• Question by: Navin Shah
• Meeting date: 12 September 2012

Mr Chairman, I do welcome your comments about the Fire Service in London being world class and the best service that we have and I'm proud to be part of that, like what you have mentioned, and indeed to contribute to continuing success. Similarly, the Commissioner's comments, as well, are well made in terms of innovations of our services as well as the progress that is being continually made. Of course we have two challenging years, certainly to start with, and that is where I want to have my opening question. Obviously the key to success and innovations is our...

• Question by: Gareth Bacon MP
• Meeting date: 12 September 2012

I completely understand the passion and intensity that Mr Shah wants to bring to the question around budget savings and where that may fall. However, I must draw your attention to the fact that the very first question was asked around engagement within the group by Andrew Boff. Mr Shah has a question; it is the fourth question on the order paper where he can bring all of this in, and he seems to be reordering the meeting without any permission from anybody. I just wonder if that is in order, Madam Chairman?

• Question by: Andrew Dismore
• Meeting date: 12 September 2012

): One of the issues that firefighters have raised with me, when I have been going around stations and looking at the question of cuts, is the cost of minor maintenance and repairs under the Balfour Beatty contract. Has any thought been given to devolving budgets for minor repairs to borough commanders or station managers, so they can commission that work from local trades people, of course helping boost the local economy as well?

• Question by: Navin Shah
• Meeting date: 12 September 2012

Chairman, you will recall that certainly in his first term the Mayor gave a commitment to protect front line services. In the context of discussion you just had with Mr Knight, should we find working through the budget process that the Mayor's limit is not deliverable, are you prepared to lobby the Mayor to help us with additional funding? Let me remind you, should it need reminding, the Mayor did take £50 million off LFEPA's resource which has put us in the situation that we find ourselves in now.

• Question by: Richard Tracey
• Meeting date: 12 September 2012

So there is no particular reason that he will have changed his view. Can I ask you, can you give us some idea of how many meetings there have been over the last 12 months between finance officers of the GLA and finance officers at LFEPA? Do you happen to know how many there have been?

• Question by: Darren Johnson
• Meeting date: 12 September 2012

It is obviously going to be a very, very difficult time for the Fire Authority, for brigade staff and others. Can we have your assurances that we will not have the sort of combative conflict-driven style that characterised the previous Chairman's approach so much, and often made difficult decisions and difficult negotiations even more difficult than they need be?

• Question by: Fiona Twycross
• Meeting date: 12 September 2012

Thank you. Just on that last point, you have already admitted not listening to Assembly Member Knight, who was disagreeing with you, so I do hope that sort of proves true going forward. Just going back to the opening remarks, some of the excellent preventative work of the Fire Brigade was mentioned, and I would like to ask briefly about the continued funding for the local intervention fire education scheme, which has benefited well over 5,000 young people in London, serving to increase their confidence and addressing issues around antisocial behaviour and preventing antisocial behaviour, based on it being directed...

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 12 September 2012

Do you accept, first, that Boris Johnson is the Mayor of London, second that he appointed you Chair of the Fire Authority, third that he has a power of direction and fourth that, contrary to what you said about it being some sort of collective decision about the future direction of the Authority in which you are a sort of lifeless puppet, you actually have a responsibility and - with the Mayor's authority - I think a duty to offer leadership on its future direction?

• Question by: Andrew Dismore
• Meeting date: 12 September 2012

A question to the Commissioner. We are giving a briefing this afternoon on the budget. There are a lot of backroom cuts and other things in that briefing. What is the sum total of the savings you have identified so far that are going to be recommended?

• Question by: Joanne McCartney
• Meeting date: 12 September 2012

Yes, forgive me I am not a member of the Fire Service. I am not part of the briefings, but certainly locally in my borough of Enfield and Haringey there is concern at the scale of the cuts and what that will mean for local services, and where what we are already hearing that, particularly with night cover, there may be some reductions in the number of appliances that are available. Can I just confirm are you considering, certainly n Enfield and Haringey, my constituencies whether you will be closing stations, reducing appliances or the staff working them? Perhaps the...