Roger Hargreaves
Deputy Director
FiReControl
Communities and Local Government
Mr John Back-Brown
Fire and Resilience Directorate
Zone 2 Ashdown House
123 Victoria St
London SW1E 6ED
Tel:
020 7944 6060
Email: [email address]
Web:
www.communities.gov.uk/fire
Ref : F0003305
Dear Mr Back-Brown
I am writing in response to your request for information of 21 August about costs for the
FiReControl project. Your request has been considered under the Freedom of Information
Act 2000. I am able to provide you with the following information.
1. What is the current value of change control notices agreed since the original contract
award? Could this be broken down by date of CCN and element of the project?
The value of change control notes agreed in the first two years of the contract is less than
1% of the original contract value. However a more detailed breakdown cannot be provided
as this is of a commercially sensitive nature and falls to be considered under section 43
(commercial interests) of the FOI act. Whilst there are the following factors in support of
releasing more detailed information:
• that there is transparency in the accountability of public funds; and
• that public money is being used effectively, and that departments are getting value for
money when purchasing goods and services;
On balance this detailed information would if disclosed weaken the Department's position
in future negotiations by revealing market-sensitive information at this time. Equally, the
disclosure of this more detailed information would be likely to damage the relationship that
the Department is establishing with our supplier. As such there is strong public interest in
maintaining this relationship as currently stands and upholding the use of the exemption.
Therefore this commercially sensitive information is refused under section 43 of the act.
2. What plans are in place to refund local brigades for the increased costs they are
incurring as a result of the delay?
The Department is committed to fund the implementation costs of FiReControl. It is
recognised that delays to cut over mean that some FRSs will not benefit from the savings
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they will realise when cut over takes place until a later date. Further, for some FRSs
delays to the project present challenges in terms of maintaining their current infrastructure
for a longer period.
Communities and Local Government has previously requested information on the
constraints that individual Fire and Rescue Authorities face as a consequence of the
recently rescheduled cutover dates, so that we can work with the Authority’s to identify the
most appropriate mitigating actions.
Regarding Fire and Rescue Services existing legacy systems, the Department cannot
legitimately support through new burdens the full replacement or refresh of existing
technology and infrastructure. Where existing costs of supporting and maintaining existing
legacy systems are simply being extended to cover an additional time period this will not
be eligible for new burdens funding. Where it can be demonstrated, however, that new
and/or higher infrastructure support costs will be incurred as a result of the rescheduling
then the Department will consider these on a case by case basis.
You are free to use this information for your own purposes, including any non-commercial
research or private study you are carrying out and for purposes of news reporting. If you
intend other form of re-use, for example commercial publication, you would require the
permission of the Office of Public Sector Information in respect of Crown Copyright
material, in the form of a re-use licence. You can find details of how to apply for a licence
to re-using Crown copyright on HMSO online at http://www.opsi.gov.uk/click-use/index.htm
Communities and Local Government as an organisation aims to be as helpful as possible
in the way it deals with requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act
2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. If, however, you are not
satisfied with the way in which your request has been handled or the outcome, you may
request an internal review within two calendar months of the date of this letter. Information
about the Department's review procedures and how to apply for an internal review of your
case is contained in the enclosed leaflet. This also explains your right to apply directly to
the Information Commissioner for a decision in the event that you remain dissatisfied
following the authority's review
If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me. Please remember to quote the
reference number above in any future communications.
Yours sincerely
ROGER HARGREAVES
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