16 March 2021
Forty new firefighter posts among positive proposals approved by Fire Authority for Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service

The addition of forty new firefighter posts at Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service has been given the go ahead by Fire Authority members.

At a meeting of the full Fire Authority held on Monday March 15, members agreed two proposals within the Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP) to introduce an additional fire appliance at West Denton Community Fire Station on a permanent basis and to primary crew both of the Aerial Ladder Platforms (ALP) within the service.

Cllr Tony Taylor, Chair of Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Authority said: “We have listened to representations from our Executive Leadership Team with the proposals within the Integrated Risk Management Plan and are in full support. The hard work and continued dedication of staff to enable these enhancements is to be commended.

“In what remains a challenging time for public services we are doing everything we can to both ensure the continued fire safety for our communities and also working hard to provide the enhancements our community deserves.”

Chris Lowther, Chief Fire Officer at Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, said: “I am absolutely delighted that Fire Authority have approved these proposals as part of our Integrated Risk Management Plan for 2021-2024.

“The introduction of an additional fire appliance permanently at West Denton and the primary staffing of both Aerial Ladder Platforms means we will improve the speed and weight of our response to fire and other emergencies. And it also means the addition of forty new firefighter posts into the Service to support this.

“These investments and improvements have only been made possible because of excellent budget management by our finance team who have made efficiencies that will allow us to reinvest. It has not been brought about by any new funding.”

Proposal 1 to introduce an additional fire appliance at West Denton Community Fire Station (station Alpha) into the response fleet on a permanent basis, has been operating as a pilot since 1 November 2020 following Fire Authority approval in the October 2020 Fire Authority meeting.

Key benefits have included improving the speed and weight of response to emergencies with an additional fire crew available to deploy.

There was up until 2017-2020 IRMP a second fire appliance at West Denton and this was removed as part of a need to balance the budget and meet the challenge of the financial situation at the time.

Proposal 2 has been supported by a pilot of primary crewing of one of the ALPs since 4 November 2020 following Fire Authority approval. This proposal would ensure that both of the Service’s ALPs are available at all times without the need to remove an appliance from the response fleet to accommodate this.

The additional appliance and primary crewing of the ALPs will provide greater operational efficiency and effectiveness and ensure that the resilience of the Service is maintained and enhanced.

The remaining additional cost of these proposals beyond the end of the current pilots can be met from Strategic Contingencies included within the 2021/22 revenue budget.

An eight-week public consultation will be held following the local election period.