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<p> </p><p>The table below shows local authority expenditure on fire and rescue services,
as well as the number of fire incidents attended, over the last decade. It illustrates
the significant fall in the number of incidents attended, whilst average spending
has remained broadly the same over that long-term period.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td>
</td><td colspan="2"><p><em>Expenditure per head</em></p></td><td colspan="2"><p><em>Fire
incidents attended</em></p></td></tr><tr><td> </td><td><p>Nottinghamshire</p></td><td><p>England</p></td><td><p>Nottinghamshire</p></td><td><p>England</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2003-04</p></td><td><p>£31.98</p></td><td><p>£34.82</p></td><td><p>13,800</p></td><td><p>473,600</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2004-05</p></td><td><p>£35.83</p></td><td><p>£38.36</p></td><td><p>9,000</p></td><td><p>342,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2005-06</p></td><td><p>£35.40</p></td><td><p>£40.56</p></td><td><p>8,700</p></td><td><p>336,100</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2006-07</p></td><td><p>£36.85</p></td><td><p>£43.03</p></td><td><p>8,600</p></td><td><p>336,200</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2007-08</p></td><td><p>£38.61</p></td><td><p>£43.46</p></td><td><p>7,700</p></td><td><p>293,900</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2008-09</p></td><td><p>£38.61</p></td><td><p>£40.60</p></td><td><p>6,300</p></td><td><p>249,200</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2009-10</p></td><td><p>£39.54</p></td><td><p>£41.71</p></td><td><p>6,200</p></td><td><p>241,400</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010-11</p></td><td><p>£38.48</p></td><td><p>£41.12</p></td><td><p>5,600</p></td><td><p>228,400</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011-12</p></td><td><p>£37.64</p></td><td><p>£39.87</p></td><td><p>6,100</p></td><td><p>223,900</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012-13</p></td><td><p>£36.98</p></td><td><p>£39.61</p></td><td><p>3,300</p></td><td><p>154,400</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>
</p><p> </p><p> </p><p><sup>Sources: Revenue Outturn forms and Office of National
Statistic’s mid-year population estimates. </sup></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>My
Department does not publish statistics by the former Government Office Regions.</p><p>
</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Last year, Sir Ken Knight’s independent review of the fire
and rescue services found huge variations in the way that local fire and rescue authorities
operated. Services continue to spend according to the budget they are given, rather
than to the risks they have to manage. Huge variations exist between how the 46 different
fire authorities operate, with the cost per head of providing a service almost double
in some areas to that of others. This did not seem to be related to whether they are
large or small, rural or urban, deprived or affluent.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Sir
Ken concluded that there were significant opportunities for sensible savings such
as through: sharing of senior staff, reforms to flexible staffing and crewing arrangements,
better procurement, shared services, collaboration with emergency services and other
organisations on service delivery and estates, sickness management, locally-led mergers
and operational collaborations, new fire-fighting technology, preventative approaches
and working with local businesses.</p><p> </p>
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