ESSEX FIRE SERVICE

That this House is concerned that 160 frontline firefighter posts have been cut in Essex since 2008 and current plans would bring those losses to one in five since 2008; recognises the impact this will have on response times to house fires; notes that despite an increase in the total budget by 7 million since 2008, the frontline budget has been underspent by 1.6 million; further notes that the fire authority has a financial reserve of 12 million; and calls on the Department for Communities and Local Government to urge fire authorities to use their reserves, where available, to limit frontline cuts affecting 999 emergency response services.