Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service must not sell off its 'crown jewels', cllrs say.

Elected members at Staffordshire Moorlands District Council have voted to oppose the potential sale of the fire service's headquarters and the outsourcing of training functions.

Staffordshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Ben Adams is currently exploring these options as part of a wider review of possible savings and investments.

But Mr Adams insists there are currently no firm proposals and that he has a duty to looks at ways of mitigating the impact of funding cuts to protect frontline services.

He says outsourcing would be a 'last resort'.

Labour district cllr Chris Wood, who is a former firefighter and Fire Brigades Union official, proposed a motion to this week's full council meeting which called on Mr Adams to withdraw any plans to sell off the HQ building at Pirehill, in Stone, and outsource the training and development functions.

Cllr Wood said the 'first class' training facilities at Pirehill help ensure firefighters are able to provide residents with a quality service.

He said: "We've gone through a difficult period over the summer, and the firefighters have stepped up to the plate and done a magnificent job under really trying circumstances.

"That doesn't come about by luck.

"It comes about by firefighters coming through the system and having first class training facilities to enable them to carry out those functions properly."

Cllr Wood raised concerns that Mr Adams was considering a 'golden ticket' to sell off the HQ and its surrounding land for housing.

He added: "It's like selling off the crown jewels.

"We do not want outsourcing of the training facilities.

"We do not want outsourcing of the fire service HQ.

"It's a first class facility that enables firefighters to do the job within Staffordshire.

"Privatising that will damage the reputation of the fire service."

Conservative group leader Mark Deaville told the meeting that Tory Mr Adams is a 'listening man', and the council should look to engage with him in order to learn more about any proposals.

He proposed amending the motion to include an invitation to Mr Adams to a future scrutiny committee meeting.

Cllr Deaville said: "Let's be in a position to question, challenge, and discuss. If we brought the commissioner to a scrutiny meeting we'd be able to ask him about the potential for outsourcing and selling off."

But the council voted down Cllr Deaville's amendment and passed the original motion, with most cllrs sharing Cllr Wood's concerns.

Cllr Charlotte Smith said: "Firefighting is a highly skilled profession, as we all know.

"Locally experienced firefighters who know our area, especially our rural areas, are essential to train others.

"The idea of it being outsourced is quite worrying."

Cllr Jill Salt abstained from the vote due to her husband being a serving firefighter.

But she voiced concerns that even if the HQ is retained, other facilities could be at risk due to funding pressures.

She said: "I support the motion.

"Personally, I don't think it will happen.

"But I do think the axe is going to fall on a retained station or something like that somewhere else.

"We have to be on our guard and fighting for funding for Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service."

Mr Adams wrote to council leader Mike Gledhill ahead of the meeting, stating that the motion was 'not accurate' due to there being no firm proposals.

In his letter, he explained that he is reviewing all aspects of Staffordshire Fire and Rescue in order to 'mitigate the impact of funding cuts and challenges posed by climate change'.

He also raised concerns over 'misinformation' that could 'alarm residents'.

Mr Adams said: "Residents would rightly expect me to fully consider all options for savings or investment while Staffordshire Fire and Rescue continues to face cuts in government funding if the alternative is to reduce firefighters or close stations.

"There are no firm proposals to sell Pirehill or to outsource training."

Commissioners are due to be abolished in 2028 once their current terms end.

Mr Adams believes it is unlikely that the review will produce firm proposals before the end of his term.