Surrey Fire and Rescue Service response to Combined Fire Authority consultation

• The proposed transfer should not have negative implications for public safety if it is planned and implemented in a structured, timely and adequately resourced way. The principal risk would arise from uncertainty or delay in establishing the new Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, particularly in relation to providing the necessary budget-setting, legal accountability, workforce transfer, Corporate Services support arrangements and decision-making ahead of vesting day.
• Fire and rescue is a statutory service with direct implications for public safety, emergency preparedness and community resilience. It is therefore essential that clear governance, financial and operational arrangements are confirmed well in advance of 1 April 2027.
• SFRS is an efficient and effective Fire and Rescue Service. SFRS require the necessary budget to deliver its services from the outset of the new Combined Fire and Rescue Authority (2027/28). SFRS does not deliver discretionary services, nor does it have means to generate funds to offset budget shortfalls without direct impact to delivery of services.
• Key mitigations should include establishing a Shadow Combined Fire and Rescue Authority with sufficient time and powers to prepare for vesting day; agreeing the necessary Council Tax precept and budget for 2027/28; confirming statutory officer arrangements; ensuring the Combined Fire and Rescue Authority has appropriate and sustainable arrangements in place for Corporate Services, including finance, Human Resources (HR), legal, property, procurement and Information and Communication Technology (ICT), throughout the transition and from vesting day; by maintaining clear programme governance, risk management and escalation arrangements with MHCLG and partners throughout implementation.
• We will continue engagement with staff, representative bodies, elected members, partners and residents. We recognise that clear communication will be important to maintain confidence and reassure the public that SFRS will continue to respond to emergencies, deliver prevention and protection activity, and work with partners as it does now.
• Subject to these mitigations, SFRS considers that the proposed transfer can be delivered safely and effectively, with public safety protected throughout the transition.

As Surrey County Council is being abolished, it will no longer have the legal ability to set Council Tax for Fire and Rescue in respect of 2027/28. Consequently, the new Fire and Rescue Authority would not be able to effectively execute its functions without precept income. To ensure that the new Combined Fire and Rescue Authority can set a budget and Council Tax precept for the 2027/28 financial year a Shadow Combined Fire and Rescue Authority is required in advance of 1 April 2027, through the provision of Section 60(2)(b) of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004. The Shadow Combined Fire and Rescue Authority would operate on a temporary basis, planned for January to April 2027 when the new Combined Fire and Rescue Authority would be established. The Shadow Combined Fire and Rescue Authority would be given limited functions necessary to prepare for the establishment of the new authority. Its membership would closely reflect the future arrangements for the new Combined Fire and Rescue Authority.

• Yes. If Parliamentary timings allow, establishing the Shadow Combined Fire and Rescue Authority before January 2027 would be beneficial. Earlier establishment would provide additional time to test governance arrangements, resolve practical issues, and give greater assurance that the new Combined Fire and Rescue Authority will be fully prepared for 1 April 2027.
• An earlier shadow period would support more effective financial planning, including preparation of the 2027/28 budget and Council Tax precept. These critical decisions have to be taken by the end of February 2027, and a January start gives little time for members to undertake actions such as:
  • Member Induction and training,
  • Make strategic appointments of statutory officers,
  • Adopt a constitution, scheme of delegation, financial regulations and other frameworks that support the financial decision making,
  • Be provided with appropriate information and advice to support strategic financial decisions on budget and precept, medium term financial plan, longer term capital programmes and funding, Treasury Management Strategy and Reserves strategy,
  • Accept transfers of assets and liabilities.
• It would also allow more time for confirmation of statutory roles, scrutiny of transition risks and assurance around Corporate Service arrangements.
• From a strategic perspective, additional time would reduce transition risk and support confidence among staff, elected members, partners and residents. This is particularly important given the scale of change, the need to maintain operational readiness, and the requirement for SFRS to continue operating as one countywide service throughout.
• Any earlier establishment should be accompanied by clarity on the Shadow Combined Fire and Rescue Authority’s remit, decision-making powers, resourcing and relationship with existing Surrey County Council governance arrangements (the existing Fire and Rescue Authority) during the transition period.
• SFRS has recently written to MHCLG (13 July 2026) regarding interim governance and statutory officer arrangements and considers support for these arrangements essential in advance of any Shadow Combined Fire and Rescue Authority being established, to ensure the future Authority’s interests are appropriately represented throughout the transition period.

• SFRS considers that several further issues should be taken into account:
• Firstly, the new Combined Fire and Rescue Authority must be financially resilient and have a sustainable financial settlement and sufficient flexibility to meet future risks and demand. We note that the government has accepted the general principle that Fire and Rescue Funding for standalone Fire and Rescue Authority’s should increase in line with inflation as measured by the GDP deflator for the remaining years of the three-year settlement. The creation of Surrey Combined Fire and Rescue Authority was not anticipated in the settlement, and government should ensure that the settlement is modified to afford Surrey the same protections as other fire and rescue service areas. This is especially important for a service with budgets dominated by firefighter costs which are agreed through national pay negotiations. The funding arrangements for 2027/28 and onward should ensure it includes setting notional council tax levels and referendum principes at a level that allow the Fire and Rescue Authority to set its budget and medium-term financial plan at a suitable level to ensure public safety having considered clarity on the Council Tax precept, adequacy treatment of reserves, essential capital investment, pensions, costs, assets, contracts and ongoing Corporate Services requirements.
• Secondly, the transition must support operational independence for the Chief Fire Officer and maintain clear separation between strategic governance and day-to-day operational delivery. This ensures effective decision-making, appropriate professional advice and strong accountability and assurance.
• The Combined Fire and Rescue Authority and the shadow arrangements must recognise the wider public safety role of SFRS, including its contribution to prevention, protection, resilience, emergency planning, partnership working and major incident response (including the Local Resilience Forum). The new arrangements should strengthen, rather than disrupt, these relationships.
• Finally, the transition should establish a stable governance position from implementation, allowing sufficient time for the new arrangements to embed before any further structural/governance change is considered.