PLEASE NOTE: THE BELOW CONSULTATION PERIOD HAS NOW CLOSED.

In December 2018 the West Yorkshire Fire Authority approved the publication of ‘Your Fire and Service 2019-2022’. This document is West Yorkshire Fire Service’s integrated risk management plan and details how, as a fire and rescue service we will make West Yorkshire Safer.

To achieve the priorities which were set out in our Integrated Risk Management Plan, we are proposing changes to the way your service is delivered, as part of the programme of change for 2020-2021. These proposals have an effect on the service we provide and so we would like your opinions.

Your opinions and feedback will help shape the service that we provide.

We are funded by the taxpayer so it’s important that we are delivering the services which matter to you the most & that you have a say in shaping our future.

What are we consulting on?

The two proposals for public consultation are:

Review and modify the Day Crew (Close Call) duty system
Reducing the operational aerial establishment from 5 to 4

This consultation will run between 20th September 2019 – 29th November 2019.

Thank You,

Review and Modify the Day Crewing Duty System

The Day Crewing (Close Call) duty system is operated at three fire stations, South Kirkby, Normanton and Castleford. These fire stations are located in Wakefield District. The existing duty system provides an immediate response 24 hours a day. To maintain this response, staff at these stations work daytime ‘positive’ hours (0800-1900) and standby hours (1900-0800).

Positive hours are worked on the fire station and in the community. Standby hours are provided from accommodation located close to the fire station. Whilst on duty firefighters must remain within the station curtilage to be available for immediate response to any emergencies.

Why change?

Day Crewed (Close Call) is not recognised within a firefighter’s conditions of service and operates outside of the Working Time Regulations.

Removing the Close Call element of the duty system will align it with the nationally accepted Day Crewing duty system.

The Day Crewing duty system is a long standing crewing model and is currently in place at six of our fire stations. The system provides an immediate response between 08:00 and 17:00 and a maximum 3.5 minute increase to response times between the standby hours of 17:00 and 08:00.

When undertaking standby hours firefighters must remain within 5 minutes of the fire station.

Benefits

Day Crewing is recognised within a firefighter’s conditions of service and we have a collective agreement in place for this duty system with the Fire Brigade’s Union.
We believe that through consultation with staff that the improved flexibility in their standby hours would improve the recruitment and retention of staff at these stations.
No current members of staff will be required to move from their current position.
West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue are in the process of implementing a new Command, Leadership and Management model (CLM) at its whole-time stations. This is a way of allowing our Commanders to work flexibly in order to respond smarter, more effectively and enable them to manage their own time when carrying out important tasks.

The implementation of the Day Crewing duty system at these stations would also enable us to explore the option of implementing CLM on those stations.

The Day Crewing duty system is already in operation at six other stations within West Yorkshire. If the three stations at Normanton, Castleford and South Kirkby also operated on the Day Crewing duty system it would provide improved resilience and inter-operability across those nine stations.
The emergency response provided will be consistent with areas across the county which have similar risk profiles.
By consulting with staff we hope to implement a duty system which appeals to staff and provides an effective emergency response to the communities of West Yorkshire.

Impacts

Adopting the Day Crewing duty system at South Kirby, Castleford and Normanton would lead to no change in performance between 08:00 and 17:00.
Between 17:00 and 08:00 the firefighters at these stations would be on a five minute delayed ‘turn in’ to the fire station. This would result in a maximum increase in response times of 3 minutes 30 seconds compared with the current staffing model.

Costs

Changing the three stations duty shifts from Close Call to the Day Crewing duty system will not incur any significant costs or lead to savings.

Reducing the operational aerial establishment from 5 to 4

WYFRS have a fleet of five operationally ready Aerial Appliances; these are based at Bradford, Leeds, Huddersfield, Wakefield and Halifax. We are proposing that the aerial appliance at Halifax is not replaced when the current appliance reaches the end of its service life in 2023.

A full time emergency fire engine will continue to be operated from Halifax Fire Station.

Why?

The operational demand on aerial appliances can be met by a fleet of four appliances.
Reducing the fleet at this time informs the procurement strategy for future aerials.

Benefits

This is a more efficient way of operating aerial appliances which is proportionate to risk.

Impacts

When required WYFRS aim to have an aerial appliance attend an incident within 20 minutes, this is achieved 96.3% of the time. This will be reduced to 96.0% of the time if this proposal is approved.

There would be a negligible increase on the demand placed on the aerial appliances at Bradford and Huddersfield stations, this is within the capacity of both stations.

Costs

A replacement aerial appliance would cost approximately £750k. Not replacing the appliance would save this over the 15 year lifespan of an appliance.
In addition there would be further revenue savings amounting to £9,000 every year in relation to insurance and maintenance costs.

Your, opinions and feedback will help shape the service that we provide.

Please read through the proposal details on tabs to the left and give your feedback via the survey HERE or below. NOW CLOSED

Public FAQs

What are you consulting on?

The two proposals for public consultation are:

Review and modify the Day Crew (Close Call) duty system
Reducing the operational aerial establishment from 5 to 4

Your views, opinions and feedback will help us to shape the service that we provide.

How long is the consultation?

The consultation will open on the 20th September and will close on the 29th November 2019

How can I have my say?

Our easy online survey here
Attending one of our events
Completing a paper copy of the survey at any of our Fire Stations
Talking to us
Writing us a letter or email us at consultation@westyorksfire.gov.uk

Who can have their say?

Anyone! We are looking for the views, opinions and feedback of residents, businesses and stakeholders who will be affected by the changes to help us to shape the service that we provide.

How will we consult?

We want the opinions from a wide range of people, businesses and other stakeholders so we will.

Organise drop-in sessions within the communities
Attend organised group meetings
Share consultation information on our website (Survey to the left)
Provide consultation information on social media
Information shared with the local media
Circulating posters and leaflets within local communities
Promote via our fire stations

We want the opinions from a wide range of people, businesses and other stakeholders. To ensure that everybody is able to have their say, we’ll be holding drop-in sessions within the communities on the following dates:

20th November – 6:30pm
Normanton Fire Station
Princess Street, Normanton, WF6 1FB

22nd November – 6:30pm
Halifax Fire Station
Skircoat Moor Road, King Cross, Halifax, HX1 3JF