Fire service review approved!
A report outlining the work of the joint service review for Warwickshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service has been approved at cabinet.
Cabinet was asked to approve the continuation of work on service improvements and efficiencies through exploring the benefits of closer working arrangements with Hereford and Worcestershire Fire and Rescue Service. This work will recommence once a joint member / officer review group has been established.
Leader of the Council, Alan Farnell said:
“Cabinet has approved that work on moves towards closer working relationships with another brigade will now be examined. I would like to make it clear that this work does not involve looking at the closure of any fire stations, it is simply to look at how Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service could work in closer collaboration or combination with Hereford and Worcestershire Fire and Rescue. “
Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, Richard Hobbs, said:
“The report has been approved and work will now begin on re-establishing a joint member / officer review group to look at how we can work in closer collaboration with Hereford and Worcestershire Fire and Rescue Service. Again this group will not be looking at closing fire stations, just how we can improve the service we provide to the people of Warwickshire and Hereford and Worcestershire through closer working practices.”
The review group will now take on the responsibility of looking at what benefits two fire services working closer together could bring to the local communities. It is anticipated that they will then present their findings in September 2008.