Infrastructure Delivery Plan (Feb 2013) - Runnymede Borough Council

percentage of the population receiving a fire engine response within 8 minutes and two
fire engines within 12 minutes.
13.25 In recent years there has been a significant reduction in firefighter posts across Surrey;
in 2003 there were 712 full time posts, whilst at the time of writing this report this
number had reduced to 635 full time posts. These changes have resulted in SFRS
having the 3rd lowest number of operational staff per 10,000 population in England.
Within the Borough itself, the number of fire engines has also been reduced by
removing the 2nd vehicle from Chertsey Fire Station in 2005 39 .
Local Plan
13.26 As noted elsewhere in this report, it is estimated that over the period 2011-2026,
significant new residential units will be provided in the Borough. The location policies in
the Local Plan; LP01-LP08 confirm where new development is expected in the Borough
over the plan period. Development would largely be focussed in the Borough’s Urban
Areas, although development will also take place at the former DERA site in Longcross.
13.27 Strategic Policy 6 (SP06) which supports, promotes and encourages tourism,
recreation and leisure provision within the Borough, and Strategic Policy 10 (SP10)
which is concerned with development and flood risk are also considered to be relevant
in this case as both flooding events and an increase in the number of tourists attracted
to the Borough would no doubt impact on existing SFRS resources.
Future provision
13.28 The HM treasury Spending Review (October 2010) sets out the Government’s strategy
for public finance until March 2015. The impact on the Fire and Rescue Authorities will
be a 25% reduction in formula grant funding over the Spending Review period. To give
Fire and Rescue Authorities time to make the necessary changes without affecting the
quality and breadth of services to communities, the main reduction will be applied in
2013/14 and 2014/15 40 .
13.29 SFRS also report that they are affected by the financial situation of Surrey County
Council. Surrey County Council’s current 4 year medium term financial plan has
identified £4.2 million in revenue savings for Fire and Rescue between April 2011 and
March 2015.
13.30 SFRS acknowledges that there is a need to rationalise the number and locations of
Surrey fire stations (such a rationalisation is planned in Elmbridge for example). The
Surrey Infrastructure Capacity Project Phase 1 Final Report, June 2009 and the Surrey
Fire and Rescue Authority Public Safety Plan 2011-2020 indicate however that the
majority of any planned changes will take place in the south of the County due to the
expected increase in population growth. In particular there is an ambition to build new
stations in more appropriate locations in Surrey during the plan period. Aspirations are
listed although these do not relate to Runnymede. In the north of Surrey (where
Runnymede is located), SFRS consider that existing provision will be adequate to meet
growth.
Costs and funding sources
13.31 Given that no new facilities are proposed in the Borough over the plan period, this
section is not relevant in this instance.
39
Surrey Fire and Rescue Authority Public Safety Plan 2011-2020
40
Surrey Fire and Rescue Authority Public Safety Plan 2011-2020
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Runnymede IDP DRAFT – February 2013