Why the R–word has been banned around Horsham Football Club Page 61
Horsham & District | 01403 251000 | www.the-resident.co.uk
Friday 8th July 2011
Fire merger ‘would benefit taxpayers’
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Firefighters tackle a blaze at Spofforths, Horsham, in 2009 Matthew James News Editor
matthew@the-resident.co.uk
Residents can have their say about plans to merge the fire services of West Sussex, East Sussex and Brighton and Hove. West Sussex County Council and East Sussex Fire Authority will hold a 12-week public consultation on the proposed merger of West Sussex Fire and Rescue with its counterpart next door.
The news comes after a business case concluded a merger was the best option to protect community fire and rescue services from the national pressures on public spending. The consultation will take place from next Thursday, July 14, to October 6. Feedback will be considered before a final decision is made. In December, West Sussex County Council and East Sussex Fire Authority announced they would explore options for closer collaboration, up to and including a full merger of the fire and rescue services. The aim was to explore which options
would preserve services at the same time as seeking efficiency savings to meet financial pressures from grant reductions. They also wanted to see how increased collaboration or a full merger would improve “operational resilience and overall capacity to the collective benefit of local residents, businesses and visitors”. A potential merger was considered by East Sussex Fire Authority in a confidential session on June 2. If the authorities decide not to pursue a full merger, work will continue on closer collaboration and “the more limited opportunities for financial savings”.
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