxes for completion of the answers to that question.

It is estimated that 45,000 to 50,000 hard copies of the questionaire were printed for inclusion in the Isle of Wight County Press of 12 January 2007. The downloadable questionaire also states the incorrect website address.

Isle of Wight Radio reported on Monday 15 January (2007/01/15) that Opinion Research Services Ltd would not be reprinting the questionaire to correct the errors and anomalies.

 

Update on recent Public Meetings

2007/01/12: Public consultation meetings have shown a resounding feeling against any merger and support for the 'Status Quo' option.

The last public meeting is being held on Monday 15 January at Brading Town Hall from 7pm.

Sandown - Wednesday 10 January 2007

The meeting for Freshwater took place on Wednesday 10 January 2007 at Weset Wight Sports Centre.

The vote was 100% for the 'Status Quo' option.

No one at the meeting was in favour of the 'Full Merger' or 'Greater Collaboration': further details on these options is available here.

Freshwater - Tuesday 9 January 2007

The meeting for Freshwater took place on Tuesday 9 January 2007 at Weset Wight Sports Centre.

The vote was 100% for the 'Status Quo' option.

No one at the meeting was in favour of the 'Full Merger' or 'Greater Collaboration': further details on these options is available here.

Shanklin - Monday 8 January 2007

The meeting for Shanklin took place on Monday 8 January 2007 at Gatten and Lake Primary School.

The vote was 100% for the 'Status Quo' option.

No one at the meeting was in favour of the 'Full Merger' or 'Greater Collaboration': further details on these options is available here.

Ryde - Thursday 14 December 2006

The meeting for Ryde took place on Thursday 14 December 2006 at Ryde Fire Station.

The vote was 100% for the 'Status Quo' option.

No one at the meeting was in favour of the 'Full Merger' or 'Greater Collaboration': further details on these options is available here.

Bembridge - Wednesday 13 December 2006

The meeting for Bembridge took place on Wednesday 13 December 2006 at Bembridge Village Hall.

The vote was 100% for the 'Status Quo' option.

No one at the meeting was in favour of the 'Full Merger' or 'Greater Collaboration': further details on these options is available here.

East Cowes - Monday 11 December 2006

The meeting for East Cowes took place on Monday 11 December 2006 at East Cowes Town Hall.

The vote was majoritory for the 'Status Quo' option, with four individuals abstaining and requesting further information.

No one at the meeting was in favour of the 'Full Merger' or 'Greater Collaboration': further details on these options is available here.

Complete the Options Appraisal Consultation Questionaire

2007/01/12: An Options Appraisal Consultation questionaire has been made available for the Island residents to complete, which may be downloaded, completed online or via a hardcopy (which was made available in the Isle of Wight County Press on 12 January 2006.

Download the Questionaire

You can download the Options Appraisal Consultation questionaire here as a PDF.

You will need Adobe Reader to download and view this letter. Adobe Reader is usually installed on most computers, but if not on your computer it is available as a free download from Adobe

Click here to download Adobe Reader.

Complete the Questionaire Online

You can complete the Options Appraisal Consultation questionaire online here.

Complete the Questionaire in hard-copy format

The questionaire is available as a hardcopy from:

Opinion Research Services,
The Strand,
SWANSEA
SA1 1AF

Phone : 01792 535300

Fax : 01792 535301

email : info@ors.org.uk

Large print and braille versions of the Options Appraisal Document and Options Appraisal Consultation Questionaire

A large print version is available from ORS by contacting them on the above details.

Enquiries concerning a braille version of the report and the questionaire should also be directed to ORS at the above address or telephone number.

Fourth Isle of Wight public meeting, held in Cowes: 100% against merger, 100% for the status quo

2006/12/07: The vote at the fourth public meeting to discuss the fire service options produced a vote unanimously against the merger ('combination' - option 1), against greater collaboration (option 2) and 100% were for the status quo (option 3) at a public meeting meeting held at Northwood House, Cowes.

The public meetings next week are:

Monday 11 December 2006:

EAST COWES - East Cowes Town Hall, starting at 7pm.

Wednesday 13 December 2006:

BEMBRIDGE - Bembridge Village Hall, starting at 7pm.

Thursday 14 December 2006:

RYDE - Ryde Fire Station, Nicholson Road, starting at 7pm.

Details of all public consultation meetings are here.

Third Isle of Wight public meeting, held in Newport: 100% against merger, 100% for the status quo

2006/12/06: In a repeat of events at the meetings in the previous week, the public again voted unanimously against the merger ('combination' - option 1), against greater collaboration (option 2) and 100% were for the status quo (option 3) at a public meeting meeting held at the Quay Arts Centre, Newport.

The next public meeting is due to take place on Thursday 7 December 2006, Northwood House (Medina Room), starting at 7pm.

Fire Service deaths in East Sussex

2006/12/05: All the members of the Isle of Wight branch of the Fire Brigades Union wish to express their sympathy to the families, friends and colleagues of the two members of East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service who died at the incident at the fireworks factory on the 3 December.

Further details of a fundraising event for the memorial fund for Brian Wembridge and Geoff Wicker, currently being planned, to be held by Isle of Wight firefighers, control staff and support staff, will be made available soon.

Additional public meeting added for Brading residents: Monday 15 January 2007

An additional public meeting has been added to those originally scheduled for residents of Brading, or indeed any Island resident who wishes to attend.

The meeting is to be held on Monday 15 January 2007 at Brading Town Hall, from 7pm.

Second Isle of Wight public meeting, held at Yarmouth: 100% against merger, 100% for the status quo

2006/12/03: In a repeat of events at a meeting the previous evening, the public again voted unanimously against the merger ('combination' - option 1), against greater collaboration (option 2) and 100% were for the status quo (option 3) at a public meeting held in Yarmouth C of E Primary School.

The next public meeting is due to take place on Wednesday 6 December 2006 at the Quay Arts Centre Theatre, starting at 7pm., With another meeting the following day, Thursday 7 December 2006, Northwood House (Medina Room), again starting at 7pm.

First Isle of Wight public meeting at Ventnor: 100% against merger, 100% for the status quo

2006/12/01: The first of a series of public meetings was held on the Island in Ventnor, on Wednesday 29 November, and 100% of those attending were against the merger ('combination' - option 1), against greater collaboration (option 2) and 100% were for the status quo (option 3).

Financial figures provided at the meeting were shown to be inaccurate.

'I'm only the messenger'

The 'messenger' (a consultant) was unable to answer questions raised about the differences in the budget figures shown during his presentation compared with those readily available on the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service website (see below for more details).

He was also unaware of key budget figures regarding the Regionalisation of Emergency Fire Controls (for his information the budget is currently £1 billion and increasing - a fire minister has even suggested it could reach £2 billion). The budget of £1bn has increased substantially from the original figure of £754m.

The messenger was also unaware that consultant charges for the regionalisation of emergency fire controls, which currently stands at £35m (to June 2006) - a scandalous figure. Of course the public are paying for this project, whilst the all of the councils involved have not been provided with detailed figures for the charges that will be levied against them for the running of the the regional control and will have to be passed on in council tax charges. The regional control is due to open in November 2006 for the South East region; the project is currently two years behind schedule. .

We look forward to the messenger having more accurate and up-to-date information at future public meetings. We also would like the councillors to be fully aware of the anomalies in the presentation.

Gross expenditure for Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service increases by £6.057m in one year

2006/12/01: Figures from Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service show that gross expenditure for 2006/07 increased by £6.057m compared to the previous year.

As the figures from the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service show, the gross expenditure for 2006/07 was £71.7m.

The figures suggest that expenditure for 2006/07 has increased by £6,057m; to put this increase into perspective, it represents nearly the total budget for the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service.

These figures are drastically different to those being presented to the public at public meetings and those in the 'Fire Options Appraisal' document (more details on the options appraisal document here).

These figures should be viewed against savings of the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service of £630,000 over the past two years.

 

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service Budgets:

Budget for 2005/06: £60.265m

adjustment for changes in pensions -£2.387m

Equivalent budget for last year 2005/06 £57.878m

 

This year 2006/07:

Preventing incidents: £2.857m

Protecting life and property: £ 4.707m

Responding to emergencies: £61.906m

Management and support: £2.295m

Gross expenditure: £71.765m

Budget for 2006/07*: £59.560

*After deducting income, accounting adjustments and transfers from reserves.

Note: For the purposes of comparison, gross expendituve for 2005/06 was £65.708m

Source: Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service website

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service staff say a unanimous 'No' to talks of a merger

2006/11/28: The Isle of Wight Branch of the FBU has learnt that at a recent meeting of Watch Manager rank and above staff of Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, the unanimous voice from all, when the suggestion of a merger with the Isle of Wight was raised, was 'No' via a show of hands at the meeting.

Status-quo option added as a third option

2006/11/20: The Isle of Wight Council have added a third option (from the original two) to allow for the status quo, following severe criticism from staff, the public and stakeholder groups.

This was despite this option being dismissed in the original report by the consultant.

Fire deaths higher in Hampshire

You are two and a half times more likely to die in a fire as a resident in Hampshire compared to the Isle of Wight.

Figures reveal there have been twenty-nine fire deaths in Hampshire in the past five years compared with one in the Isle of Wight.

Taking into account population differences, this shows a two and a half times greater risk of dying in a fire in Hampshire compared with the Isle of Wight.

What about the current ongoing merger of Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Services?

Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service are currently undertaking a voluntary merger plan, which is now costing ten times the initial projected cost.

Isle of Wight Fire Service makes savings of £600,000 in 2 years

It has been revealed that the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service has made savings of £600,000 over the past two years. This represents a saving of 5% of the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service budget; if taking into account inflation (at 2.5%) it represents an overal saving of 7.5% per annum, year on year.

However, this saving has not been passed onto local council tax payers by the Isle of Wight Council.