Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Resources and Deputy Leader

Forward Plan Ref: 2026/070

Key decision

Contact: Rob MacDougall, Chief Fire Officer and Director of Community Safety

Rob.macdougall@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Report by Chief Fire Officer and Director of Community Safety

Annex 1 to this report contains information previously designated as exempt from publication but is no longer exempt.

Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to note the contents of this report and confirm its:

i)      support for the fire and rescue service to continue engagement with its employees with respect to the main proposal comprised of implementing 12-hour day shifts for full-time firefighters at five currently on-call fire stations.

ii)     support for the Fire and Rescue Service to continue engagement with its employees with respect to the proposal to remove the On Call fire engine from Rewley Road Fire Station.

iii)   agreement to revisit at a later date the north of Oxford fire station proposal once further details are known.

iv)   withdraw the proposal to remove the second fire engine at Thame Fire Station whilst the Fire and Rescue Service continue discussions with colleagues around fire and rescue cover in this area.

v)    agreement to withdraw any station closures from the proposals to provide an opportunity for the service to explore further local and centralised firefighter recruitment.

vi)   Recognition of the financial implications of recommendations iv and v (as set out in Annex 2) and agreement to consider the need for further investment for the Fire and Rescue Service in line with Options 5 - 7 as part of the budget planning for 2027/28.

vii)  approval of any other actions required to enable continued engagement and consideration of the revised policy approach.

Recommendations approved.

Cabinet had before it an interim report regarding the “Improving our Fire and Rescue Service” public consultation conducted from October 2025 to January 2026. The report focused on proposals to enhance emergency response effectiveness, including changes to fire station operations, fire engine availability, and workforce deployment, while reflecting on public and employee feedback and financial considerations to guide future decisions and investments in the service.

Councillor Neil Fawcett, Cabinet Member for Resources and Deputy Leader presented the report.

The Chief Fire Officer and Director of Community Safety referred to the significant level of public engagement in the consultation, which had received over 1,200 formal responses. The feedback demonstrated strong public concern regarding station closures, reductions in night-time cover and the removal of fire engines, alongside a preference for investment-led approaches to improving service performance.

Having carefully considered the consultation responses, Cabinet agreed to withdraw the proposals to close fire stations in Eynsham, Henley and Woodstock, and to withdraw the proposal to remove the second fire engine at Thame Fire Station. The proposal relating to North Oxfordshire Fire Station was paused for further consideration.

Cabinet also agreed to continue structured engagement with employees and their representatives on the proposal to introduce 12-hour day shifts and noted the financial implications of withdrawing certain proposals. Any investment-led options would be considered as part of the 2027/28 budget planning process.

Councillor Fawcett moved and Councillor Levy seconded the recommendations and they were approved.

RESOLVED to:-

a)    note the contents of this report

b)    confirm:-

i)      support for the fire and rescue service to continue engagement with its employees with respect to the main proposal comprised of implementing 12-hour day shifts for full-time firefighters at five currently on-call fire stations.

ii)     support for the Fire and Rescue Service to continue engagement with its employees with respect to the proposal to remove the On Call fire engine from Rewley Road Fire Station.

iii)   agreement to revisit at a later date the north of Oxford fire station proposal once further details are known.

iv)   the withdrawal of the proposal to remove the second fire engine at Thame Fire Station whilst the Fire and Rescue Service continue discussions with colleagues around fire and rescue cover in this area.

v)    agreement to withdraw any station closures from the proposals to provide an opportunity for the service to explore further local and centralised firefighter recruitment.

vi)   recognition of the financial implications of recommendations iv and v (as set out in Annex 2) and agreement to consider the need for further investment for the Fire and Rescue Service in line with Options 5 - 7 as part of the budget planning for 2027/28.

vii)  approval of any other actions required to enable continued engagement and consideration of the revised policy approach.