Each FRS will receive a minimum of £1million spread over the two financial years 2009-10 and 2010-11, with a top up based on population numbers. The services are free to decide how they spend the funds.
- Cleveland will receive £625,913 in 2009-10 and £735,881 in 2010-11.
- Durham will receive £635,353 in 2009-10 and £753,565 in 2010-11.
- Northumberland will receive £569,896 in 2009-10 and £630,940 in 2010-11.
- 8 services will receive over £2 million: Essex, Kent, Devon & Somerset, Greater Manchester, Hampshire, West Midlands and West Yorkshire with London receiving over £5.86 million.
- Thirty-seven services will receive between £1.08 million and £1.9 million.
- The Isles of Scilly with a population of just over 2,000 people is allocated £100,000.
Announcing the capital grant Fire Minister Sadiq Khan said "This investment for the fire services' estate gives them all the opportunity to upgrade their buildings. This is additional money to every single Fire and Rescue Service in the country. Each area will be able to decide for itself whether this extra money is used to tackle the more serious repairs, replacements or upgrades, or provide additional facilities such as those for female firefighters, or those for the community in helping spread the fire safety message across all age groups. For some it may help them to meet their Integrated Risk Management and Asset Management Plans by contributing to new and better focussed fire stations.
"This additional money builds on the £500 million allocated through the PFI programme over the last 10 years and signals Government's continuing commitment to the Fire and Rescue Service."
The Government believes that improving the estate has a direct impact on progress in the creation of a service that meets the needs of today's world including:
- fire stations in the right locations to best meet the needs of the communities they serve
- improved facilities to ensure equality among firefighters and staff and encourage the recruitment of a diverse workforce
- improved community facilities enable more effective fire prevention within the community and further partnership working with other agencies.
