The Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Fire Authority held its Annual Meeting on Wednesday 10 June 2026. The meeting's agenda included the election of a Chairman and Vice-Chairman, the appointment of members to various committees, and a review of the Fire Authority's Annual Review for 2025-2026. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to discussing the On-Call Improvement Programme, which involved proposals for the removal of several on-call fire engines and the closure of two fire stations.

Election of Chairman and Vice-Chairman

The meeting was scheduled to begin with the election of a Chairman and Vice-Chairman for the upcoming year. The Vice-Chairman's responsibilities were noted to include supporting the Chairman, deputising where necessary, and leading on matters relating to Climate Change and HMICFRS¹ responses.

Committee Matters and Membership

Discussions were scheduled regarding the membership of the Authority, reflecting the electorate sizes of Buckinghamshire Council and Milton Keynes City Council. The report outlined the proposed allocation of seats on the Executive Committee and the Overview and Audit Committee, with recommendations for the distribution of seats among different political groups. Authority was also to be delegated to the Monitoring Officer to vary committee nominations.

Appointments to Outside Bodies and Lead Member Responsibilities

The Authority was to consider appointing representatives to various external bodies, including the Local Government Association Annual Conference, the Local Government Association Fire Commission, and the Local Government Association Annual Fire Conference. Additionally, appointments to Lead Member Responsibilities were to be considered, with specific roles outlined for Service Delivery, Protection and Collaboration; People, Equality and Diversity and Assurance; Finance and Assets, Information Security and IT; and Health and Safety and Corporate Risk.

On-Call Improvement Programme

A significant item on the agenda was the consideration of the On-Call Improvement Programme. This involved a discussion of proposals stemming from a public consultation. The report pack indicated that the programme aimed to rationalise the on-call fleet and stations. Specifically, it was scheduled to discuss the removal of six on-call fire engines, including those from Great Missenden and Stokenchurch fire stations, and the closure and decommissioning of these two stations. The report also detailed the proposed transition of some on-call fire engines to more flexible or specialist roles, such as rural firefighting units and welfare units. The report highlighted that the current configuration of on-call fire engines was deemed not to be required by the Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP)².

Annual Review and Delivery Plan Updates

The meeting was scheduled to consider the Annual Review for 2025-2026, which summarised performance and progress against the priorities set out in the Annual Delivery Plan and the Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP). This report indicated strong delivery in areas of prevention, protection, and response, with specific metrics on Home Fire Safety Visits, accidental dwelling fires, and business engagement. An update on the 2026-2027 Annual Delivery Plan was also to be presented, providing an overview of progress on major projects, including the On-Call Improvement Programme, the Local Training Facility, and the High Wycombe Station Redevelopment/Restoration.

Fire Brigades Union (FBU) Improvement Agenda

An update was to be provided on the Fire Brigades Union (FBU)³ Improvement Agenda for 2025/26. This report, co-authored by officers and the FBU Brigade Secretary, detailed progress on issues impacting operational effectiveness and workforce wellbeing. Key achievements highlighted included enhanced maternity and parental entitlements, progress on training facilities, and a review of the employee benefits package. The agenda also covered specific calls for improvement regarding training, mental health research, skills payments, day crewing, standard crewing, the CRMP's focus on growth, the High Wycombe station, and incident welfare.

Operational Activity and Communications Update

A presentation was scheduled to provide an overview of recent significant incidents and how the Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service coordinates operational response, public communication, and community reassurance. This included details of incidents such as a nightclub fire in Bletchley, a barn fire in Little Brickhill, a fire on Desborough Road in High Wycombe, and a fire at Lynx Gymnastics in Aylesbury. The presentation aimed to demonstrate effective incident management, community engagement, and organisational learning.