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APPENDIX 1
THE STRUCTURE REVIEW
1. Ministers announced a structure review of both the police and fire services in Scotland in 1998. The review was taken forward through the establishment of a Steering Group. The following organisations were represented on that Group: the Scottish Executive Justice Department, the HM Inspectorate's of Fire Services and Constabulary, the Chief and Assistant Chief Fire Officer's Association (CACFOA), the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), the Retained Firefighters Union (RFU), The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS), the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents (ASPS), the Scottish Police Federation, UNISON, Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (CoSLA) and a Research Co-ordination Team. Their remit was:
"To review having regard to the principles of Best Value , ways to maintain and where possible improve the quality of service provided by ... the fire service in Scotland. The review will consider options for the best means of delivering ... fire services in the future, including existing central functions and their organisation, considering the costs and benefits of the current arrangements and of other options for each service, of possible changes in demand and in technology, which may affect the way in which each service is delivered, and the need to maintain local accountability." 18
2. There were in total some 10 recommendations in relation to the fire service. The main recommendations were:
- further work be undertaken to introduce closer collaboration and the provision of services on a common basis, in order to provide improved delivery and eliminate unnecessary duplication;
- appropriate structures for funding and managing common fire services should be investigated including future arrangements for the Scottish Fire Service Training School;
- to maintain the principle of local involvement with the fire service in any revised structural arrangements; and
- a standardised charging policy for special services, fire certification and other chargeable items should be investigated further.
3. The Deputy First Minister announced on 6 November 2000 his response to the recommendations of the Police and Fire Structure Review Steering Group. He agreed that the emphasis now should be on the development of collaboration between brigades with a view to improving service efficiency. This statement effectively moved the agenda, at this time, away from formal amalgamations of brigades and towards evolving improvements through stronger collaboration. In Sections 2-6 of this paper we outline how we intend to take these recommendations forward.
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