Members of the public are being invited to have their say on a range of options to help Humberside Fire and Rescue Service meet budget challenges.
The service has seen its budget reduce significantly over recent years and it is predicted that the organisation will need to make further savings of £5.5m by 2016.
A range of options has been developed to reduce the cost of the operational part of the service. Throughout July, engagement sessions were held to gather views of staff and the public on a wide range of options across the Service area.
Following this engagement, the Fire Authority approved consultation on a number of those options as well as some new options that have been developed as a result of suggestions made by participants during that process.
Open public events are now taking place as part of a formal 12-week consultation period. Members of the community are urged to come along to have their say and learn more about the Operational Efficiency Programme.
The areas affected by the options are Grimsby, Cleethorpes, Waltham, Immingham and Hull.
Sessions in Northern Lincolnshire are as follows:
Wed 27 Nov 17.00 – 20.00 St James Hotel, St James Square, Grimsby, DN31 1EP
Thu 28 Nov 10.30 – 13.30 Cleethorpes Town Hall, Knoll St, Cleethorpes, DN35 8LN
Mon 2 Dec 17.00 – 20.00 Immingham Civic Centre, Pelham Road, Immingham, DN40 1QF
Wed 4 Dec 10.30 – 13.30 Waltham British Legion, Barnoldby Road, Grimsby, DN37 0JR
Fri 6 Dec 10.30 – 13.30 Immingham Civic Centre, Pelham Road, Immingham, DN40 1QF
Mon 9 Dec 10.30 – 13.30 St James Hotel, St James Square, Grimsby, DN31 1EP
Thu 12 Dec 10.30 – 13.30 Scunthorpe Fire Station, Laneham Street, Scunthorpe, DN15 6JP
Assistant Chief Fire Officer Chris Blacksell said: "We are facing bigger reductions in our funding than we have ever seen and we have already made significant savings. However, more still needs to be done to plan for the budget reductions we know we face in the next few years. As the crewing of fire engines is our greatest expense we must consider options to reduce costs in that area. All the options that have been developed would mean we can still meet the response standards that we are so proud of."
Information about the options and an online survey is available on the Service's website at www.humbersidefire.gov.uk.
Consultation closes at midnight on Friday 10 January 2014.
