Fire service jobs saved after improved settlement

An improved funding settlement has prevented a fire chief from having to make additional cuts to frontline services.

Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service had already axed 20 jobs and in January chief fire officer Jonathon Pryce warned there was a "high likelihood" of further cuts.

Speaking at a public meeting on Wednesday, Pryce said the government's initial funding offer would have "left us £1.2m short" but a "much improved" settlement had now been agreed.

"At this time I do not believe we have to make any significant changes to fire stations," he said.

Pryce added: "I have never known a government change its position like this before.

"I am disappointed they put us in this position in the first place but we are back to having an almost balanced budget.

"We will still need to make efficiencies – you'd expect me to do that anyway."

Fire authority chairman Roger Phillips also said: "The settlement was better than we expected. All the lobbying that was done has certainly paid off.

"Having taken £1.2m of savings out this year, this now puts us in a good position for the next three years. The low hanging fruit has all gone."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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