Agenda item

[A period not exceeding 20 minutes for statements from up to 5 members of the public on matters within the Panel’s remit, proposing actions(s) which may be considered or contribute towards the future development of the Committee’s work programme]

Mr N. Carbutt, a Doncaster resident, made the following statement:-

“I am pleased for the opportunity to speak on behalf of our members and indeed and importantly the residents of Sheffield and the other 3 Unitary Authorities.

We have gathered and submitted 10,421 signatures against these proposals in a very short space of time.  The people of Doncaster are angry that our service that they hold very dear, is being cut to the bone and through it the petitions size should indicate that strength of feeling.

I want to make it absolutely clear from the outset who our members hold responsible for these proposed cuts and that it is Central Government who have overseen this austerity agenda and inflicted it on our vital public services and communities.

Since 2010 and beyond, our service has seen dramatic reductions in Government grant and our services spending power has been reduced.  The latest proposals to remove up to 84 Firefighter posts which will mean the loss of one Firefighter off every Fire Engine across the 4 shifts that we have.  To put that cut into context, we have only 80 Firefighters on duty at any one time on any given day.

The draft proposals are frankly devastating.  If those savings are not enough on their own, draft proposals to consider removing night time fire cover from the second night time fire engines at Sheffield and Doncaster will be considered.  84 Firefighters equates to nearly a sixth of the service; we have currently 594 Firefighters.

The Services Risk Management Plan sets out these cuts against a backdrop of £3.8m of potential funding shortfall.  We in South Yorkshire suffer from a lack of funding because of density for our size of geographic area and a lack of coastline, and we are disproportionately affected.

I am a Firefighter at Thorne, miles away from here east of Doncaster, which is a relatively low activity Station in terms of incidents, but our next nearest Fire Station is 11 minutes away at Goole, and our next nearest South Yorkshire Fire Station is at Doncaster some 14 minutes from help.

In our area we have prisons and an Immigration Centre, a COMAH site which is a major gas pipeline and network, an International Airport, 3 motorways and main line rail.  Imagine turning up to an incident with just four people on a Fire Engine to any of those situations?

So Councillors, we do have a funding shortfall and we do have risks to cover.  The reserves we hold, general and earmarked, sit at nearly £25m on an operating budget of £50m.  Those reserves are not unhealthy and are actually becoming a barrier for a fairer funding formula for South Yorkshire at that high level.

We ask this Council and ask its representatives on the Fire Authority, to review that reserve strategy.  Give us the breathing space to lobby Central Government longer and harder, and stop these cuts.  Consider borrowing over the long term if necessary.  Review our predicted expenditure and make efficiencies on those spends whilst protecting front line services to those that matter most; our communities.”

In response, the Chair, Councillor Mark Houlbrook thanked Mr. Carbutt for his statement.

Mr D. Wright, a Doncaster resident, made the following statement:-

“I don’t need to tell this Panel about paragraph 14. I think it is important to say where it is health implications for Scrutiny, essentially as the service continues to undertake prevention activities, not only to prevent the occurrence of fire and accident, but also to work with wider partners such as the NHS and Local Authorities, to keep communities safe.   I think this is a key point today about what you should be doing. I realise you cannot do what Cabinet can do, so I want your views today so that Cabinet can look at this in great detail, and to say let’s do something about this because it is getting worse and worse. I not only want to keep my grandchildren and great grandchildren safe, but also the people of Doncaster safe. It is becoming more and more, a thriving community and that is a plus for Doncaster.  But, we have less staff to deal with fires. You have only got to look at the current climate; the weather, it’s getting hotter and hotter with more and more fires, etc.

In relation to the petition, I think possibly the Cabinet could consider putting a statement on the Council’s website, saying that we think this should happen.  Then, ask the Doncaster public; consult the public and seek their views.  We have 308,000 people in Doncaster that can join forces and say to South Yorkshire and the Government, that this is not good enough. Why should we have £25m in the reserves? Why has it accumulated so much? Why is it there?  It has just added up and added up, when lives are being threatened.

I have 2 more points.  On the 5 to 4 issue; it is so simple for a 10 year old child to know.  If you have got 5 Firefighters on a Fire Engine, it is far better and safer for the community and for the Firefighters to have 5 rather than 4.

Secondly, you may recall last September, this Panel said and I quote, ‘It is pleased that the 5G issue has been recognised and will be considered in the future’; that has not been done yet.  It is not on the Work Plan.  Perhaps that could be looked at in the future.  But, the important issue is the Firefighters.  Let’s support them here today by observing what has gone wrong and to pass this message on to Cabinet and Full Council.”

In response, the Chair thanked Mr. Wright his statement and stated that the issue relating to the installation of 5G across the Borough was included on the Panel’s work plan.