Fire service funding questioned

12.00.00am GMT Thu 15th Nov 2007

Norfolk Lib Dems are worried that funding shortages are putting local fire services at risk

Reductions to front line emergency fire services in Norfolk may have to be made unless something is done to address long-term funding shortfalls.

A report to Norfolk County Council's Fire and Community Protection Review Panel revealed this week that a combination of new statutory duties and extreme weather conditions is leaving the Fire Service 'significantly stretched'. The report also noted that Norfolk's expenditure per head for fire and rescue services is 'amongst the lowest in the country'.

Cllr David Callaby, who is the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Fire and Community Protection at Norfolk County Council, is concerned that cuts to life-saving services will be inevitable unless urgent action is taken to bolster the Fire Service coffers. He says:

"I believe that making any further reductions to this already overstretched front-line emergency service would put Norfolk residents at an unacceptable level of risk. The Fire Service has done a good job of finding efficiency savings over the past few years but now I think it is time we recognise that more investment is needed to enable it to fulfil its role of protecting Norfolk people.

"I have asked for Norfolk County Council's Cabinet to review the total funding level for the Fire Service within this financial year. So far I have not secured any firm commitment that this work will be undertaken but I hope they will give it some serious consideration in the run up to their budget announcement next year."

At the same meeting Cllr Callaby secured cross party agreement for an urgent review to be carried out into the adequacy of emergency fire services across the County. Mr Callaby called for this review after learning that recurring gaps in cover were appearing at fire stations across Norfolk, and particularly in the west of the County.

Now this review has been agreed, Mr Callaby hopes councillors will be able to identify how significant the emergency fire cover problem is, what the contributory factors are, whether the problem is caused or exacerbated by financial pressure and therefore whether total funding for the service needs to be reviewed.