The Liberal Democrats have raised “concerns” about county council plans that they say could impact jobs and equipment for the Fire and Rescue Service.

Barbara Gibson, spokesperson for community safety and waste management, told the Watford Observer a risk management draft published by Hertfordshire County Council that includes “staff reductions” and downgrading of a fire engine is “inadequate”.

She also said the Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP) is “lacking key information” about the service’s ability to “deal with risks”.

Ms Gibson said: “While we are highly supportive of the Fire Service and have strong confidence that the appropriate risk analysis has been done, the draft Integrated Risk Management Plan document itself is lacking key information.

“Missing information includes the service’s capability to deal with the risks, details of current staff and equipment levels and the risks of reductions.

“This is an inadequate Integrated Risk Management Plan and the consultation will be less than effective as a result. We urge the cabinet and council to go back to the drawing board and present an IRMP that is fit for purpose.”

Barbara Gibson

Hertfordshire County Council confirmed one proposal in the draft includes trailing the use of a 4x4 vehicle in place of a fire engine: "One of the proposals is to trial the use of a 4x4 vehicle and details of this are in the plan. The exact nature of the vehicle will be governed by the proposed role it would take, if this initiative goes ahead."

Labour Group Leader Nigel Bell started a petition in response to the Integrated Risk Management Plan which he claims will see cuts in the number of county firefighters.

Derek MacLeod, chair of Hertfordshire’s Fire Brigade Union, said he was “disappointed and surprised” to see that the IRMP is a “cuts package”.

Hertfordshire County Council said it welcomed the petition and “all responses” to the consultation.

Speaking about cuts to firefighter numbers, Chief Fire Officer, Darryl Keen, said: “We’re actually trying to increase firefighter numbers at the moment and we have 48 new recruits starting their basic training next year. We do not expect to make any redundancies at this time.

"Some people’s roles might change, but that’s nothing new. Firefighters’ jobs have changed enormously over the last few decades and that’s going to continue.”

To learn more about the petition, visit https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/savehertsfireservice