Future Fire and Rescue

Introduction Aiming to improve service

while managing resources within reduced budget.

Saving £1.6million without impacting on response to emergencies or response standards.

Adapting service to reflect less emergency calls and different types of incident.

Targeting prevention work at those most at risk. Working even more closely with communities to stop emergencies occurring.

Draft Proposal Summary

Keep all fire stations open, but change crewing, introduce new shift patterns and reduce overall number of staff.

Keep same number of immediate response fire engines, but move one to a permanent location and remove some second and one third engine.

Support prevention work, working closely with communities, professional partners and those at risk.

Enhance resilience and community safety work with additional resources, as well as specialists to deal with severe weather events.

The Proposals

Littlehampton/Horsham Move second immediate response fire engine from

Horsham to Littlehampton. Engine is one of eight immediate response across five

stations. Went to Horsham as interim measure in 2013. Relocating to Littlehampton improves performance,

based on risk and operational demand. Horsham and Littlehampton both then have two fire

engines - one crewed 24hr as immediate response and one crewed by retained fire-fighters.

More effective use of resources.

Group Crewing

Introduce group crewing at immediate response stations – Bognor, Chichester, Crawley, Horsham, Littlehampton & Worthing.

Maintains 24hr immediate response and requires three fewer firefighters per station.

Would replace current four ‘watch’ system and firefighters would continue to work a 42hr week, with a mix of both day and night shifts.

Effective use of resources with no reduction in performance

Remove three second engines

Low levels of demand for second fire engines at Midhurst (28), Petworth (28) and Storrington (20).

Each would then have one fire engine and one 4x4.

Firefighter numbers at these stations would not be reduced.

Frees resources with minimal impact on performance and improves flexibility for getting to incidents.

Remove third Crawley engine Crawley has two Immediate Response fire engines

and third engine crewed by retained firefighters. Heavy Rescue Tender and 4x4 also based there.

Less emergencies requiring third engine and often not crewed when retained unavailable.

Proposal to remove third engine, which attends low level of calls (58).

Ten retained firefighter posts would be removed. Resources more proportionate to risk and

performance

Crewing change at four stations

Revised day crewing at four stations – Shoreham, Burgess Hill, Haywards Heath and East Grinstead.

Would maintain immediate response during core hours.

Standard station could be seven - combined reduction of ten posts across four stations.

Changes delivery of community safety work and maintains response standards at reduced cost.

Severe weather support

Increase operational capacity and support for communities in flooding and severe weather.

Key role in preparing for, responding to and recovery from severe weather events.

Invest in specialist equipment and training to support communities.

Review management and support staff

Continue to seek cost-saving efficiencies in management and support staff by reviewing and rationalising organisational structure.

Explore all other options for provision of services, including commissioning and collaboration with other emergency services or partners.

Reduce costs in management and administrative functions.

Improving operational resilience

Improve operational resilience utilising new Crewing Optimisation Group and existing trained staff.

Improve operational resilience with more effective use of skills and resources.

Improve operational performance and firefighter safety through the implementation of new technologies.

Questions….

Have your say

Our consultation runs from 2 June until 23 August 2014

The consultation document, and all supporting information, can be downloaded from our website – www.westsussex.gov.uk/fire

Contact futurefirerescue@westsusssex.gov.uk or telephone WSFRS Major Projects Group on 01243 753706