Andrew Dismore

I have continued to battle with the Mayor over his intention to overrule the Fire Authority and to impose unnecessary cuts of 13 fire engines.

The Mayor admitted he did not know of extent of fire station closures- but orders cuts anyway.

Boris Johnson thinks having 9 fire stations off the run is a “pointless statistic”.

The public are also standing with the Fire Authority in supporting the alternative balanced budget option which I produced, with 70% supporting us in the consultation, which the Mayor has ignored.

However, the Mayor is determined to implement these damaging cuts of 13 fire engines. He has now issued a formal direction to the Fire Authority to bend to his will, which cuts were approved by the Fire Authority Urgency Committee on the votes of the Conservative member and chair’s casting vote. Labour voted against, but as the Lib Dem and Green members did not turn up, we did not have a majority.

As I am not prepared as Chair of the Authority Resources Committee to preside over the implementation of the Mayor’s wholly unnecessary cuts of 13 fire engines and 188 firefighters’ jobs, I have resigned from this position with immediate effect. The chair of the committee has now been taken by the Lib Dem.

On a different note, you probably saw coverage of Exercise Unified Response, the impressive international emergency services exercise led by the London Fire Brigade, financed by the EU to the tune of 1 million Euros:

You may be aware that there are four disused cottages at the rear of West Hampstead fire station. I am arguing for them to be refurbished for key worker, preferably firefighter, housing. This has been agreed in principle, but will be subject to the detailed case stacking up. I visited the Fire Station to inspect what would need to be done, and to meet the watch on duty.