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Alex Norris MP, soon to be the Fire Minister as fire policy transfers back to the Ministry for Housing, spoke to fire chiefs this week about the level of change in the industry and how he welcomed the creation of a new College of Fire and Rescue and the role of the Ministerial Advisory Group to effect long lasting change in the sector.
Having served on Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Authority as a councillor prior to becoming an MP in June 2017, the same month as the Grenfell Tower fire, the new Minister has experience of the fire and rescue service and it complement his existing brief as Building Safety Minister.
He told chief fire officers and fire authority chairs at the annual LGA Fire Conference that it was a “real pleasure” to be the incoming Fire Minister, calling it a “profound responsibility.”
Of the move from the Home Office that takes place on 1 April, he added: “We have a huge asset in our department because we are led by the Deputy Prime Minister, so conversations about fire, building safety and our duties to the Grenfell community take place every day.”
Recognising that there is a lot of change in and around the fire sector, he highlighted not only the change at Ministerial level but the leadership of the National Fire Chiefs Council where Mark Hardingham will shortly step down and Phil Garrigan will take on the role of Chair.
He noted the change in leadership of the Fire Services Management Committee as Greg Brackenridge, former Chair no longer leads the Fire Authority in the West Midlands. Steve Wright, the new General Secretary of the Fire Brigades Union was also at the conference in Gateshead and the results of the recent election was also noted by the Minister.
Referring to leadership and professionalism in the fire sector, the Minister said: “I am very excited about the idea of the College of Fire, it’s a conversation I’ve been having over the years with chiefs, Authority leaders and unions.”
Another change brought about by this government is the introduction of a Ministerial Advisory Group. It has already met but anticipating his new role as Fire Minister, he said: “It will be an important place where all partners, including government, get around the table and look at long standing issues. It is structured in a way that is collaborative. As a new Minister I find this exceptionally reassuring.”
He spoke about the government’s recent response to the Grenfell Tower final report and its acceptance of the 58 recommendations made by Sir Martin Moore-Bick. He highlighted the green paper on changes to the construction products regime, encouraging response to the consultation.
Read more about the move of fire policy from the Home Office – Nine years on, fire to return to Communities department.
