Huppert Demands Greater Government Clarity On Fire Funding

Cambridge MP Julian Huppert

Cambridge MP, Julian Huppert has demanded greater clarity from the government over its future funding plans for the county’s cash-strapped fire service.

He has asked for a meeting with Bob Neill, Minister for Communities and Local Government to which he intends to invite Cambridgeshire and Peterborough MPs in a bid to get information which will allow informed decisions to be made about resources.

And on Monday (April 30) Julian will ask Mr Neill, during Questions in the House of Commons ‘what discussions he has had on funding for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Fire Authority’.

He is worried that emergency fire cover could be at risk over the next four years if more than the already planned £4.2 million savings are required.

Julian visited Cambridge Fire Station recently and met with firefighters on White Watch. He also discussed the planned changes in government funding with the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Chief Fire Officer.

He told Mr Neill in a letter that there are specific concerns over the impact of the cuts on the county’s large retained service and warned that costs may not be able to be reduced without significant fire station closures.

“In particular, this could result in a significant reduction of services in rural areas,” he told Mr Neill. “As a result, just a few hundred thousand pounds could make the difference between large station closures now, and the retention of adequate services in the long term.”

Julian added later: “It is absolutely crucial that the fire service has a clear idea of the government’s funding plans over the next few years but, at the moment that information is not coming through. Without being able to take a broader view of this issue it is extremely difficult to make decisions on the ground.

“I am very worried that long-term plans to reduce funding could lead to the downgrading or closure of fire stations, a reduction in fire-fighters and fire appliances and increase in emergency response times. This could have a serious impact in rural areas and the city resulting in a loss of service.”

Huppert Secures Meeting With Minister Over Fire Service Funding

Cambridge MP Julian Huppert

A government minister is to meet Cambridge MP, Julian Huppert to discuss future funding for the county’s fire service.

Bob Neill, Minister for Communities and Local Government agreed to the meeting in the House of Commons today (Monday, April 30) after Julian called for greater clarity over the government’s funding plans for the service.

“Fire services, such as ours in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough which are already low cost and largely have retained fire-fighters, are extremely vulnerable to excessive funding reductions and have no alternative other than the withdrawal of some appliances and the closure of fire stations, beyond a certain point,” Julian told the minister.

“I do accept the need for some savings, but there is still a lack of clarity as to how much this service will have to save. Will he meet with me, staff from the Authority and Service, and other local MPs, who are also concerned, to discuss how much funding there will be available in the future?”

Mr Neill said: “In relation to funding overall, the reduction to funding in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough is 1.5 per cent in terms of reduction of their spending power.

“I am glad to say that their joint bid for Suffolk to improve fire control room services was successful and they will receive £400,000 revenue and £180,000 capital funding.

“I am always happy to meet with Honorable Members to discuss the circumstances in their own constituencies.”

Later Julian said: “I am delighted that the minister has agreed to meet to discuss this issue.

“The Fire Authority cannot be expected to make decisions about the future of our fire service without having all the facts. The government has to be completely clear about the level of funding that the service can expect in the future so that our fire cover can be protected.

“Now l am hoping that we will be able to get the answers to our questions to give the fire authority a much more solid base from which to work.

"I spent an evening recently with the White Watch in Cambridge, and it was clear what a great job they do - they deserve to know what they will be able to do in the future"

New Reforms Will Stop Town Hall Corruption And Culture Of Malicious Complaints

Local Government Minister Bob Neill today called on councils to use their new found freedom from the recently axed Standards Board to prevent corruption and ensure high standards in local public life.

The Standards Board Regime has now been abolished for good - freeing up councils to put in place locally drawn up codes of conduct for their elected members. Ministers hope these new codes will enable local authorities to ensure the highest standards of conduct are maintained while avoiding them becoming a vehicle for malicious complaints that dragged down the reputation of local government in recent years.

Today Mr Neill published an illustrative text that councils can, if they choose, use as a basis for their new local code of conduct. He has also written to council leaders to remind them of this new opportunity to raise the bar on local standards.

The new code is a matter for local determination, but the Department is publishing an example code illustrating what a new code might look like. By releasing councils from the old regime of prescriptive uniform codes councils will be able to ensure that their own codes encourage freedom of speech and can not be used to silence or discourage conscientious councillors from whistle blowing on misconduct.

The new freedoms to draw up local codes will come as a particularly welcome relief to smaller authorities and parish councils, where the burden of investigating unnecessary and frivolous complaints weighed heavily on resources.

Ministers believe that the previous Standards Board regime, which was axed as part of the Government's flagship Localism Act 2011, had become a vehicle for petty and sometimes vexatious complaints about councillor conduct that drained time and resources and damaged local confidence in democracy. For example, one authority had to fork out £160,000 after receiving more than 170 complaints from the same person. Each one had to be examined, but only three were considered worth investigating and after investigation all were dismissed.

Ministers are determined to ensure local councillors are held to the highest standards of conduct. To ensure that corruption in local life is prevented, the Government is bringing in tough new legislation that makes serious misconduct for personal gain a criminal offence, dealt with by the courts. Councillors will also have to register certain personal interests on a publicly available register.

Local Government Minister Bob Neill said:

"As the death knell tolls for the unpopular and unelected Standards Board regime, councils and communities can look forward to a new era of locally set codes of conduct that will prevent corruption, ensure high standards in public life, and put an end to petty, partisan and malicious complaints that have dragged down the reputation of local government.

"Instead of having hundreds of expensive and frivolous investigations hanging over their heads local councillors will be free to get on with the job of getting the best for their local area. But far from letting councillors off the hook without any checks we are ensuring that they conform to the highest standards and anyone who abuses their position for personal gain can expect to face the full force of the law."

NOTES:

1. The Standards Board for England ceased its regulatory functions on 31 January 2012, and was formally abolished on 31 March 2012.

2. The illustrative example of what a local code of conduct could look like can be found here: www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/localcodeconduct.

3. From 1 July 2012, all standards matters - including consideration and determination of outstanding complaints made during the period the Standards Board regime was operating - will be the responsibility of local authorities, to be handled under the new arrangements. This date will also see the new standards arrangements, which include a 'Nolan-based' code, the involvement of an independent person in allegations of misconduct, and a new criminal offence for failing to declare or register interests, coming into force.

4. The abolition of the Standards Board was included in the Localism Act. The Localism Act received Royal Assent on 15 November 2011.

5. A plain English guide to the Localism Act is available at: www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/localismplainenglishupdate.