22
June 2010 |
| RFU
response to WSFRS draft Consultation document |
The RFU is extremely disappointed
to discover that West Sussex County Council proposes, via
its draft Action Plan, to make cuts to the Retained Fire Service
in West Sussex.
We are fully aware that local
and national government, including councils will have to make
tough financial decisions due to the current economic climate.
However, the proposals to close Retained fire stations and
remove appliances is not the most effective way of reducing
expenditure.
The proposals will produce cuts
to the frontline services, cuts to the most cost-effective
part of the Service, the Retained Duty System. These cuts
are proposed without any negative impact on Full-time or support
staff.
It is very concerning to our
members that these proposals lack any innovation in terms
of providing best value to the tax payer; there is a total
lack of understanding as to why the council propose to make
cuts from the leanest part of the Service whilst in the same
breath proposing to spend millions on building new fire stations.
It is our intention during the
consultation process to champion the valuable contribution
provided by retained firefighters and lobby robustly MP’s,
local councillors and the Minister responsible. We also believe
it is important to offer alternative solutions that will save
the tax payer money without increasing risk.
We will be calling on the support
of the recently elected MPs to scrutinize these proposals
and ask how the council can justify cuts to frontline services
whilst at the same time increasing costs.
Richard Fryer
RFU Secretary, West Sussex
www.rfuonline.co.uk
Message Ends
Press contact
Richard Fryer 07976 850517
Note for editors
|
1 |
West Sussex
County Council proposes to close three Retained Fire Stations,
Bosham, Findon and Keymer. The council also proposes to
remove one appliance from 2-pumps stations East Preston
and Lancing. |
|
2 |
RDS Firefighters are sometimes
called "Part time firefighters" or "On
call firefighters" |
|
3 |
When required to answer
an emergency call Retained Duty Firefighters are summoned
to the fire station by a pager. Once at the station the
crews staff the fire engine and proceed to the incident
/emergency. |
|
4 |
Because of this Retained
Duty System Firefighters are required to live, or work
near to the fire station they serve. This allows them
to respond to emergencies within acceptable and strict
attendance time targets set out by each fire service. |
|
5 |
Retained Duty System Firefighters
are employed and trained by the applicable local authority
fire and rescue service covering the particular county
or area in which the Firefighter serves. |
|
6 |
Typically Retained Duty
System Firefighters are employed in rural areas or in
large villages or small towns. Retained Duty System |
|
7 |
Of the 28 fire stations
in West Sussex 19 are fully crewed by Retained firefighters* |
|
8 |
West Sussex FRS inc. 50
middle and senior managers, 343 Wholetime personnel (Watch
Manager and below) and 389 Retained personnel* |
|
9 |
Wholetime firefighters
cost £19,136 per 1,000 population compared to £4,985
for Retained firefighters* |
|
10 |
Firefighters pensions cost
£4,553 per 1,000 population* |
|
11 |
Support staff cost £4,933
per 1,000 population* |
* CIPFA Statistics 2009
Click
here to read the West Sussex County Council Press Statement
|
