UP TO 20 firefighters' jobs could be saved following a u-turn by the North Yorkshire Fire Authority.

Following a lengthy campaign by the Fire Brigades Union to increase the number of crew members on the controversial Tactical Response Vehicles (TRVs), the authority agreed on Friday to increase that number by April 2018.

The TRVs are smaller than traditional fire engines, and crew numbers had been reduced from four to three, leading to claims the public and firefighters were less safe as a result.

Plans to reduce crews even further were this week ditched, and Councillor Andrew Backhouse, chair of the Fire Authority, confirmed a vote would be held in December on returning that number back to four, with the intention of four-person crews no later than next spring.

Simon Wall, chair of the FBU in North Yorkshire, said: "We welcome this news, which could potentially save up to 20 firefighter posts over the coming year. This is the right course of action to safeguard both the public and firefighters.

"We are heartened that Cllr Backhouse can see the need for change in the way the fire authority works - he has assured us that he can deliver this change. Getting the commitment on the increased crew numbers for the TRVs is a big step in the right direction."

Cllr Backhouse said the FBU would also be given a non-voting seat on the watchdog and able to speak on each item - "more involvement and integration than ever before" - a non-voting seat on the collaboration committee and invitation to steering group meetings, regular meetings between the FBU chair and secretary and the authority chair and chief fire officer.

He said: "Between now and December's vote I have a lot of work to do as chair and noone should thing otherwise, but it's for me to ensure members of the authority are fully reassured by my decision and take an informed decision at the point of vote.

A call by Labour's Group Leader on the authority, Cllr Danny Myers, on Wednesday was unsupported, but he said Cllr Backhouse's offer was welcome.

Cllr Myers said: "It is pleasing to note that the Tory chair of the authority has now ‘reflected’ and will bring a vote back to councillors at the next meeting in December to move to four firefighters at Ripon, Tadcaster, Northallerton and Malton.

"It is disappointing to have to wait another three months, but Labour has been campaigning on this issue for nearly two years and will hopefully now see all parties backing our stance to reverse some of the cuts."