The project to create a network of nine regional control centres in England – FireControl – has been inadequately planned, poorly executed and badly managed and is now in a precarious position, according to a report by MPs released today.
The House of Commons select committee said that while on balance it thought the project should still go ahead, this was conditional on the Communities and Local Government department having contingency plans in case of further problems – including upgrading existing control room technology.
The report says the original contract was ill suited to the nature of the project, and that relationships with major stakeholders and contractors have been mishandled. High staff turnover at CLG, especially at a senior level, has compromised the department’s ability to manage the project effectively, while costs have escalated and the potential savings plummeted.
The committee said that although there are now considerable doubts as to whether the project can be delivered, on balance, given the investment of public funds already committed and the benefits that will accrue, CLG should press ahead with the project. But this was conditional on the urgent agreement of a viable project plan in which the main stakeholders can have confidence, which will ensure that the target ‘go-live’ date will be met.
Responding to the report, fire minister Shahid Malik said: "We accept that there have been problems in delivering the FireControl project. However, through the changes we have already made – many reflected in the committee’s recommendations – I believe the project is in a better position than ever before.
“Many of the submissions to the committee also recognised recent improvements. The government is strongly committed to delivering FireControl having carefully explored all other possibilities. The benefits it will deliver, especially a level of interoperability between fire and rescue services that we simply do not have at present, outweigh the challenges.”
CLG said that the project has made significant progress including the completion of all nine regional control centre buildings, three of which have been fitted out with furniture, audio visual and IT equipment, and a total of 197 fire stations using FireControl interface equipment to communicate with their current control rooms.
The report recommended that CLG should update the select committee in the new parliament in July 2010 that a viable project plan has been agreed, and should report on progress against that plan.
Read the select committee's report
