Gloucestershire Fire & Rescue Service Press Release
It's good to be back, says Fire Chief

Gloucestershire's Fire Chief is back from his secondment in Cornwall.

Terry Standing, who is also Gloucestershire County Council's Group Director for Community Safety, is now officially back in his post.

Terry was seconded to Cornwall County Fire Brigade on January 2009, initially for three months, but his placement came to an end on May 31 2009.

He was sent to provide leadership and command for Cornwall County Fire Brigade that had been rated as poor and going backwards in its most recent Audit Commission report.

Whilst there Terry made a number of changes, including:

• Implementing a two-year transformational leadership plan.

• Resolving budget difficulties and saving two fire stations from closure.

• Greatly improving relationships between the service and the unitary council.

• Providing strong leadership and direction to an organization that appeared to be 'adrift'.

• Appointing a new Chief Fire Officer and Head of Community safety.

Terry said: "I was very well received by Cornwall Fire Brigade.

"The staff there, like those in Gloucestershire, are truly committed to community safety but have some way to go before reflecting the work we do here with our colleagues in Gloucestershire County Council and other key partners.

"From a personal point of view I have gained a good deal from the experience, I have proved to myself that the community safety approach we have taken here, working as an integral part of Gloucestershire County Council does also apply to Cornwall and I am confident that with the improvement plan I have left them with they will go from strength to strength."

Before leaving for Cornwall, Terry put in place a new strategy for Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service entitled 'Forward to Basic'.

This was ultimately about firefighter safety, improving further its partnership working and driving efficiencies.

He hopes to continue taking this scheme forward over the coming months.
Terry added: "I am truly grateful for the excellent work carried out by Chris Griffin who has been acting CFO during my absence in carrying this strategy forward and of course my wider management team.

"I have really missed Gloucestershire, it's beautiful landscape, its people and its professionalism so I am feeling really good about being home."

ENDS

CONTACT:
Issued by Lisa Bonnell, Gloucestershire County Council's Media Team
Tel: 01452 425226

10th June 2009