WIREDGOV

Fire and Rescue Minister Bob Neill has yesterday published the new Fire and Rescue National Framework for England.

The new Framework recognises the proficiency and experience of fire and rescue authorities and gives them the freedom and flexibility to deliver services to their communities without prescription from Whitehall. It will move accountability away from central government and place power in the hands of local communities.

Fire Minister Bob Neill said:

"This Framework delivers on the Government commitment to clearly define national resilience and to set out clear roles and responsibilities. I welcome the opportunity to take a collaborative approach to national resilience that is based on, and drawn from, local capability, expertise, knowledge and leadership."

Key priorities for fire and rescue authorities in the new framework include:

• identifying and assessing the full range of foreseeable fire and rescue related risks their area faces
• making provision for prevention and protection activities and responding to incidents appropriately
• working in partnership with their communities and a wide range of partners locally and nationally to deliver their service; and
• being accountable to communities for the service they provide.

The Framework enables fire and rescue authorities to efficiently deliver their services against a backdrop of change and the need to cut the national deficit.

In addition the Framework clearly defines national resilience setting out clear roles and responsibilities as well as setting out arrangements for fire and rescue authorities to collectively engage with government on national resilience issues through a new Fire and Rescue Strategic Resilience Board. The Board will enable a collaborative approach to national resilience that is based on and drawn from local capability, expertise, knowledge and leadership.

Notes to editors

1. The Fire and Rescue National Framework for England was published on Wednesday 11 July 2012 and is available on the Department's website at: www.communities.gov.uk/publications/fire/nationalframework.

2. From December 2011 to March 2012 the Draft Fire and Rescue National Framework for England was out for public consultation.

3. The Framework has an open-ended duration which gives fire and rescue authorities greater certainty with the high level, strategic nature of the Framework meaning that it should remain unchanged for the medium to long term.

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