Members of the public are being invited to have their say on a range of operational efficiency options to help Humberside Fire and Rescue Service meet budget challenges.
In 2012/13, Humberside Fire and Rescue Service consulted with the public on a range of options that had been developed to reduce the cost of the operational part of the Service. Some of those options were implemented and, as a result, realised savings of £2.5m. However, following the Government’s spending review, the Service needs to make further significant savings to meet its budget short fall.
To go some way to achieve the savings required, Humberside Fire and Rescue Service is again consulting on a range of options which could be implemented whilst still allowing the Service to meet the challenging response standards set by the Fire Authority.
Deputy Chief Fire Officer Chris Blacksell explains:
“We have already made significant savings over recent years, however, more still needs to be done to plan for the budget reductions we now know we face in the next few years.
“I would urge members of our community to come to one of the public consultation sessions where they can learn more about the options and the impact they will have, and I also urge them to have their say by giving us their views on those options. Everything we are consulting upon has been designed to ensure that we can still meet the response standards that we are so proud of.”
An online consultation survey is now available on the Service’s website.
Public drop-in consultation sessions are also now taking place in the areas affected by the options. Members of the community are invited to come along and learn more about the options and give their views:
Thu 14 January 2016
Hornsea Fire Station, Southgate, Hornsea, HU18 1RE drop in from 6.00pm – 7.00pm
Mon 18 January 2016
Morrisons, Welton Road, Brough, HU15 1AF drop in from 4.00pm – 5.00pm
Tues 19 January 2016
Market Weighton Fire Station, Cliffe Road, Market Weighton, YO43 3BP drop in from 5.30pm – 6.30pm
Mon 25 January 2016
Withernsea Fire Station, Walter Street, Withernsea, HU19 2AD drop in from 6.00pm – 7.00pm
Fri 29 January 2016
Inspire Immingham Swimming Pool, Princess Street, Immingham, North East Lincolnshire, DN40 1LN drop in from 12:30pm – 1:30pm
The consultation is open for six weeks from Mon 11 Jan – Mon 22 Feb 2016.
Information about the options is available on the Service’s website at www.humbersidefire.gov.uk.