Staffordshire Commissioner Matthew Ellis has approved funding for an enhanced fire safety team to protect the county and city.
Mr Ellis approved an initial boost to the fire safety team, as a result of the already identified £1.4 million savings from police and fire collaboration work. He indicated he would also make further investments down the line into the vital team.
This investment back into operational services is delivering on a key commitment made by the Commissioner when he took on governance for Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service.
Mr Ellis said:
‘The fire safety team and the work it does is important. There has been much talk since Grenfell about the role of the fire service and calls to re-instate this type of team, so I’ve taken the decision to do it immediately here in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
‘The collaboration work I have asked the police force and fire service to embark upon has been done diligently and impressively. The savings it creates will continue to support jobs in both services and fund important developments in fire safety like this one.
‘This team will protect all of us and help to keep us safe, while also providing greater support to businesses and building regulation work.’
Dame Judith Hackett’s report and the various responses from the National Fire Chiefs Council and government all highlighted a need to enhance fire safety teams.
Although proposals on exactly how this will take shape are still being developed, Staffordshire is leading the way in improving risk-based inspection programmes.
