BFC members express concern over new Fire Service trading rules
Members of the British Fire Consortium, the fire industry’s largest trade association, expressed their concern about what they consider to be “unfair trading” following a presentation by Iain Cox, the Chief Fire Officer for Royal Berkshire Fire & Rescue Service.
Mr. Cox was invited by BFC General Secretary, Mr. Roger Chamberlain, to offer a Fire Service perspective to members on the new ‘Guidance Notes for Fire Services Trading Companies’ which had been published for consultation a few days earlier.
Faced with an audience of BFC members, most of whom operate companies in direct competition with the services offered by some fire authorities, Mr. Cox presented a candid account of the past and current scenarios in which fire service personnel undertake private consultancy work.
Mr. Cox began by explaining how there is a legacy of private consultancy in the service which started in the late 70’s when the government encouraged this type of enterprise, often to use up ‘surplus capacity’ which, more often than not, were training officers with time on their hands. Today, fire extinguisher maintenance, fire risk assessments, fire warden duties and training were services commonly offered by fire officers on a private basis.
He went on to explain how the Business and Community Safety Forum, prompted by concerns from within the industry, led to the government publishing the ‘Guidance Notes for Fire Services Trading Companies’ which set out new rules under which the fire services were to conduct private trading in the future. He said it has taken around two years for the document to be produced and the consultation period extends until October 1st 2007.
Mr. Cox said that in his opinion around half of fire authorities will want to trade under these new rules. He also emphasised how important the income from private trading was to some fire authorities, sometimes representing the difference between being solvent or not.
The essence of the new rules is that if a fire authority wishes to continue to trade, it must set up a separate company which should be kept at “arms length” from the fire authority’s public remit and which has to operate and be audited in a totally professional and transparent manner. It must also be “function related” in other words it can only offer fire safety related services and can only operate within the geographical area of its own fire authority. It should also be “reputation conscious” and Mr. Cox said he believed this would prevent any unprofessional conduct such as aggressive selling or cold calling. The rules also stated that if the trading company was not profitable, the local authority would have the power to close it down.
Mr. Cox said that he hoped from what he had explained earlier about profitability, BFC members would understand the drivers which pushed fire authorities to undertake private work. However, members of the British Fire Consortium were united in their belief that ‘badged’ fire personnel offering similar fire safety services to themselves, represented a totally unfair trading advantage, due to the public’s inherent trust and high opinion of fire officers.
Mr. Cox replied that because of these concerns he believed there would be a “Liaison Body” set up to oversee trading practices and to “sort out differences” between the fire authorities and private companies.
Members also commented that fire officers maintaining fire extinguishers or installing and maintaining domestic or residential sprinkler systems privately are required by law to be ‘competent’ according to the definition of competency set out in the relevant BS standards. Mr. Cox said he would be “shocked” if he found that officers were conducting private work when not suitably qualified.
Another member questioned whether or not a fire officer writing a risk assessment for a private client one day, and then going to the same premises as a fire authority enforcer the next, would cause a serious conflict of interest.
The document is open for consultation until 1st October 2007 and can be found at http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1505476
More press information and photographs from Alison Hopkinson at Leigh Anderson Associates, tel 01296 631898 or 01579 321750, fax 01296 630321 Photograph attached shows Mr. Cox addressing the British Fire Consortium meeting on January 30th 2007.
Leigh-Anderson Associates are retained by the British Fire Consortium to provide PR (Press Relations) services and marketing support on request. If you have an industry comment, potential case study or other news worthy event e.g. 10 year anniversary, local award etc please call David or Alison at LAA on 01579 321750 or email BFC@leighandersonassociates.com
Mr. Cox was invited by BFC General Secretary, Mr. Roger Chamberlain, to offer a Fire Service perspective to members on the new ‘Guidance Notes for Fire Services Trading Companies’ which had been published for consultation a few days earlier.
Faced with an audience of BFC members, most of whom operate companies in direct competition with the services offered by some fire authorities, Mr. Cox presented a candid account of the past and current scenarios in which fire service personnel undertake private consultancy work.
Mr. Cox began by explaining how there is a legacy of private consultancy in the service which started in the late 70’s when the government encouraged this type of enterprise, often to use up ‘surplus capacity’ which, more often than not, were training officers with time on their hands. Today, fire extinguisher maintenance, fire risk assessments, fire warden duties and training were services commonly offered by fire officers on a private basis.
He went on to explain how the Business and Community Safety Forum, prompted by concerns from within the industry, led to the government publishing the ‘Guidance Notes for Fire Services Trading Companies’ which set out new rules under which the fire services were to conduct private trading in the future. He said it has taken around two years for the document to be produced and the consultation period extends until October 1st 2007.
Mr. Cox said that in his opinion around half of fire authorities will want to trade under these new rules. He also emphasised how important the income from private trading was to some fire authorities, sometimes representing the difference between being solvent or not.
The essence of the new rules is that if a fire authority wishes to continue to trade, it must set up a separate company which should be kept at “arms length” from the fire authority’s public remit and which has to operate and be audited in a totally professional and transparent manner. It must also be “function related” in other words it can only offer fire safety related services and can only operate within the geographical area of its own fire authority. It should also be “reputation conscious” and Mr. Cox said he believed this would prevent any unprofessional conduct such as aggressive selling or cold calling. The rules also stated that if the trading company was not profitable, the local authority would have the power to close it down.
Mr. Cox said that he hoped from what he had explained earlier about profitability, BFC members would understand the drivers which pushed fire authorities to undertake private work. However, members of the British Fire Consortium were united in their belief that ‘badged’ fire personnel offering similar fire safety services to themselves, represented a totally unfair trading advantage, due to the public’s inherent trust and high opinion of fire officers.
Mr. Cox replied that because of these concerns he believed there would be a “Liaison Body” set up to oversee trading practices and to “sort out differences” between the fire authorities and private companies.
Members also commented that fire officers maintaining fire extinguishers or installing and maintaining domestic or residential sprinkler systems privately are required by law to be ‘competent’ according to the definition of competency set out in the relevant BS standards. Mr. Cox said he would be “shocked” if he found that officers were conducting private work when not suitably qualified.
Another member questioned whether or not a fire officer writing a risk assessment for a private client one day, and then going to the same premises as a fire authority enforcer the next, would cause a serious conflict of interest.
The document is open for consultation until 1st October 2007 and can be found at http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1505476
More press information and photographs from Alison Hopkinson at Leigh Anderson Associates, tel 01296 631898 or 01579 321750, fax 01296 630321 Photograph attached shows Mr. Cox addressing the British Fire Consortium meeting on January 30th 2007.
Leigh-Anderson Associates are retained by the British Fire Consortium to provide PR (Press Relations) services and marketing support on request. If you have an industry comment, potential case study or other news worthy event e.g. 10 year anniversary, local award etc please call David or Alison at LAA on 01579 321750 or email BFC@leighandersonassociates.com