County Tories Ignore Own MPs’ Concerns Over Fire Service Cuts (South East Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats)

South East Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats <info@secambslibdems.org.uk>

County Tories Ignore Own MPs’ Concerns Over Fire Service Cuts

April 15, 2011 6:52 PM

Tory County Councillors have been accused of ignoring their own MPs concerns about fire service cuts after refusing to consider shared working with neighbouring fire authorities.

They ruled out a call to consider the working relationship between Dorset Fire Services and Devon and Somerset Fire Services as a possible model for the future of Cambridgeshire.

Under the plan the two fire services will save money through joint procurement and reducing senior management posts from 12 to seven, minimising cuts to frontline services.

The Tories decision not to allow the issue to be debated came just days after North East Cambridgeshire MP, Stephen Barclay and Peterborough MP, Stewart Jackson expressed their concerns about the cost of back room operations in the county fire service.

The idea for joint working was suggested by Liberal Democrat Opposition Leader, Councillor Nigel Bell, during a meeting of Cambridgeshire Fire Authority's Policy & Finance Committee on April 14 2011.

Cllr Bell put forward the proposal in a motion with the intention of the Chief Fire Officer preparing a discussion paper for the authority's next meeting where cuts to frontline fire services are to be discussed.

But, as the only Lib Dem member at the meeting, he was unable to secure a seconder from any Tory Member of the authority.

Cllr Bell said: "It was clear from their complete refusal to even discuss my motion that they are prepared to let front line fire services take the hit rather than seriously examining reducing management costs.

"They were not prepared to discuss a very modest proposal which could have seen Cambridgeshire share management and procurement costs with other authorities in the region to save money."

Fire authority member, Lib Dem Councillor Geoff Heathcock said: "It is clear from the Conservative's reaction that they are not the least bit interested in finding alternatives to cutting front line services. The Tory MPs, who are trying to find another way, are being ignored by their own councillors.

"It is imperative that we do everything in our power to protect our front line emergency crews; but a rescue plan won't come from a Tory-run fire authority which is not prepared to look at all the options."

The full text of the motion reads:

"This Committee notes the review underway to identify ways to meet the savings Cambridgeshire Fire & Rescue Service needs to make over the next 4 years. We also note that Dorset Fire & Rescue Service and Devon and Somerset Fire & Rescue Service are beginning closer working arrangements in order to save money and, according to one of the CFOs the focus is on "looking at how our senior management teams can work more closely to lessening any negative impact on front line service delivery. The ultimate aim will be for the teams to be working closely together and sharing officers' skills and expertise."

This Committee believes that similar arrangements ought to be under investigation by Cambridgeshire Fire & Rescue Service as part of the spending review currently underway, and therefore instructs the CFO to bring a paper to the next full Fire Authority meeting in May 2011 so that this Fire Authority can consider approving such discussions with neighbouring Fire Services."