Date of Request
01/12/2025
Request
Dear Information Governance Team,
Please treat this as a Freedom of Information request.
I understand that the current fleet of Volvo XC60 officer vehicles is due for renewal in April 2026. I am requesting the following information:
1. All documents, briefings, emails, reports or correspondence relating to planning for the replacement of officer vehicles scheduled for April 2026.
2. All business cases, options appraisals, value-for-money assessments or cost-benefit analyses produced for the planned 2026 replacement.
3. All documents or communications provided to, or received from, the Fire Authority (including the Chairman or any members) relating to the 2026 officer vehicle replacement.
4. Any draft or final proposals from senior management regarding the 2026 officer fleet.
5. Any operational justification statements or risk assessments used to support the specification of officer vehicles for the upcoming replacement.
If any part of this request is unclear, please advise.
Kind regards,
Response
Good Morning,
We thank you for your request for information, which has been received by Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service (the Service) and considered under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000.
The Service can confirm that the information that you have requested is partially held.
The Asset Management Strategy was considered and approved by the Fire Authority on 17th December 2025 – CMIS > Meetings
The Fleet Plan sits beneath the Asset Management Strategy. The new Fleet Plan is available on the Transparency page of the Service’s website.
The earliest reference to 2026/27 capital spend as regards these vehicles was in the Full Authority committee meeting on 13 February 2024, Appendix 1 of the Budget and Precept – CMIS > Meetings
There are further routine financial papers to confirm the allocation of budgets linked to planned replacement programmes:
- 19 February 2025 Budget and Precept 2025-26 and Medium-Term Financial Plan – CMIS > Meetings
- 24 November 2025 Budget Monitoring 2025/26 – Month 7 – CMIS > Meetings
- 18 February 2026 Budget and Precept 2026-27 and Medium-Term Financial Plan CMIS > Meetings
Responding officer cars were last reviewed and replaced in 2022/23. This is due again in 2026/27. Planning for the review/replacement has not yet commenced.
If you have any questions regarding your request, please contact Information Governance on tel: 0345 122 4454 or by e-mail at informationrequests@hwfire.org.uk. In any such communication please include the reference number assigned (see Subject).
Should you have any queries regarding the management of your request and wish to make either a complaint or request a review of the information disclosed to you, please do so by using Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service’s complaints system: Comments and Complaints. This must be done within 40 working days of our response to your request. After this date and in line with ICO guidance the Service is not obliged to provide an internal review of your request.
If you are not satisfied with the outcome of the internal review, you may appeal the decision by contacting the Information Commissioner, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, SK9 5AF, Tel: 0303 123 1113 (alternatively 01625 545745) or E-mail: casework@ico.org.uk.
Further information on Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service may be viewed at the Service’s website: www.hwfire.org.uk
Thank you for your request for information.
Kind regards,
Information Governance Team