Issue - meetings

That, subject to the agreement of the detailed financial information for the project, as set out in agenda item 14 in Part 2 of the agenda, the business case for the provision of a new fire station in Spelthorne be approved.

Reasons for Decisions:

A new build fire station in Spelthorne will achieve the outcomes desired in the Surrey Fire and Rescue Authority’s Public Safety Plan 2011 – 2020 by providing modern, efficient, low cost premises that are Disability Discrimination Act compliant and meeting equality and diversity needs with suitable operational training facilities to meet modern fire service duties. In addition, it will enable the Service to achieve the associated efficiency savings built into the MTFP resulting from the consolidation of the two fire stations into one.

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Resident Experience Board]

The Cabinet Member for Localities and Communities Wellbeing said that a decision had been taken by Cabinet on 4 February 2014 to close Sunbury and Staines fire stations and to build a new fire station at a suitable location in Spelthorne and this paper related to the building of a new fire station in Spelthorne and sought approval to release capital funds from within the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP), as detailed in the confidential part 2 report, to be considered later in the meeting.

He said that Surrey County Council was investing in the Surrey Fire & Rescue Service (SF&R) and this new build was another example of the Council’s investment – other new fire stations had been built or were in the process of being built in Guildford, Woking and Salfords.

He confirmed that an Equalities Impact Assessment had been included with 4 February 2014 report and there were no known changes since then that would affect this decision.

The Cabinet Associate for Community Safety emphasised that SF&R facilities were for the benefit of the entire county and the location of fire stations assisted in this strategy. She also said that the fire station undertook a great deal of preventative work which had enabled the County to deliver a good service for Surrey residents.

Finally, the Cabinet Member for Business Services and Resident Experience confirmed that the new building would be contemporary and efficient.

RESOLVED:

That, subject to the agreement of the detailed financial information for the project, as set out in agenda item 14 in Part 2 of the agenda, the business case for the provision of a new fire station in Spelthorne be approved.

Reasons for Decisions:

A new build fire station in Spelthorne will achieve the outcomes desired in the Surrey Fire and Rescue Authority’s Public Safety Plan 2011 – 2020 by providing modern, efficient, low cost premises that are Disability Discrimination Act compliant and meeting equality and diversity needs with suitable operational training facilities to meet modern fire service duties. In addition, it will enable the Service to achieve the associated efficiency savings built into the MTFP resulting from the consolidation of the two fire stations into one.