Essex fire crews are warning that one in five frontline crews will have been cut since 2008 if further cuts being demanded by managers go ahead. A report by Chief Fire Officer David Johnson and Finance Director Mike Clayton presented to Councillors on Wednesday 9th May (paper EFA/ 051/12) confirms 100 full-time fire station based crews have been axed since 2008 with retained ‘on call’ crews cut by 60.
Further cuts now being planned will bring total losses of around one in five frontline firefighters since 2008.
The report also reveals that over the same period backroom staffing has risen by 7.5% – from 238 in 2008 to 256 today. The balance between frontline firefighters and backroom staff now stands at only 3:1. This despite Government pledges by CLG Minister and Essex MP Eric Pickles to protect frontline services as a priority.
The latest budget review shows underspends of £1.6 million on wholetime firefighters, £206,000 on retained and £136,000 on control firefighters. According to the budget review, tabled on 9 May, “the main areas where expenditure exceeded the most recent forecast are in ICT….”
Mick Rogers FBU Brigade Secretary said: “Once again we are seeing the frontline targeted for further cuts despite their being a budget underspend on all frontline crews and millions being spent on the corporate expansion at HQ. The current round of cuts would mean even fewer firefighters spread more thinly across Essex.
“Essex fire authority simply cannot go on targeting the frontline for further cuts. The cuts would inevitably put the safety of the public and the remaining fire crews at increased risk.
“There is genuine anger among the frontline crews about what is happening. The fire authority should be in no doubt about the strength of feeling on this issue or about the outcome of a strike ballot.
“I would urge them to take the time available to reconsider their priorities. They should not stick their heads in the sand, the real concerns of professional frontline crews are not going away.”
