Councillors take up invitation to visit Scottish Fire and Rescue Highland Headquarters

photoA group of Highland Councillors took up an invitation from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to come along to an engagement event at their headquarters in Inverness yesterday (Tuesday 27 June).

The invitation, issued by Area Manager John MacDonald, gave a perfect opportunity for new and serving members to get an overview of local structures and service priorities within Highland, to hear more about the targeting of resources, including the work being done for  fire prevention, and watching practical demonstrations of how the modern fire and rescue service operates. Area Manager MacDonald said: “I was delighted to welcome councillors to this engagement session yesterday to meet with the local management team and to hear about the work of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service within the Highland area”

In his presentation to Councillors, Area Manager John MacDonald said: “We are a national organisation delivering a local service. Our purpose is to work in partnership with communities and others in the public, private and third sectors on prevention, protection and response to improve the safety and wellbeing of people.”

“The risks and challenges we face and the needs of our communities have changed over recent years and will continue to change. It is therefore essential that as a modern and progressive organisation we adapt to meet those risks and changes and ensure that we are best positioned to address the needs of the communities we serve.”

Work on producing the new Local Fire and Rescue Plan for the Highlands, running from 2017 to 2020, is underway. Councillors will have the chance to review and comment on the draft Plan at a meeting of The Highland Council in September and after their approval, it will progress to a 12 week consultation stage.

Councillor Graham Ross, Depute Provost of Inverness and Chair of the Inverness Community Partnership said:  “With 61 community fire stations spread across the Highlands, as elected members we greatly appreciate the SFRS representatives who attend our local committees to report on local performance and bring to our attention any specific local issues. 

“I would like to thank John and his team for taking the time to meet us  and to highlight the very diverse role the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service provides within our communities and we look forward to more partnership working to promote community safety and wellbeing.”


 

28 Jun 2017