Fire service among best value in UK
It's official - Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service provides great value for money for Gloucestershire taxpayers.
The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) recently published their comparison of costs for the 56 fire and rescue services in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
They calculate that Gloucestershire's Fire and Rescue Service costs residents a total of £34.03 per person per year or just 65p per week - the lowest of all comparable Fire and Rescue Authorities.
Of our neighbouring counties, Oxfordshire costs £37.57 and Warwickshire £42.37 per year.
The statistics consider the cost of all aspects of running the service including firefighters, vehicles and training and then analyse how much is spent on each.
Back in September, Government published figures that showed Gloucestershire as having performed extremely well over the last 10 years, reducing the number of fires, deaths and injuries in the county by more than a third over that period.
The CIPFA announcement shows that good operational performance is matched by efficiency amongst the best in the country.
Chief Fire Officer, Jon Hall said: "From the comments I receive from the public, I know that residents value the service their local firefighters deliver.
"While delighted with this national acknowledgement, my job is to maintain focus on improving even further both in terms of value for money and performance."
"There is still more we can do to protect people when they are at their most vulnerable, to drive down property loss from fire and to prepare our communities for natural or man-made disaster."
Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service is currently considering its Integrated Risk Management Plan for the next three years.
As part of that the service is seeking to speed-up fire engine responses to more homes and improve a range of rescue capabilities across the county.
Cllr Will Windsor-Clive, cabinet member for communities added: "The county council is proud to provide one of the most cost effective fire and rescue service in the country and I am delighted that CIPFA have acknowledged this."
"As all public services work to deliver even greater cost efficiency, it is good to see Gloucestershire credited with leading the way."
ENDS
Issued by: Lisa Bonnell, Gloucestershire County Council Media Team, 01452 425226, email: lisa.bonnell@gloucestershire.gov.uk
You can follow Gloucestershire Fire & Rescue Service on www.facebook.com/glosfire or www.twitter.com/glosfire You can also follow our Chief Fire Officer on www.twitter.com/glosfirechief
23rd January 2012