Integrity - and the men in the lift

There is a video at the end of this post we really need you to watch

BUT 

Before we get back to our proper blogging after a week of heated conversations with an IT support worker- which warrants a post
in its self - we thought we would just demonstrate how two faced  Councillors can be.  
We would like to share this as a warning to those areas of the country who are currently fighting cuts in fire and rescue provision. Please learn from our mistakes. 

Way back in October 2011 we made our first foray into fighting cuts in fire and rescue, and we learnt very quickly that politicians say one thing and then do another. 

Below  is a snapshot of the Inner East Area Committee minutes - where the local Councillors for  the surrounding area assured the public (FCCL included) that they  agreed with the then Station Commander Tony Head,  that Gipton and Stanks Fire Stations  should be saved. 

Note : 

EIAC strongly opposed the closure of the Gipton and Stanks fire stations and

relocation to one base. Members felt this would undermine the safety, health

and wellbeing of constituents if this led to a reduction in service to the area.

EIAC urged local community representatives to participate in the consultation

and contact their local MP’s. Members thanked Station Commander Head for

his presentation and participation in the frank discussions

RESOLVED

BUT WHAT REALLY HAPPENED WAS THIS ......

Firstly,  it was alleged by a Councillor very publicly  (over a year after the incident) that the Chair of the Fire Authority  Mehboob Khan bullied at least one Councillor into submission. We wrote about it HERE.  and if he bullied one we reckon he bullied more. 

SO ......

Ensure your local Councillors are not going to make political decisions behind your back..... pretty much  the night before the decision meeting was to be  held in our case. 

 ( at least one other Councillor from the same party and ward was unaware that  his colleague was going to vote through the closures - we know we have the text message). 

Don't just  write it down - VIDEO THEM  - so when they are up for re election you can play it back to show what they said. 

AND TELL THEM WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO.

 (if they don't vote not to close stations etc) 

 If they are in or affiliated to a trades union - make sure their branch is aware that they are potentially voting through  cuts that affect peoples lives ( and not just financially  - it could kill them). Does a political party trump a trades union ?  - nope it doesn't 

( just ask Ed Milliband )  

Get them to state in the press, on TV and anywhere else in the public domain they are against the proposals. 

And last but most certainly not least  get to know your local FBU officials - they are your allies and also technical advisers 

on any campaigns. (although we do reckon ours might be a bit tired of us by now, bless him) 

.AND FINALLY  ...... 

What happened  to our politicians  is  demonstrated perfectly by the video below.....just imagine a lift full of fire officers and a Councillor trying to do what is right.  

Instead of doing what was best for the communities they represent  - the Councillors did what they were told by a set of overpaid, self serving fire chiefs on ridiculously high  salaries! 

It takes guts to stand up to authority  - we know that for sure. 

Timid Councillors + Arrogant Fire Officers = Disaster 

   

It may sound silly  but show your local Councillors this video - it may just  make a difference. 

If you back a dog into a corner it is going to FIGHT !

Or alternatively  ............

Oh to be a fly on the wall Monday in Morley. 

We have used this particular saying before here  

OMG !!! You will never guess what I have just heard

"Will he charm them with his fancy uniform, shiny buttons and pips on his shoulder. Or will they stand up for the rights of every citizen to have a decent  fire and rescue service."

FCCL said that way back in October 2012 when CFO Simon Pilling was called to a meeting of Morley Town Council that was held behind closed doors. And seems he did charm them and spin them a tale via a set of matching smoke and mirrors. And we also told of Ed Balls MPs concerns  later the same October 
And although CFO SImon PIlling didnt get things entirely his own way (Morley Fire Station wasnt closed and merged with Hunslet,  but is to be day crewed instead) 
ANYWAY
 -  a couple of blogs later  ( March and May ) bring us round to this Monday  22nd July , Ed Balls MP is yet again  to meet with Simon Pilling (and we assume a few of his closest  henchmen) to discuss Morley Fire Stations future. Also in attendance will be Cllr Dawson, Cllr Varley, Cllr Finigan (who was at the original IRMP meeting), Cllr Mehboob Khan (was the head of the fire committee at the time) and FCCL believe several other local councillors too from the Morley , Ardsley and Robin Hood areas.

As these councillors are now we understand armed with the truth of what the IRMP means to them and their constituents they are pressing for some serious answers and the continued 24hr fire cover that they deserve.


Simply put, FCCL believes  the CFO and his officers lied to the fire committee over the wording of Morley staying open in the IRMP meeting which agreed the changes of, among other things, the downgrading of Morley, Rothwell & Garforth. When the local  firefighters and FBU  explained the actual implications of the outcome to Ed Balls and all the local Morley councillors they were not best pleased as they assumed that they had saved Morley from closure and were retaining 24hr cover but it soon became clear that they had had the wool pulled over their eyes by Simon and Co. 

Despite many attempts by Ed Balls & other councillors to get a meeting with the CFO to clarify the situation the CFO has consistently dodged the issue and even didn't bother to turn up to an agreed meeting with Ed Balls. Ed Balls is a very busy man and he was not impressed with the CFO's actions at all. (remember Simon P will be very close to retirement age when these cuts are implemented). 


As well as the fact that FCCL believe  the CFO lied to them the politicians  have also given them the facts about how many people actually put them selves forward for day manning at the affected stations.

Rothwell   8,

Garforth   3 or 4 

Morley 6 
(or maybe  less, we have heard since our last post there may be only ONE person willing to day crew)

Don't forget that the new system was open to everyone in West Yorkshire and if even only ONE person wants to do it and yet the closure of Morley will still go ahead on the 13th of January 2014.

It beggars belief that they will force a station closure with only one applicant as a replacement.

We understand the remainder of the staffing will come from the Ops Pool and detached duties from other stations - this could be the situation for years until they eventually find or recruit enough people to change to the day manning system ! All the personnel at Morley will be forced to  move to other stations which will over staff' those stations, this means that we will have the absurd situation of ex-Morley personnel being detached back into Morley (at extra cost) to keep the station running.  We understand 

One Watch Commander may have already been told that there are no foreseeable posts at other stations for him to be transferred to so they are 'making' a post for him at FSHQ ! - Lucky chap. 

Madness ! or Jobs for the boys? 

Why not leave the personnel where they are at Morley
until such a time that they can fill the posts properly? 
OR

IF IT AINT BROKE _ DON'T TRY AND FIX IT (mind you we already know he isn't too good with tape measures) 
And leave Morley, Rothwell and Hunslet just as they are. 

 It is absolute madness and FCCL are  beginning to think that maybe the CFO is suffering a serious impairment of judgement (AKA:   too arrogant and stubborn to admit he has messed it up  and anyway he can always blame the Councillors on the Fire Authority)

NOW TALKING OF MESSING UP
............................at the recent Inner East Area Committee at which  Station Commander Nigel Kirk of Gipton Fire Station told of a 40% increase in deliberate house fires in his station ground.


Cllr Ronald Grahame (labour)  who has had a seat on the Fire Authority  publicly said that voting through the closure of Gipton was something he regretted deeply 
AND THEN HE SAID 

Cllr Ronald Grahame

HE HAD BEEN BULLIED AND THREATENED BY
CLLR MEHBOOB KHAN

  INTO   VOTING THROUGH THE CLOSURES . 

Now lets make it clear THIS IS SERIOUS  and there is no way FCCL would ever put it in the public domain without being 110% sure 

But he said it at the committee, he repeated it to a close and trusted friend of FCCL and  he has also spoken to the FBU about what happened. 
So Cllr Mehboob Khan  bullied Ron ?
 Who else has he "influenced" 

What else has gone on
(we must presume with Simon Pillings consent as he was desperate to get things pushed through)


We will be writing publicly to Cllr Grahame  requesting he make a formal complaint to the Fire Authority  or RESIGN Next week is FCCLs Ladies of Letters*  week. 
We will  comment and blog on recent correspondence at WYFRS.

* Although there are many that would contest the term Lady and much prefer "that Woman"