Shropshire fire crews could share resources and training with H&W

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Tuesday, 9 October 2018 21:25

By Carmelo Garcia - Local Democracy Reporter

Firefighters in Shropshire could soon be sharing resources and training with the Hereford and Worcester brigades, under plans due to be discussed this week.

Brigade chiefs point out the neighbouring counties have already been co-operating informally for the past year, and say a more formal alliance will boost efficiency and resilience.

Emergency services are required by law to work together where possible to help save money and resources.

In March Shropshire and Wrekin Fire and Rescue Authority gave a go-ahead for officers to explore alliance plans, and will discuss the plans in more detail this week.

In a report before the 17-member panel, which consists of members of both Telford and Wrekin and Shropshire councils, Chief Fire Officer Rod Hammerton writes: “The proposed alliance reflects a need to consolidate successful, but largely ad hoc, collaborative work between the two services.”

Mr Hammerton gives the example of a joint scheme that trained Police Community Support Officers from West Mercia to become on-call firefighters in the three counties.

“The proposal extends the existing collaboration arrangements into a more planned and structured formal alliance which will deliver real benefits in terms of aligning processes and procedures, and sharing resources, experience and expertise. It will also provide both services with the capacity and resilience to remain sustainable long into the next decade.

“lt responds to the 2017 Police and Crime Act’s statutory duty for emergency services to collaborate in the interests of efficiency and effectiveness.”

Shropshire and Wrekin Fire and Rescue Authority will discuss the alliance plans when it meets at the brigade headquarters in Shrewsbury Wednesday afternoon.