So called cost saving measures has resulted in the government spending of over 200 million pounds! The nationwide measure of condensing 40 control centres into 7 is years behind date and so far 32 million pounds over budget. A large chunk of this cash has been thrown at the civil service and of course the private sector consultants that make their decisions for them. Along with PFI projects over new training centres and stations and probably the control rooms themselves I think that this is one of the greatest public sector disasters of all time. It seems the government forgot to ask any brigade what was required.
Apparently this is such a monumental F up that staff turnover within the maze of departments pushing through this so called modernisation is high. So high in fact and with costs quickly spiralling out of control the plug is about to be pulled.
(Source- the Independent on Sunday, 4th April 2010)
One question, How many front line staff i.e Firefighters, C/R Operators would 240,000,000 pounds employ?
