Issue - meetings

The meeting will receive an update on the Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service

There was no representative from the Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service present at the meeting, but Councillor Barton provided an update on the current situation with the budgetary issues.

Attendees were asked to note that:

·         Proposals were put forward last year to save money in the Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service; one proposal was to cut one fire engine (at Western).

·         Since then, it was considered that this would not result in sufficient savings and a new proposal was put forward to close the Central Fire Station as well as cut the fire engine at Western.

·         Councillors at the Leicester City Council and the City Mayor were not convinced that this would be a safe strategy. It was however a Fire Authority decision and the city council would need the support of people in the county.

·         The financial management of the fire service was contracted to the city council and the city councillors and finance officers were looking to put forward a new budget which would not necessitate the close of the central fire station.

Attendees expressed their concern at the possibility of the closure of the central fire station, particularly in view of the fact that there were there were hospitals, two football grounds and two universities in the city. Councillors asked residents to write to express their concerns to the Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service.