“We are incredibly grateful to Suffolk’s fire service and the dangerous job they do to keep us safe. It is frightening to think that council mismanagement could be threatening this vital service that we all depend on, and making valued employees of the fire service unhappy.
There’s a lot in this report that is deeply concerning: that the behaviour of leaders isn’t good enough and that staff morale is poor, with a particularly low grading on culture and values.
Cuts to funding and staffing have a negative effect on employees and their morale. They are generally made to take on extra work when colleagues leave, and don’t feel valued by their employer.
It is deeply worrying that this Conservative administration didn’t spot this decline until this report landed in their laps, but unsurprising – they also failed to spot the decline in children’s social care which saw the service fall from Ofsted Outstanding to Requires Improvement last year. And SEND services have been in a downward spiral for years.
This is proof positive that cuts have consequences.”
Cllr Simon Harley (Green, Peninsula) – Suffolk GLI Spokesperson for Public Health & Biodiversity