Public asked for views on Fire Service’s plans for 2023 to 2024

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People across Greater Manchester are being asked for their views on the Fire and Rescue Service’s plans to deliver a modern, flexible and resilient service to the public in 2023 to 2024.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service’s (GMFRS’s) Annual Delivery Plan sets out how the Service plans to achieve the aims and ambitions in its overarching Fire Plan over the next 12 months.

People who live in, work in, or visit Greater Manchester are being asked for their views on the plans in a public consultation, which is open until midnight on Wednesday (February 8).

The responses will help to shape the final version of the plan, which is due to be published in spring. 

Developed with the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester, the city-region’s first Fire Plan 2021-2025 sets out the direction of travel for GMFRS, outlining six priorities for the next four years. Within each of these priorities are a series of commitments to residents, businesses, and partners.

The Fire Plan provides details of how GMFRS, along with its partners, will continue to prevent, protect, and respond efficiently and effectively to meet the needs of our communities, and it also explains how the Service will help to deliver the wider Greater Manchester Strategy.

The six key priorities of the Fire Plan are:

Providing a fast, safe and effective service

Helping people to reduce the risk of fires and other emergencies

Helping protect the built environment

Using resources sustainably while delivering the most value

Developing a culture of excellence, equality and inclusivity

Integrating services in every locality with those of partner agencies.

The Annual Delivery Plan – developed for each of the four years of the Fire Plan – is a portfolio of improvement programmes which will help to achieve the ambitions in the Fire Plan, providing a focus for the Service in the short term. 

Proposed plans for this year’s plan include:

Implementing a new adult fire setters programme

Launching a series of fire cadets courses for young people   

Delivering carbon reduction schemes at a number of fire stations

Investing £3.2m in a fire station refresh programme, including updating internal and external decoration, new flooring, gym upgrades, and improved welfare facilities

Developing and embedding a new GMFRS volunteer strategy.

GMFRS’s Deputy Chief Fire Officer and Director of Strategy, Performance and Workforce, Ben Norman, said: “Our Annual Delivery Plan is a significant document for our organisation and this year we are opening up feedback beyond our colleagues and partners to include members of the public, businesses and community partnerships to get as much feedback as possible.

"We want to ensure our plans are fit for purpose and meet the needs of people and communities across our city-region, which is why we want to hear from you about the priorities we set as a Service.

“Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service has made great strides since the launch of our Fire Plan in 2021 and each year, our Annual delivery Plans get more and more ambitious as we strive to become greater and provide the best possible service for Greater Manchester.”

Following the consultation period, feedback will be incorporated and a final plan will be developed for approval by the Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester, Kate Green, before being publicly launched.

Have your say on the plans by visiting the GM Consult website here

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