A £1.5 million bid has been made to the Government to help improve buildings owned by Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service.
Commissioner Peter McCall has asked the Home Office for the cash for the service’s 33 non-private finance initiative buildings.
The extra funding will help with an assessment of current statutory and best practices around water management, electrical and asbestos.
Mr McCall said: “Since taking on responsibility for the governance of Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service in April 2023, I have been able to put a medium-term financial plan in place to help us become more financially resilient. However, with no inherited reserves, we need to be prepared.
“Part of my role is to listen to the chief fire officer and leadership team regarding the issues they face and to work together on how we can provide a safer service for public and employees – estates is a common topic that is raised as an area that needs improvement.
“The backlogs and information we inherited following the transfer of governance responsibility surrounding building maintenance was poor and unacceptable. I have a responsibility as the employer to ensure that staff can do their job in a safe environment and any issues are spotted and dealt with quickly.
“The Home Office has already provided us with an additional £3.4m to help adapt the service to be an efficient standalone service. However, this extra funding will be solely dedicated to ensuring that our fire stations continue to be fit for purpose and safe for our staff.
“I hope that the Home Office will approve and provide us with this extra funding so that we can continue to build on the excellent work of CFRS.”
