|
COMMUNITIES and Local Government has scrapped immediate plans to establish a national Centre of Excellence for the fire and rescue service in England.
The decision comes after a consultation exercise revealed that, while there was support in principle for a Centre of Excellence, fire authorities had underlying concerns over funding arrangements and the Centre’s remit. They are unwilling to commit to the establishment of the Centre until these concerns are resolved.
In light of the consultation, ministers have concluded that the Centre ‘cannot be justified at this time’. However, the Government has stressed that it has not completely ruled out the possibility of establishing a new body in the future.
CLG says it ‘will continue to build on the work undertaken on developing proposals for a Centre and explore how best to take forward issues identified in the consultation’.
A particular focus will be how to improve arrangements in the short term for securing the engagement and influence of stakeholders, and further developing options for the delivery of national functions in the longer term.
Responses to the Centre of Excellence consultation can be found at: www.communities.gov.uk/fire/publications/consultations
|