Fire bosses start business in funding cuts fightback

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FIRE Service bosses in the West Midlands have set up their own business in a fightback against funding cuts.

The company will aim to provide fire and rescue-related services to other companies, with all the cash made being ploughed back into front-line services.

Chiefs insisted it would not affect day-to-day services and would help plug the huge hole in government funding. The executive committee of the Fire and Rescue Authority agreed the move in a meeting last month.

The service has been hit by one of the largest cuts in funding in the country and can create the business under the terms of the Localism Bill - introduced in November - which aims to give public bodies more freedom in generating business opportunities.

Chief fire officer, Vij Randeniya, said: "It is important the communities we serve understand that this will not affect the day to day service they receive from us.

"Ultimately, our aim is that we are able to continue to provide them with the first class fire and rescue service to which they have become accustomed.

"We have made no secret of the cuts we face to our government grant funding and the many challenges this places upon us.

"I hope that people will see this innovative move as an indication of our commitment to protecting front line services."

The company - known as West Midlands Fire Service Business Safety Ltd - will be limited by shares and wholly owned by the Authority.

Its chair, John Edwards, added: "The ability for us to generate income through the limited company will go some way towards plugging the huge hole in our government grant funding."