A Freedom of Information request has raised concerns about staffing levels at Surrey’s Fire and Rescue Service control room.
Readers will remember that Cabinet member Cllr Barry Abraham gave the go-ahead earlier this year to merge the Island’s control centre with Surrey.
The project is currently several months behind schedule, resulting in a savings shortfall of £65,000 for this financial year.
Shortage of ‘on duty’ crewing levels
The FOI request asked, “Could you please provide details of the ‘on duty’ crewing levels of the Surrey Fire and Rescue Service’s control room?”
The understand from the FBU that the stated staffing level should be six, but the FOI response reveals that during 2009-2010 not one shift had this number of staff on duty.
Interestingly, VB has been told that when the Isle of Wight councillors visited the Surrey Fire Control earlier this year, the staffing level was as it should be, with six staff on duty.
Commentators are now asking, “Were the IW Councillors made aware of this perpetual understaffing of the Surrey FRS Emergency Fire Control Centre?”
Crewing Levels for Fiscal Year 2009-2010
The FOI response provided the following figures.
Total shifts for that period 730
7 Personnel Nil
6 Personnel Nil
5 Personnel 6 duties
4 Personnel 722 duties
3 Personnel 2 duties
2 or less Personnel Nil
Percentage rates
5 Personnel 0.83 %
4 Personnel 98.9 %
3 Personnel 0.27 %
Image: Basibanget under CC BY 2.0
