Section 3: FBU Regional Structure

SECTION 3: FBU REGIONAL STRUCTURE The issue of the FBU Regional Structures has been discussed throughout the discussion on reorganisation going back to 2005. This examination has identified that: ● Different Regions face many variations in the demands and challenges they face. The geography, travel distances and the composition and size of Fire and Rescue Services within each Region’s territory all differ significantly ● In Regions 1, 2 and 8 devolution places particular demands on the role of the Region and on officials within the Region ● In Region 2 and 10 the Brigade Committees perform the functions of Regional Committees (Rule 20). This means that Brigade Officials are also carrying out the role of Regional Officials in addition to their responsibilities as Brigade Officials ● The number of members within each Region differs significantly. This has implications relating to the democratic representation of members. It contrasts with the position at Conference where each voting delegate represents a defined number of members (500 members or part thereof) ● The political and cuts-driven policy of collaboration, full mergers, joint control rooms and other joint function ventures between fire and rescue services that cross regional boundaries will pose practical challenges for our regional organisation ● Other trade unions have very different regional structures. Many have significantly fewer regions than the FBU ● Some unions operate without a regional representative structure. In the light of these considerations we must constantly review the role and structure of our regions to best meet the changing political and organisational landscape. Options considered include enlarging the geographical area of Regions (and so reducing the current number of Regions) or replacing the regional structure completely with a different system of support and administration for brigades. However, the Executive Council has taken account that the Union have only recently reduced the total number of Regional Officials by 20% through the removal of the Regional Official position in ten of our Regions. It is necessary to see effects of these changes and further partial change before embarking on any deeper restructuring. It is therefore concluded that there should not be further changes made to the regional structure at this time.