Cheshire Fire Authority has decided to increase its share of the council tax bill by almost 2% as it faces government cuts of nearly £5.1m over the next four years.
Savings of just under £1m must be found in the next financial year alone but fire chiefs are confident they will nevertheless be able to ‘maintain recent improvements in public safety’.
Members of the Fire Authority this week agreed a £42m budget for 2016-17 requiring a 1.99% increase in its share of the council tax.
It means the charge for a Band D home will be £71.86 – an increase of 2.7p a week or £1.40 a year.
The fire authority has been told to expect ongoing reductions in its central Government funding – meaning savings of nearly £5.1m over four years.
'Difficult times'
Fire authority chairman Cllr John Joyce said: “We know these are difficult times for many families but this small increase combined with the major savings we have made are essential to ensure we can continue to provide communities across Cheshire with a first class fire and rescue service in the future.”
At the meeting the authority also approved a major capital programme which includes funding the £17.5 million cost of four new stations and a safety centre from grants and reserves, without the need to take out loans.
One new station at Alsager opened late last year while work is now under way on sites in Penketh and Powey Lane, Mollington, near the M56, with construction on a new response hub and safety centre in Lymm starting next month.
Other key projects in the spending programme for 2016-17 include:
• £1,143,000 for four new fire engines
• £814,000 on new cutting gear used by crews to rescue people from road traffic collisions
• £154,000 to replace two boats, trailers and vehicles which respond to floods and water rescues
• £76,000 to replace and upgrade life-saving defibrillators on all fire engines.
Chief fire officer Paul Hancock added: “I am delighted that despite the fact the authority is facing ongoing financial cuts, it has still agreed to invest in our frontline response and instead of closing stations, fund more.
“There are still big challenges ahead but the commitment to protecting local communities, reducing risk and maintaining firefighters’ safety is paramount. That is ensuring that the overall number of fires in Cheshire continues to decline while injuries in accidental house fires remain at their lowest ever level.”
