Minutes:
Lead Members of FSMC updated the Committee on their meeting with the Fire Minister on 8 June 2020.
They reported that it had been a positive meeting and welcomed the fact that the Minister was keen to engage with the LGA. He had reemphasised the three priorities he set out in his speech to the Fire Commission in May – people, professionalism and governance – and had talked about how these tied into the recommendations of the HMICFRS State of Fire & Rescue report. Lead Members considered that the Minister would not shy away from making tough decisions and so FSMC needed to ensure that it had robust data and evidence to back up its lobbying positions. They finished by saying that the Minister wanted to have regular meetings with them and that they were going to try and organise another one for July.
Committee members welcomed the feedback from the meeting and found it encouraging that the Minister appeared to be engaged and to want to learn about the sector. Jonny Bugg (Home Office) added that there was lots of joined up work taking place between the Minister and the Minister of State for Crime & Policing, Kit Malthouse MP, particularly over potential blue light collaboration.
Decision
Members of the Fire Services Management Committee noted the update.