The proposed closure of the retained fire station was last discussed by members of the fire authority in April when they voted to defer any final decision for three months for further consultation.

Sledmere fire station, which has been running for over 40 years, has been earmarked for closure, alongside stations in Waltham, Kirton in Lindsey and Hull, as part of a plan to save £4m over the next three years.

In his report published ahead of Friday's meeting Chief Fire Officer Frank Duffield says the aim of the proposed closures is to ensure that the authority maximises its resources and deliver value for money services.

In light of the recent publication of Sir Michael Pitt's report into last year's flooding Mr Duffield says the savings are vital to train and equip fire and rescue services to deal with floods.

In his report Mr Duffield says he is still of the opinion that the proposals 'provide an opportunity for the Authority to comply with legal requirements, demonstrate commitment to provide value for money and more importantly, manage other risks without increasing the risk to the communities affected by the proposals'.

The Fire Brigades Union have held a series of meetings with Mr Duffield and say they are disappointed that the original proposals put forward have not changed.

FBU spokesman Ian Murray said: "We have had a series of meetings with the chief and unfortunately we haven't reached any agreement. We haven't got a clue how it will go at Friday's meeting but hopefully the fire authority members will represent the community and go against the cuts of front line services."