Regional Control Centre
Belmont Business Park
Durham
DH1 1TW
Tel: 0191 3755000
Media enquiries: contact Communications Manager Adrienne Humberstone on 0191 3755008
RCC Newsletter - April 2010
We’re getting there, says Chair Brenda - 20 October 2009
There’s a long way still to go, but steady progress is being made – and the end results will be well worth the wait.
That’s the view of Cllr. Brenda Forster, who was reappointed as Chair of the Local Authority Controlled Company Board at the Company’s meeting on 9 October.
Cllr Forster, a Redcar and Cleveland councillor, said she was delighted to be continuing in the role.
“The delay to our go-live that was announced earlier this year was disappointing in some ways, but in other ways very positive, because it gives us the time we need to make sure the technology is completely right,” she said.
“The time will pass very quickly as we work together to put everything in place – such as training – to make sure we succeed.”
Other decisions made at the Board meeting, held at the RCC, included approval of the statement of accounts for 2008/9 and the scope of work and priorities for July to December 2009.
The Board also approved the content of the updated Risk Register, and approved the taking up of third party rights in relation to CLG’s facilities management contract with VT Flagship.
The Board also agreed that a number of human resources (HR) policies that have now been through the full local consultation process should be adopted and reviewed annually – these cover family care provisions, sickness absence, alcohol and substance misuse, bullying and harassment in the workplace, disciplinary procedure and grievance procedure.
Finally, the Board reappointed Colin Stockwell as Company Secretary for a further 24 months.
Rescheduled go-live creates realistic timeframe
Putting back the go-live date for the North East Regional Control Centre to May 2011 will provide our region's professional control staff with the very best facilities to serve the North East public.
That's the view of Project Director John Hindmarch following the recent announcement by Fire Minister Shahid Malik of a rescheduling of the FiReControl Project.
John said: "The North East region remains committed to delivering the FiReControl project and to being one of the first wave regions."
"This rescheduling of the work now provides a realistic timeframe within which to introduce Regional Control Centres, while also supporting Fire and Rescue Services in working more collaboratively with both the prime contractor (EADS) and the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) to ensure the best possible technology, systems and infrastructure are available to us all in delivering our service to the community."
"It is clear that the benefits brought about by this project will enable our Control Room to continue to deliver a first class Service, ensuring the people of the North East have the finest level of public safety and service"
The rescheduling means the cutover dates when the FRS controls move to the RCC are now:
- May 2011 - Tyne & Wear FRS
- July 2011 - Durham & Darlington
- September 2011 - Northumberland and Cleveland
All FRS staff, including Control Room staff, in the region were informed about the rescheduling within hours of the Minister's announcement in the House of Commons.
RCC Director Kevin Robson also welcomed the new dates, but said that work would still continue at full pace to make sure all staff are fully trained and in place well in time for go-live.
"A great deal of work is going on to make sure we get a control system that will provide the highest quality of public safety across the region," he said.
"Rescheduling the go-live date means we will not only get the best system available, but also provides important extra time to train the staff who will be using it when they transfer to the RCC.
"Once the RCC goes live, it must operate flawlessly and provide a service as good as, or better than, the public currently receive. This rescheduled date is invaluable in helping us to achieve this."
FiReControl project is rescheduled - 15 July 2009
Fire Minister Shahid Malik today confirmed that the FiReControl project is making good progress, including the building of nine regional centres, the setting up of local authority controlled companies that will manage the centres and the delivery and installation of equipment in local fire stations.
The Government remains strongly committed to the FiReControl project. On a day-to-day basis, the new system will improve firefighter safety, the management of incidents and both the efficiency and responsiveness of the service. The new network will also improve the country's ability to respond to terrorism, large-scale industrial accidents and natural disasters such as flooding.
However, in recent months it has become clear that technical problems with developing the IT system in a way which will meet all our and FRS requirements mean that further time is needed to complete the project.
England's FRS will now start to change over to the new control centres in Spring 2011 and finish by the end of 2012. The revised timescales have been developed in consultation with the FRS, Local Government Association and the Chief Fire Officers' Association.
Mr Malik said: "FiReControl is a complex project that involves significant change to operating practices in the FRS as well as the development and installation of a major new national IT system. It is important that we continue to subject the new system to rigorous development to ensure public safety and meet FRS requirements.
"We are not making progress as swiftly as expected which is why I'm announcing today that spring 2011 is the new date for the start of the process of moving the 46 FRS control rooms to the new control centres.
"By setting up joint teams of officials from the Department for Communities and Local Government and our main supplier EADS Defence and Security to work on a day-to-day basis with the FRS, we will ensure consistent progress. We will also give greater assurance to the FRS by setting short-term milestones for the delivery of the project.
"Our priority for FiReControl is to deliver a modern system that meets the needs of the FRS and continues to ensure the safety of the public in the future for all types and scale of incident. The FRS does an excellent job in maintaining public safety. FiReControl will mean all FRS have access to the best technology which is now only available to the few."
The revised cutover dates for the North East region are:
FRS Control Rooms |
Current cutover date |
Provisional revised cutover date |
Tyne and Wear |
July 2010 |
May 2011 |
Durham and Darlington |
October 2010 |
July 2011 |
Cleveland |
November 2010 |
November 2011 |
Northumberland |
November 2010 |
November 2011 |
Got queries about the rescheduling? Download Questions and Answers here
Download the Minister's statement here
RCC Newsletter - December 2009
RCC Newsletter - November 2009
RCC Newsletter -September 2009
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