Issued on 22 June 2016

REVIEWS LAUNCHED TO SUPPORT FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICES

Reviews have been launched to help save £350,000, in order to protect frontline fire services in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

The Combined Fire Authority (CFA) has agreed to review management, its vehicle fleet and its buildings, with savings used to “enhance the frontline service”.

CFA Chairman, Councillor Nick Rushton, said: “I’m determined we’ll leave no stone unturned, to find money to protect our fire and rescue services.

“As councillors, we’ve all spent years making efficiency savings within our own authorities, to ensure our limited funding stretches as far as it can. It’s now time to apply the same principles to the fire service.”

The fire authority faces reductions in Government funding until at least 2020.

The reviews, which were agreed in principle at the CFA’s budget meeting earlier this year, will cover:

  • The Service’s 22 buildings, including the Birstall Headquarters (SHQ) – and whether the SHQ should be maintained, partly or fully leased out or sold
  • The Service’s 170 vehicles and whether the non-emergency fleet can be reduced by 10 per cent
  • The Service’s 31 operational and 13 non-operation management posts and whether there is scope to reduce the current £3.12 million cost and share staff and functions with other organisations

Proposals will be reported back to the CFA for approval, although any “quick win savings” identified can be adopted by the Chief Fire and Rescue Officer (CFO).

Councillor Rushton said he was also introducing monthly briefings with the CFO, which will take place at fire and rescue stations and other venues across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. MPs and the Police and Crime Commissioner will be invited.

It is hoped that the first briefing will take place next month (July) at Central Fire and Rescue Station, when Leicester South MP Jon Ashworth will be invited to attend.

Councillor Rushton will also consult his Vice-Chair to see if the CFA’s formal meetings, which are open to the public, can also be staged across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

The CFA is committed to collaboration with local partners, such as other emergency services and the city and county councils, to aid efficiency.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Councillor Nick Rushton will be taking all media enquires so, if you have any, please contact Mel Atkinson at Leicestershire County Council on 0116 305 7046.

About the Service

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service provides emergency response, prevention and protection services from 20 stations across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Its headquarters is based in Birstall, Leicester.

The Service’s prevention, education, enforcement and inspection programmes have resulted in significant reductions in the number of incidents. In the last five years, fire related incidents have reduced by 32.6 percent.

During 2014/15, the Service attended 619 road traffic collisions, of which 155 were extrications freeing 194 people trapped inside their vehicles and completed 4316 home fire safety checks, fitting almost 4339 smoke alarms. Staff organised or supported almost 1590 events aimed at promoting fire and road safety and arson prevention, whilst also visiting 314 schools to deliver fire and road safety education to pupils.

Contact:

Dominic Halliday
Communications and Digital Media Administrator
0116 2292178
dominic.halliday@lfrs.org

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