Recommendations

The recommendations on proposed changes that have been submitted to the SFRS Board

Overview

The following suite of recommendations has been submitted to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) Board for decision.

The Board will meet on Monday, 22 June to consider the outcome of the nationwide Service Delivery Review.

All recommendations remain subject to full consideration and approval by the SFRS Board.

There are 23 potential options for change involving more than 30 fire stations across Scotland.

Approve the commencement of redundancy consultation with affected staff on the potential closure of Colintraive (Argyll and Bute) which has employees but no prospective applicants, to inform final decision pending the outcome of employee consultation.
Approve the commencement of redundancy consultation with affected staff on the potential closure of Corriecravie (isle of Arran, North Ayrshire), which has employees but no prospective applicants, to inform final decision pending the outcome of employee consultation.

Approve the commencement of redundancy consultation at this point with affected staff on the potential closure of Kerrera (Argyll and Bute), which has employees and applicants but insufficient potential for long term sustainability, to inform final decision pending the outcome of employee consultation.

Proceed to close Musselburgh which has one appliance that is crewed by wholetime firefighters. Move this appliance to a new-build two appliance station at Tranent, with one crewed by wholetime firefighters and one crewed by on call firefighters; AND introduce additional wholetime day shift resource to support on call capacity in East Lothian and resilience more widely. 
Do not proceed with the Edinburgh component (Marionville and Newcraighall).

Proceed to permanently replace the third appliance at Dunfermline which was a combined aerial rescue pump (CARP), with a dedicated high reach appliance (HRA). The third appliance (CARP) was temporarily withdrawn and replaced with an HRA in September 2023; AND

Defer decision on the remainder of the options pending further consideration of an alternative proposal to permanently implement the current temporary wholetime pump withdrawal configuration. This reduced the number of wholetime appliances at both Glenrothes AND Methil from two to one.

Proceed to introduce Day Shift Duty System crewing for the 1st pumping appliance at Hawick, which is currently crewed by wholetime firefighters. This would see this appliance crewed by wholetime firefighters during the day from Monday to Friday. It would be crewed by on call firefighters out with these times. The second appliance would continue to be crewed by on call firefighters; AND

As an amendment to the proposed Nucleus Crew at Galashiels, there is a commitment to explore arrangements for deploying additional wholetime employees in support of on call availability during day shift hours when this is most challenging.

Proceed to remove the wholetime appliance from Balmossie and maintain one on call appliance at the station; AND

Reinstate the second wholetime appliance at Kingsway East that was temporarily removed in September 2023.

Proceed to replace the third appliance at Perth, which is a combined aerial rescue pump (CARP) with a dedicated high reach appliance (HRA). The pumping capability of the third appliance (CARP) was temporarily withdrawn and only its HRA capability has been utilised since September 2023. The CARP will be replaced with a dedicated HRA as part of the height strategy which will see six new HRAs enter service over the next three financial years.

Proceed to introduce Day Shift Duty System crewing for the first appliance at Helensburgh, which is currently crewed by wholetime firefighters. This would see that appliance crewed by wholetime firefighters during the day from Monday to Friday and crewed by on call firefighters out with these hours. The second on call appliance would remain unchanged.

Proceed to introduce Day Shift Duty System crewing for the appliance at Milngavie, which is currently crewed by wholetime firefighters. This would see that appliance crewed by wholetime firefighters during the day from Monday to Friday and crewed by on call firefighters out with these hours.

Proceed to rebuild Cowcaddens on the adjacent Maitland Street site. Reinstate the second wholetime pumping appliance that was temporarily withdrawn in September 2023; AND

Close Yorkhill which has one wholetime pumping appliance based there; AND

Reduce the number of wholetime appliances based at Govan from two to one. The second appliance was temporarily withdrawn in September 2023; AND

Reduce the number of wholetime pumping appliances based at Springburn from two to one; AND

Reinstate the second wholetime appliance at Maryhill that was temporarily withdrawn in September 2023.

Proceed to replace the second wholetime appliance at Greenock, which is a combined aerial rescue pump (CARP) with a dedicated high reach appliance (HRA). The pumping capability of the second wholetime appliance (CARP) was temporarily withdrawn and only its HRA capability has been utilised since September 2023. The CARP will be replaced with a dedicated HRA as part of the height strategy which will see six new HRAs enter service over the next three financial years.

Proceed to introduce Day Shift Duty System crewing for the second appliance at Cumbernauld, which is currently crewed by wholetime firefighters. This would see that appliance crewed by wholetime firefighters during the day from Monday to Friday and crewed by on call firefighters out with these times. The first wholetime appliance would be unchanged; AND

Reduce the number of wholetime appliances based at Hamilton from two to one. The second appliance was temporarily withdrawn in September 2023.