Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

at 05/01/2009 16:53

Cornwall County Fire Brigade’s new interim Chief Fire Officer, Terry Standing, is starting work on his improvement plan for the service as of today. He will be working alongside the brigade management team and Cornwall County Council’s Chief Executive, Kevin Lavery, in developing the plan.

CFO Standing has already identified a number of areas where work is going to start in moving the service forward and positioning it within the new Cornwall Council.

Terry explains, “There are a number of challenges that we face within Cornwall County Fire Brigade but I have absolute faith in the ability and willingness of staff to carry out the work required. I am looking currently at the service’s aims and ambitions as well as its procedures as a way to start developing the improvement plan. I’ll also be looking at specific areas of work and in some cases, targets.”

Ken Yeo, Executive Member for Public Protection adds, “Cornwall County Fire Brigade has recently undergone an external assessment, which has highlighted the areas in which both the brigade and the County Council need to focus on improving. We are extremely pleased to have Terry on board to help us achieve these goals, his experience as Chief of Gloucestershire’s Fire and Rescue Service will be invaluable in getting the service on track in preparation for the new unitary authority.”

Terry is currently Group Director of Community Safety at Gloucestershire County Council, with overarching responsibility for the Community Safety Directorate, consisting of the Fire and Rescue Service, Emergency Management Service, Trading Standards, Coroners, Registrars and Community Safety.

He chairs several national committees, in particular the National Resilience Board that oversees the management of Fire and Rescue Service national assets (New Dimensions) for man-made and natural disasters. He is currently the Chair of CFOA South West and the Executive Management Board.

Terry joined Gloucestershire Fire & Rescue Service in November 2001 as Deputy Chief Fire Officer, having previously served in Hertfordshire, Shropshire, Mid Glamorgan , Hampshire and the Fire Service College.

Terry commanded the Flood Crisis in Gloucestershire in July 2007 which resulted in the Fire and Rescue service carrying out some 529 boat rescues, dealing with over 2,000 for assistance in the first 24 hours and protecting both critical national and sub electrical stations and water treatment plant. He was awarded the Queens Fire Service Medal in 2008 for leadership and service to the community.

- Ends -

Notes to editors:

Spokespeople will be available tomorrow morning between 10.30am and 12pm. Interviews must be arranged through Hannah Rees and will be via pre booked slots.

Hannah Rees
Communications Officer
Cornwall County Council
Tel: 01872 322785
Mob: 07973 497207
hrees@cornwall.gov.uk

New County Hall, Truro TR1 3AY
Media news releases at: www.cornwall.gov.uk

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