Local government

An independent panel set up to recommend allowances for Surrey councillors has resigned after the council ignored its proposals and awarded itself a 60% pay rise. Dave Herpe, Fire Brigades Union chair for Surrey, said: “Firefighters and the public alike are astounded by the council’s willingness to...

A referendum should be held on Hereford and Worcester fire and rescue service’s plans to remove five fire engines and cut jobs, local firefighters have said. The local Fire Brigades Union said lives would be put at risk if plans to remove fire engines from stations in Hereford, Worcester, Ledbury...

Firefighters in South Yorkshire organised a last-minute protest on Monday 31 March outside South Yorkshire Fire Authority. The demonstration was held to oppose the authority’s decision to remove fire engines from Rotherham and Barnsley fire stations, which local Fire Brigades Union officials say was...

Matt Wrack, Fire Brigades Union general secretary, is speaking at 11am today at the Local Government Association Fire Conference in at the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff. He is part of a panel discussing ‘The case for change’ in the fire and rescue service alongside Paul Fuller, president of the Chief...

An official document reveals how London Fire Brigade managers misled the public over the seriousness of a fire in Dagenham during a strike by firefighters, the Fire Brigades Union in London has said. During industrial action over pensions on 2 November last year, firefighters were criticised by...

Responding to the Local Government Association’s report on cuts to fire and rescue services, Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said: “The LGA are right to say that fire and rescue services must be given the funding to play a key, continued role in national resilience. “But it’s clear that across...

Responding to the decision by Cleveland Fire Authority to close Marine fire station and cut 114 full-time firefighter jobs, Davy Howe, Fire Brigades Union secretary for Cleveland, said: “Local firefighters are deeply upset, angry and frustrated by this decision which we believe will put lives at...

Grimsby firefighters and their supporters will next week hold a march against cuts to local fire services that they say will endanger lives. Humberside Fire Authority recently announced that Cromwell Road fire station in Grimsby will effectively close, with one of its fire engines moved to Peaks...