Cleveland Fire Brigade hailed as ‘head and shoulders above the rest of the country’ despite cuts

Earlier this year Cleveland Fire Authority published its service plan for 2020/21, identifying planned improvements and priorities for the year ahead.

A report on the plan to the authority’s executive committee noted priorities include continuing work as part of the Community Integrated Management Plan for 2018-2022.

It also includes addressing any areas for development following the recent inspection from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services, which ranked Cleveland Fire Brigade as ‘good’ in all three key areas of inspection.

Cllr Luke Forst, Stockton-on-Tees representative on the committee, noted the plan highlights the positive work which continues to be carried out by the fire authority, despite cuts in resources in recent years.

This includes how response times to primary fire incidents are the fastest in the country, and how a higher rate of safer homes inspections and business premises fire audits are carried out than any other fire and rescue service.

Cllr Frost said: “There are a few things I would like to highlight in the plan that to me is great and shows others why we are a fantastic service.

“Despite a reduction in the authority’s cash budget of £3million, which is the equivalent of 10% cash reduction, over the last seven years, we are still head and shoulders above the rest of the country.”

He also added how plans looking at tacking the authority’s carbon footprint and to bring in a ‘town management scheme’ are both positive.

Cllr Frost said: “We’re focusing on developing our arrangements to reduce our carbon emissions and to tackle the impact of climate change, we’re bucking the trend and I look forward to reading the climate change strategy.

“One of the biggest highlights for me is the plan to establish a town management scheme. The slogan or indeed the badge of, one vision, one team leading the future, is sheer brilliance.”

Cleveland Fire Authority officers noted their plans for the year have also been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic however, which has become a priority for the brigade.

Focus for the brigade has included work on planning, response and recovery phases to Covid-19, with some other work having to be rescheduled due to the demands of the pandemic.

A message from the Editor:

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to the Hartlepool Mail website and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit here to sign up. You can subscribe to the newspaper with 20% off here. Thank you.