To receive a presentation from the Deputy Chief Fire and Rescue Officer, Steve Lunn.

The panel received a presentation from the Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service regarding the overall proposals currently being put forward as part of a consultation and the Medium Term Financial Strategy – Issues and Options. 

The Chairman invited questions and comments, the following points were raised:

      i.        There had been approval of a reduction in Fire Fighters (Operational Employees) and the budget had been removed as part of the proposed savings.  The employees, however, were still in post and being paid and this was a major factor in the budget gaps recording the presentations;

     ii.        Savings had so far been made by removal of vehicles.  Reducing the number of employees was being looked as it was clear that those employees that would leave through retirement would not be sufficient.  A six option plan had been put forward to look at a solution;

    iii.        The Government spending review on 25^th November 2015 would put further pressure on achieving reductions;

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Mr O Hemsley joined the meeting

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   iv.        When setting the reserve consideration was given to the level of risk balanced against the needs of the operational budget;

    v.        This consultation did not include provision in Rutland, that had been decided last year and the results of the trial of the First Responders and the Rapid Response Vehicle in Rutland would be assessed separately;

   vi.        The risks had been analysed to ensure that by using resources at neighbouring stations and working together there would be no effect on operational capacity;

  vii.        The population of Rutland, Leicestershire and Leicester had increased over the last few years, but the number of emergency incidents had reduced;

 viii.        The number of large scale incidents had also been reducing by on average one per year;

   ix.        A Community Risk Model had been devised in order to understand the geographical location of higher risk areas so that resources can be directed to the correct areas;

    x.        Tactical Response Vehicles cost £200,000 less than a full fire engine and have reduced running costs.  They were effective in dealing with small scale incidents and were only used to support full fire engines in large scale incidents.  When a 999 call was made the systems were able to calculate which vehicle would be required at a given incident;

   xi.        Staff have been consulted and accept the necessity of the proposals put forward;

  xii.        The reductions are centred on On-call and retained fire crew;

 xiii.        Cuts in neighbouring areas had been taken into account to ensure that all areas were adequately covered.  Any further cuts in local areas would be assessed and any issues would be addressed;

 xiv.        Mothballing properties could increase costs due to damage and security implications – this is why the recommendation was to sell properties detailed in the summary of proposals;

  xv.        The proposals will be considered at a meeting with the Fire Authority on 10 December 2015; and

 xvi.        There was an over provision in the Oakham area, but this would be considered when the results of the trial of the Tactical Response Vehicle and First Responders.

* A copy of the presentation are attached to these minutes.