Cleveland Firefighters' union claims workforce has already been cut by 163 jobs...
Cleveland Fire Brigade Faces Further Cuts Despite Already Losing a Third of Its Workforce, Union Claims
12th October 2026
Cleveland Fire Brigade has lost 163 jobs, equivalent to a third of its workforce, according to the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), as fresh proposals to reduce costs across the emergency service move forward amid growing concerns over the future of local fire cover.
The figures were disclosed during a meeting of Cleveland Fire Authority back in July 2026, when union representative James Sudron warned members that the Brigade's workforce had already been reduced by 33%, representing 163 jobs.
The revelation comes as Cleveland Fire Brigade attempts to address a recurring £1.198 million pound budget shortfall through a controversial savings programme known as Project Aspect, which could see changes to fire engine availability, staffing arrangements and operational resources across the region.
According to the official meeting minutes, Mr Sudron told Authority members that the FBU had launched a campaign opposing the latest proposals and intended to lobby local MPs over the financial pressures facing the service.
However, the union made clear that its campaign was not directed against Cleveland Fire Authority itself, but rather at the level of funding being provided by central government, with the figures said to be raising further questions about how much additional financial pressure Cleveland Fire Brigade can absorb after what the union describes as years of significant workforce reductions.
Further changes to fire cover proposed
Among the most significant proposals being considered is a change to staffing arrangements for the second fire engine based at Thornaby Fire Station.
Under the plans, the appliance would move to a day-crewing arrangement, potentially saving approximately £484,000 annually.
The proposals also include changes to water rescue provision at Stockton Fire Station, reductions in the number of vehicles used by senior officers, and reviews of expenditure on catering, cleaning, security and staffing allowances.
Meanwhile, the Brigade is considering alternative arrangements for East Cleveland, where four on-call fire stations were reported to be collectively unavailable for 38% of the time.
The Authority has proposed trialling the daily deployment of a wholetime fire appliance to undertake prevention work and respond to incidents in the area, with the trial expected to begin in January 2027.
Although Cleveland Fire Brigade has maintained that the proposals are designed to protect operational effectiveness, the FBU's disclosure that 163 jobs have already been lost raises questions about the resilience of the service should further financial savings become necessary.
£1.2 million financial shortfall
The latest financial difficulties have been linked to anticipated changes in government funding arrangements for fire and rescue services.
Cleveland Fire Authority has identified a recurring budget deficit of £1.198 million, with warnings that higher-than-forecast inflation could increase the financial pressure.
The Authority has approved a phased savings strategy, targeting approximately £750,000 during 2027/28, with a further £448,000 to be identified through measures including improved sickness absence management and tighter controls on staffing expenditure.
During the July meeting, the Interim Chief Fire Officer acknowledged that permanently removing a wholetime fire appliance could have delivered approximately £1.25 million in savings. However, he explained that once such an appliance was removed, it would be unlikely to return. Instead, management favoured changing staffing arrangements for an existing appliance, which it considered a lower-risk alternative.
Senior officers reassured Authority members that the proposed changes could be implemented without affecting public safety, citing the relatively close proximity of fire service resources across Cleveland.
Nevertheless, the union's concerns demonstrate the growing disagreement over how further savings should be achieved after substantial historical reductions in staffing.
Firefighters to take concerns to MPs
The Fire Brigades Union has indicated that it intends to escalate its campaign by contacting local MPs and pressing for greater government funding.
According to the meeting minutes, Mr Sudron emphasised that the union's opposition was primarily concerned with the wider funding situation rather than the Authority's handling of the savings programme, with the Chair of Cleveland Fire Authority ecknowledging the concerns, indicating that the proposals could be reversed if additional funding became available.
Public consultation continues
A 12-week public and staff consultation on the proposed changes began on the 3rd September 2026 and is scheduled to conclude on the 26th of November, with an update prepared for the Fire Authority's meeting this week on the 16th of October confirming that the operational proposals remain subject to consultation.
