Fire service may axe safety schemes to save money

Essex's fire service has warned vital safety programmes could be scrapped if it has to accept a new funding deal that it believes is inadequate.

Proposals seen by the service's leaders suggest it would have a 13.7% cut in funding next year – amounting to £5.1m.

But the government said no final decision had been made, and the draft figures should be "treated with caution".

Chief Fire Officer Rick Hylton said he wanted to protect frontline firefighting jobs and called for a "fair, risk-based approach" to the money he received.

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service is not alone in waiting to find out how much money it will receive for 2026-27 – all fire services are awaiting an update.

The service's leaders told BBC Essex that protecting frontline jobs would be prioritised, meaning any cuts in the first instance would be made to prevention schemes.

These programmes include smoke alarm visits at homes, road safety education and multi-agency work with police and health authorities.

Essex has 25% fewer firefighters than it did a decade ago, the fire service said

Mr Hylton said: "This discussion about fair funding is vital, because it's about keeping our communities safe.

"With a fair, risk-based approach to funding, we can keep responding when emergencies happen, keep preventing incidents before they occur and keep protecting the people and places that make Essex such a great place to live and work."

The chief said Essex's risk profile was unique due to its large coastline and having three major ports and two airports.

Firefighter numbers in Essex are 25% lower than a decade ago, the service stressed.

'Outdated funding system'

The funding reforms, led by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, have been named the Fair Funding Review 2.0.

Councils are also among the 800 services the department is considering how to pay for, with the financial packages due to be announced in December.

A spokesperson for the ministry said: "No final decisions have been made and these figures should be treated with caution.

"We're committed to fixing the outdated funding system we inherited and ensure that funding is properly aligned with need.

"As part of our Plan for Change, we will give people across the country the high-quality public services they deserve, and have made £95m available for Essex Fire and Rescue Authority this year alone."