Councillor claims reaction to Fife fire service report was 'scaremongering'
A Fife councillor has condemned criticism of the region's fire service as ''scaremongering''.
- Published in the Courier : 17.02.12
- Published online : 17.02.12 @ 02.04pm
George Kay, who chairs the police, fire and safety committee, fiercely defended Fife Fire and Rescue Service at a council meeting in Glenrothes on Thursday.
It follows the publication of an Audit Scotland report which warned that community safety could be put at risk by further budget cuts, with the service forced to make significant savings over the next three years.
The report was described as ''damning'' by Labour councillor Neil Crooks.
During the council meeting, Mr Kay highlighted the fact the service achieved ''top quartile'' results across most performance indicators.
He said: ''The number of accidental fires is the second lowest in Scotland. Both fatal and non-fatal casualties are lowest in Scotland. The number of safety visits is highest in Scotland. The number of smoke detectors fixed is highest in Scotland. It is the only authority where a sprinkler is fitted in all new builds. As for health and safety, injuries are lowest in Scotland.
''That's what a top quartile fire service does. I think it's something we should be proud of, and we should not be scaremongering.''
As well as raising doubts about the impact of future budget cuts, the report said the service was vulnerable to budget cuts affecting the council.
Council administration leader Peter Grant praised the service but added: ''However, it now faces significant challenges to make further budget savings over the next three years. Managers will have to continue to work creatively to minimise the impact of this.''
11.03pm - 17.02.2012 Eoin Ryan - Glenrothes, Scotlamd Report This
Neil Crooks didnt even bother to turn up at the Council meeting in Thursday....... Where was he, he was laid to be there. Typical. Don't turn up, but run to the media!
04.54pm - 19.02.2012 Molly - Cardenden, Scotland Report This
Eoin, that is the Labour tactic on every issue. Cllr Hood does this in relation to staffing issues. Score a few haphazard points based on Rhetoric, conjecture, half-truths and old news but don't show up to discuss things properly. Negative, negative politics. Bored and weary of it!
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