
QUESTIONS

Question No. 455
London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority - Meeting: 17 March 2016
Question by Dr Fiona Twycross AM (Labour Group) to the Commissioner of LFB (Ron
Dobson)
Rainbow Laces Campaign
West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue service has recently run a Rainbow Laces campaign, and this
has also been done at the GLA. Do you agree that LFB should run a Rainbow Laces campaign?
Reply
I do agree, and contact has already been made with LFB’s LGBT Support Group Secretary to
consider what that campaign might involve. It is our intention that the rainbow laces will feature
in our London Pride presence this year, and we will undertake further discussions as to how we
might extend the campaign to the wider workforce.
Question No. 456
London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority - Meeting: 17 March 2016
Question by Andrew Dismore AM (Labour Group) to the Commissioner of LFB (Ron
Dobson)
Cross Border Attendances
What changes have there been in cross border attendances in 2015/16 compared to 2014/15?
Reply
Data for the current year (2015/16) to date shows a 12 per cent increase in LFB’s attendances
to other brigade areas from 454 to 510, and a 62 per cent increase in attendances by other
brigades into the LFB from 341 to 553.
Question No. 457
London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority - Meeting: 17 March 2016
Question by Councillor Jack Hopkins to the Chairman of LFEPA (Gareth Bacon AM)
Local Pension Scheme Advisory Board
What progress has been made in lobbying the Government to ensure that the Local Pension
Board Scheme Advisory Board is in place?
Reply
I briefly met with the Minister at the recent LGA Fire Conference in Bristol and he agreed to meet
with me over the coming months to discuss this issue amongst the many others that need to be
addressed. Our offices are currently trying to find a suitable time to schedule this meeting.
Question No. 458
London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority - Meeting: 17 March 2016
Question by Councillor Liaquat Ali (Labour Group) to the Commissioner of LFB (Ron
Dobson)
LFB Vehicles at the LGA Fire Conference
How many London Fire Brigade vehicles were taken to the LGA Fire Conference and why?
Reply
There was one London Fire Brigade associated vehicle taken to the LGA Fire Conference. This
was an Assistant Commissioner, who was presenting at the conference and required a vehicle,
pre and post event to attend meetings.
Question No. 459
London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority - Meeting: 17 March 2016
Question by Councillor Sarah Hayward (Labour Group) to the Commissioner of LFB
(Ron Dobson)
Blue Light Collaboration
Please provide details of what areas of blue light collaboration the working group between
Metropolitan Police Service, London Fire Brigade and London Ambulance Service has
considered/ is considering?
Reply
It is fair to say that collaboration already happens between the three emergency services in
London. Recent examples include our successful hosting of Exercise Unified Response, the
largest multi-agency exercise ever to take place in London and the corresponding pilot which
has been running since mid-February, with clear positive outcomes visible already.
The London Blue Light Collaboration Team, established in July 2015, is currently considering
opportunities to build on existing collaboration and identify further opportunities, maximising
learning from across the country and internationally, working towards the combined vision to
Make London the Safest Global City through a commitment to partnership, collaboration,
innovation and cooperation.
Current areas of consideration are emergency service control rooms, prevention, response and
support activities. Initial scoping work including analysing and approximating costs and
potential benefits is being completed and it is anticipated that a strategic outline case will be
available at the end of quarter two 2016/2017.
Question No. 460
London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority - Meeting: 17 March 2016
Question by Tom Copley AM (Labour Group) to the Commissioner of LFB (Ron
Dobson)
London Impact of the Duty to Collaborate
Now that the Policing and Crime Bill has had its second reading in Parliament, what progress
has been made in establishing what impact the duty to collaborate will have in London?
Reply
This new duty will formalise what is already an informal arrangement across London. Our
existing powers generally enable us to collaborate when it makes sense to do so, and there are
no initiatives I am aware of which have failed due to limitations on our existing powers and
there are many examples of collaboration I can share. The duty to collaborate will build
collaboration more clearly into our policy making and decision taking and introduce some
clearer rules for consideration of opportunities, including:
•
the three emergency services will have a duty to consider opportunities to collaborate
and to give effect to collaboration proposals if it would be in the interests of the efficiency
or effectiveness of at least two of the services;
•
a duty on each service to notify the others if an opportunity to collaborate is identified;
•
clarity that there is no requirement for any service to enter into a collaboration agreement
if the service is of the view that it would have an adverse effect on its efficiency or
effectiveness;
•
clarity that an emergency service is not prevented from entering into a collaborative
agreement where they would not benefit – if it could improve the efficiency or
effectiveness of the other services for instance, or if the impact of the collaboration
would be neutral;.
•
clarity that the London Fire Commissioner must consult the Mayor of London before
entering into a collaboration agreement (unless the Mayor is a party to the agreement);
This is all related to the duty as it is currently set out in the Bill.
Question No. 461
London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority - Meeting: 17 March 2016
Question by Councillor Pauline Morrison (Labour Group) to the Chairman of LFEPA
(Gareth Bacon AM)
Timeline for the abolition of LFEPA
Now that the Policing and Crime Bill has had its second reading in Parliament, what progress
has been made in establishing the timeline for the abolition of LFEPA?
Reply
A firm timetable for LFEPA’s abolition has yet to be defined but should the Bill pass
unobstructed, an educated estimate would likely see the legislative changes taking effect in the
first half of next year.
Question No. 462
London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority - Meeting: 17 March 2016
Question by Councillor Martin Whelton (Labour Group) to the Chairman of LFEPA
(Gareth Bacon AM)
Access Problems for Emergency Vehicles
Will you consider a campaign to highlight the problems of access for emergency vehicles
caused by badly parked cars?
Reply
Yes.