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.