Council urged to oppose Government’s controversial coastguard move

Cornwall Council is being urged to write to the Government opposing a controversial move to remove payments for coastguard rescue teams.

The Government body responsible for the coastguard, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), is suggesting removing remuneration from coastguard rescue teams and a move to an entirely voluntary model from September.

In Cornwall there are coastguard units in Newquay, Boscastle, Bude, Falmouth, Land’s End, Looe, Mevagissey, Mullion, Padstow, Penzance, Polruan, Polzeath, Porthoustock, Porthleven, Portreath, Portscatho, St Agnes, St Austell and St Ives.

The 400 volunteer officers operating across 36 teams in Devon and Cornwall are considered a vital lifeline responding to emergencies at sea and helping in other rescue missions.

They are among 3,500 highly trained coastguard volunteers across the country who currently receive an hourly remuneration for attending incidents.

In September that is due to end as a result of a legal challenge over the status of volunteers and a subsequent Court of Appeal hearing which confirmed that they qualify as “workers” and are entitled to statutory benefits such as sick pay and holiday pay.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) says it has decided to transition to a “revised volunteer model” ending the £11 an hour payments for call-outs.

The proposal has been roundly criticised not just by coastguards themselves but by people living in the South West, with a number of MPs and councillors speaking out against the move, including North Cornwall’s Liberal Democrat MP Ben Maguire.

A Cornwall councillor, who represents one of the Cornish areas covered by coastguard units, is so incensed he’s putting pressure on the local authority to ask the Government if a comprehensive assessment has been undertaken of the possible risks if the coastguard model is changed.

James Mustoe, the Conservative councillor for Mevagissey and St Austell Bay on Cornwall Council, said: “HM Coastguard are our fourth emergency service, incredibly important to Cornwall and should be treated accordingly.

“Over the past couple of weeks I have been contacted by a number of coastguards who serve in the Mevagissey and St Austell units – both based in my division, with their considerable concerns about Government proposals to change their conditions.

“Whilst this may appear to be an administrative or financial decision, I believe it has significant implications for public safety, responder safety, emergency service resilience and the ability of HM Coastguard to continue delivering an effective Category 1 emergency response capability.”

He added: “There is a growing concern that the proposed changes could fundamentally undermine the sustainability of a service that has protected lives around our coastline for decades.

“These proposals are being led by the Government and it is for our MPs to engage with their local coastguard teams and act on their behalf. This is what I had been advocating those who contacted me do.”

Cllr Mustoe said he wanted to do more, so he has now tabled a motion to Cornwall Council’s next full council meeting on July 21.

His motion reads: “That in the light of recent proposals being considered by HM Coastguard, the leader is mandated to write to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation noting Cornwall Council’s opposition to the proposed changes and asking whether a comprehensive assessment has been undertaken of the risks associated with these changes.”

The motion adds specific questions of Government:

What workforce modelling has been conducted to assess the likely impact on retention and availability?

What operational safety assessment has been completed regarding the potential loss of experience, skills and leadership capability?

What contingency plans exist if volunteer numbers or availability fall below expected levels?

How has HM Coastguard satisfied itself that public safety and responder safety will not be adversely affected?

Has an impact assessment been undertaken regarding the resilience of coastguard rescue teams as a Category 1 emergency response capability?

Cllr Mustoe added: “The Government does have a history of changing its mind on difficult decisions and who knows what will happen between now and July.

“However, I thought it was important to get this motion down as a marker now and that Cornwall Council as an organisation be challenged to act on behalf of coastguard teams in Cornwall and put their concerns to the highest level of Government.”

He has asked that other Cornwall councillors who represent areas covered by coastguard units support his motion.