Keeping Scotland Safe and Strong - A Consultation on Reforming Police and Fire and Rescue Services in Scotland: Analysis of Consultation Responses

10. STRUCTURE OF A SINGLE SCOTTISH FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE

Question 15: What are your views on our proposals to transfer Scottish Government assets to the new body?

Summary of proposals in the consultation document:

• Establish a single Fire and Rescue Service overseen by a single Board.
• Transfer the Scottish Fire Service College and its assets from the Scottish Government to the new Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
• Transfer the management of the contract for Firelink to the single service.
• Transfer specialist resources, currently provided by the Scottish Government to augment the FRS's response to a major national threat, to the single service.

10.1 55 respondents from the following respondent categories addressed this question.

Note: Abbreviations used in the above table are described in Table 1.

10.2 Of the 52 respondents who provided a clear view, 51 supported in principle the proposals to transfer Scottish Government assets to the body.

10.3 The reasons given in support of the proposal were:

• will better meet the needs of the service
• provides the potential for a more streamlined resource
• gives a clearer definition of responsibilities and accountability
• provides the potential for rationalisation
• will lead to greater harmonisation of assets across areas
• will remove tensions over priorities between Government and the new body.

10.4 Most supporters qualified their approval with provisos:

• Sufficient funding transfer should accompany asset transfer, including funds for maintenance of assets which require upkeep/replacement, so as to prevent any negative impact on the delivery of service (24 respondents from a range of sectors). One respondent urged:

"A condition survey of assets should be carried out and provision for any backlog maintenance be recognised in budget allocations." (FRS)

• Assets should be transferred in a manner which allows equitable access to specialised equipment for rural and remote areas (5 respondents).
• Care should be taken not to lose expertise (e.g. training courses) which have been developed locally (5 respondents). 3 respondents suggested that training courses developed locally could be maintained on a regional basis, with a national lead.
• Clarity is required on the transfer of assets which are currently jointly owned e.g. combined airport and local authority fire appliances (3 respondents).
• Specialist training (e.g. deaf awareness) should not be lost (Vol).
• There should be transparency in decisions on priorities once assets are transferred (Fire Org).
• The new body should be given autonomy to manage its assets as it sees fit (e.g. in partnership with other sectors) (Oth).

10.5 3 respondents suggested that the Scottish Government remain a stakeholder in relation to the management of the Firelink communications system, but responsibility should be passed to the blue light services. This proposed arrangement was envisaged as facilitating a "service-led" contract that will meet the needs of the 3 services.

10.6 Summary

• The transfer of Scottish Government fire and rescue assets (such as the Scottish Fire Service College and management of the Firelink Communications System contract) to the new service was widely supported in principle.
• A repeated emphasis made by consultees was that sufficient funding should accompany any assets transfer.