Avon Fire Authority has proposed to stop controversial cuts to 40 firefighter posts.
Campaigning against the proposed firefighter cuts | Photo © Fire Brigades Union
Last autumn it decided to cut 40 wholetime (full-time) firefighter posts and reduce fire engine crews from five firefighters to four across the service.
But the Fire Brigades Union had warned the cuts presented a danger to the public and firefighters.
Firefighters were joined by supporters at a rally of more than 60 people outside the fire authority meeting on Monday, 19th February.
Fire authority members are now expected to formalise the decision at their meeting next month.
Fire Brigades Union general secretary Matt Wrack said: “Avon Fire Authority has made the right decision to listen to the concerns of the frontline and halt plans to cut 40 firefighter posts.
“This follows months of campaigning by Fire Brigades Union members. Today’s rally showed the impact of firefighters and the public standing together against cuts.
“The Fire Brigades Union will continue to fight to ensure that our services receive the investment they urgently need.”
Fire Brigades Union South West regional treasurer Amanda Mills said: “Firefighters in Avon fought an impressive campaign against cuts to our service. Today’s fire authority decision shows that when we stand together, for public and firefighter safety, we can win.
“It’s clear that Avon Fire & Rescue Service needs urgent and sustainable investment. The Fire Brigades Union will continue to fight for the long-term future of our vital service.”
A report published last November by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services found the fire service was “inadequate” at responding to fires and other emergencies and it was moved into “enhanced monitoring”.
At the time, Chief Fire Officer Simon Shilton apologised and said steps were already being taken to make improvements.
Last month a report was published following a revisit and it was found that appropriate and clear governance arrangements were in place to monitor progress of the action plan.
Following the meeting Chief Fire Officer Shilton said they had a deficit of over £4m over the course of the medium-term financial plan.
“To ignore the deficit is not an option I have available to consider. What we can do is start to introduce our savings and efficiencies more gradually, but we still have significant savings to find.
“At the Fire Authority finance meeting on 19th February, members decided to set the council tax precept, but some members suggested an alternative proposal regarding the allocation of funding for year one within the medium-term financial plan.
“The proposal explored the option of moving money around to reduce the amount of savings required in year one.
“However, in doing so this would have consequences and significantly impact other areas of the organisation.
“It was therefore agreed that Avon Fire & Rescue Service officers would explore the impact of this proposal and what the implications would be for the wider service to present back to the Fire Authority at their meeting on 20th March.
“Our budget planning processes take account of all expenditure across the service and therefore moving money around in this way simply means that it must be taken from elsewhere.”
This story first appeared in The Week In, our sister title.
