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THE NEW Fire Minister, Jim Fitzpatrick MP, has emphasised the need for ‘a mature and productive relationship’ between the Government and fire and rescue authorities, to ensure that the modernisation agenda is achieved.
Speaking at the Local Government Association’s Fire Forum in late June 2005, he said that authorities had made good progress but that ‘some difficult challenges and decisions’ lie ahead. ‘No doubt we will have our ups and downs. But as long as we focus on the overriding goal of saving lives, those tensions will be constructive and not lead to any loss of momentum in moving forward,’ he added.
The minister recognised that ‘the pace and scope of change remains demanding’, particularly with fire authorities undergoing comprehensive performance assessments (CPAs). ‘Every authority has the responsibility to build on the findings [of their CPA] and to produce a robust improvement plan,’ he said. ‘We will provide you with support and I hope we can learn from the innovative ideas and good practice that will emerge.’
Mr Fitzpatrick also called for strong leadership and for ‘partnership at every level’ to ensure that the various strands of modernisation are implemented effectively.
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