Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service has published revised proposals for service changes.
These proposals, which form part of its 2015-18 draft Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP) will be discussed at the Council's Cabinet meeting on Tuesday 17 May.
Following an extensive 14 week consultation, the following proposals are recommended to the Council's Cabinet, informed by the consultation feedback and the professional view of the Chief Fire Officer Mark Hardingham:
These new recommendations support the future of the Service; they maintain the current 35 fire stations across Suffolk and do not directly impact on the response of the first fire engine attending any 999 incident across the county.
The proposals, together with those being made through reducing senior management and support office functions, provide savings of around £1million. Further review and discussion will follow in preparation for the 2017/18 budget to consider if additional savings are required.
Suffolk County Council's Cabinet Member for Environment and Public Protection, Cllr Matthew Hicks said:
"These proposals have been prepared to provide Suffolk with a fit for purpose fire service that meets the needs of residents across the county.
"We have, in preparing these proposals, listened to feedback through the consultation process and have taken the professional advice of our Chief Fire Officer Mark Hardingham.
"Suffolk Fire and Rescue is a real success story, serving our communities across the county. We have always said it is a challenge trying to find savings from such a dynamic emergency service but, with ever decreasing central Government funding, every public service has to find efficiencies and live within its means. The county council has contributed to the protection of the fire service in previous years and continues to do so. Without this financial protection the impact of required savings would be much worse."
These proposals ensure that the service remains fit to continue to provide a balance of Prevention, Protection and Emergency Response services to communities across Suffolk: