Commissioner – presenting the draft fifth London Safety Plan and outlining arrangements for public and staff consultation.

Report (11.01.13) and supplementary report (18.01.13) by the Commissioner for Fire and Emergency Planning.

The Commissioner introduced the report and answered questions from Members on points of detail.

In accordance with Standing Order 15, Mr Gordon Fielden, on behalf of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), addressed the Authority.

Members placed on record their appreciation of the hard work that the Commissioner and his senior staff had put into the draft Fifth London Safety Plan.

The motion was made by the Chairman – That:-

(1)          The Authority authorises public consultation upon the Commissioner’s draft Fifth London Safety Plan; and

(2)          Members take into account the advice in the report (FEP 2021A) when considering their response to the proposals in (FEP 2021). 

The motion was seconded by Mr Cartwright.

After debate, an amendment was moved by Councillor Shah – namely: That part (1) of the motion be deleted and the following be substituted in its place, with part (2) of the motion being re-numbered accordingly -

(1)          The Authority instructs the Commissioner to delete from the draft Fifth London Safety Plan, supporting documents and consultation all references to station closures, appliance reductions and loss of operational posts and make consequential changes that are necessary;

(2)          The Authority authorises public consultation upon the Commissioner's draft Fifth London Safety Plan after the amendments noted in (1) above, have taken place;

(3)          The introduction and foreword and the short formal public consultation document, noted on page 52, paragraph 113 of the report (FEP 2021), shall be agreed at an Appointments and Urgency Committee;

(4)          The consultation shall also include public meetings in each Borough of at least 2 hours duration to which Members of the Authority shall be invited to contribute as part of the platform party; and

(5)          In particular, the Authority does not agree to consultation upon closures of fire stations, or loss of appliances or firefighters as the Authority does not agree to any fire station closures, loss of appliances and firefighters.

The amendment was seconded by Dr Twycross.

The Commissioner confirmed that, should the amendment put to the meeting by Councillor Shah be successful, the draft Plan would need to be significantly revised and the proposals for public consultation would need to be reviewed.  Therefore, the Commissioner advised the Authority that, in the event that Councillor Shah’s amendment was carried, a redrafted version of the Plan together with a revised consultation plan would be presented to the March 2013 Authority meeting.

After debate, in accordance with Standing Order 12(a), the Chairman called for a roll-call vote on the amendment, at which there were –

For the motion (9)

Councillor Colin Aherne                               Councillor Liaquat Ali MBE, JP

Mr Andrew Dismore AM                            Councillor Darren Johnson AM

Councillor Stephen Knight AM                Councillor Crada Onuegbu

Councillor Navin Shah AM                          Councillor Terry Stacy MBE, JP

                                                                                Dr Fiona Twycross AM

Against the motion (8)

                                Councillor Tony Arbour AM                      Councillor Gareth Bacon AM

                                Mr David Cartwright QFSM                      Mr James Cleverly AM                                                 Councillor Mike Fisher                                   (Chairman)

                                Councillor Maurice Heaster OBE            Councillor Susan Hall

                                                                                                                Councillor Colin Tandy

The amendment was declared to be carried.

The motion, as amended, was then put to the vote and, on a show of hands, there were 9 (nine) votes for and 8 (eight) votes against.  The motion, as amended, was declared to be carried.

Resolved – That:-

(1)          The Authority instructs the Commissioner to delete from the draft Fifth London Safety Plan, supporting documents and consultation all references to station closures, appliance reductions and loss of operational posts and make consequential changes that are necessary;

(2)          The Authority authorises public consultation upon the Commissioner's draft Fifth London Safety Plan after the amendments noted in (1) above, have taken place;

(3)          The introduction and foreword and the short formal public consultation document, noted on page 52, paragraph 113 of the report (FEP 2021), shall be agreed at an Appointments and Urgency Committee;

(4)          The consultation shall also include public meetings in each Borough of at least 2 hours duration to which Members of the Authority shall be invited to contribute as part of the platform party;

(5)          In particular, the Authority does not agree to consultation upon closures of fire stations, or loss of appliances or firefighters as the Authority does not agree to any fire station closures, loss of appliances and firefighters; and

(6)          Members take into account the advice in the report (FEP 2021A) when considering their response to the proposals in (FEP 2021).