FIA 2009 LIAISON UPDATE
ur relations with external by the inevitable return to ground zero.
O
bodies play, as ever, Fortunately, the population of senior civil
a fundamental role in servants tends to be rather more stable and
virtually every aspect of the remains an invaluable means of influencing
Association’s strategic aims policy among those that are involved in the
and their constituent objectives. In fact, there practical details.
are probably no strands of the FIA’s activities The messages and objectives that
that feature in this Review that have been guide the FIA’s outreach endeavours vary
undertaken in isolation from relevant quarters depending on the arena in question but
of the outside world. The partnerships that the more prevalent issues include fire safety
form, some permanent, some more transient, legislation and its enforcement, competency
are invariably there to denote the recognition benchmarking in relation to third party
of mutual interests and the willingness to work certification and the reduction of unwanted
towards common goals. fire alarms, the latter encompassing
The Liaison Group is chaired by Board development and adherence to the CFOA
Member and past FIA Chairman Peter False Alarms Policy.
Moore and, as well as members of the Much of this work in England takes place
Secretariat, he is joined by representatives with CLG which includes the Fire and
“THE MESSAGES
of each of the Councils, Resilience Directorate and the Chief Fire
AND OBJECTIVES
now including the Risk and Rescue Adviser’s Unit although other
Assessment Council that departments of relevance on particular
THAT GUIDE THE was formed a year ago. It issues have included BERR and DEFRA. This
FIA’S OUTREACH
meets quarterly, usually a work is mirrored with the Scottish Parliament
ENDEAVOURS
few weeks ahead of the and the Welsh and Northern Irish Assemblies.
VARY DEPENDING
Council sessions, with the Other domestic liaisons are too numerous
aim of co-ordinating the to cover in detail but over the last year, those
ON THE ARENA IN
external liaison activities of especial value have included the Fire and
QUESTION”
of the FIA and setting Rescue Services [via CFOA and several Chief
priorities and actions with reference to the Fire Officers], other sector trade associations
stated objectives of the Association and [including BAFSA, ASFP, ICEL and FIRESA],
its several Councils and Working Groups. the security industry via BSIA and a range
It is able, therefore, to take the necessary of vertical market bodies such as LABC,
‘helicopter’ view while certainly not shying CIBSE, BIBA, IFE, IFPO and IFSM. Further afield
away from a hands-on approach which sees in Europe, we continue to play a leading
Group members take direct responsibility in role in both Euralarm and Eurofeu while our
a number of key areas of our Liaison activity. standards activities involve active presence
FIA Insight last year referred to the then on a range of BSI, CEN and ISO committees.
Fire Minister, Parmjit Dhanda, and that In the latter stages of 2009 and into 2010,
position at CLG has changed not once but there remains much to do and certainly
twice in the intervening period, with Shahid much to achieve with our various partners in
Malik now assuming the role. This lack of the fire protection community.
continuity at ministerial level is a common
feature and results in a perpetual cycle of Dave Smith
introduction and understanding followed FIA Business Development Manager
16 FIA ANNUAL REPORT 2009
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