The Authority has worked in partnership with a range of stakeholders for a number of years.
Working together is now recognised more formally by the National Framework| which was first introduced in July 2004. The National Framework requires all Fire and Rescue Authorities (FRAs) to work together in government office regions to create Regional Management Boards (RMB) which are responsible for overseeing effective and efficient collaboration in a number of areas such as training, procurement, and human resources. In addition RMBs must develop plans to consider the possibility of providing certain services on a regional basis, such as responding to terrorist incidents.
Twelve regional boards have been set up in England and Wales. Kent forms part of the South-East Region along with eight other Authorities (Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Oxfordshire, Royal Berkshire, Surrey and West Sussex).
The six key areas of work which the National Framework specifies should be dealt with through regional management boards are:
Integration of common and specialist services, e.g. fire investigation;
Implementation of effective resilience plans for large scale emergencies;
Introduction of regional personnel and human resources functions;
Development of a regional approach to training;
Establishment of regional control centres; and
Introduction of regional procurement within the context of the national procurement strategy for fire and rescue services.
The South-East RMB has completed the common and specialist services work stream. Kent lead on this work stream and is now responsible for the Improvement Work stream.
In January 2006 the South-East RMB agreed to form the South-East Fire Improvement Partnership (SEFIP), as part of the Improvement Work stream. A website has now been launched from which details of regional working is available. From this site you can also download all agendas, papers and minutes from RMB meetings.
Kent Fire & Rescue Service Headquarters, The Godlands, Straw Mill Hill, Tovil,
Maidstone. Kent, ME15 6XB Tel: 01622 692121
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