Cash-strapped fire bosses could turn to taxpayers for £1m boost
Taxpayers may be asked to stump up more than £1 million extra to pay for fire services in Devon and Somerset as cash-strapped chiefs try to balance the books with an austerity budget.
Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service needs almost £79 million to keep fire services operating efficiently in 2012/13 and is asking for council tax-payers to come up with £1.3 million extra to help pay for cover. This means people in an average Band D property would pay £73.92 a year for fire services – an increase of 3% – at a time when the Government is encouraging local councils to freeze tax rises.
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A survey commissioned by the fire authority to gauge reaction to possible council tax increases resulted in 51% of householders and just under half of businesses agreeing that a small increase was reasonable. A third thought a rise was unreasonable.
The budget comes as firefighters across the Westcountry look increasingly likely to be balloted over whether to take strike action over the Government's pension proposals.
The fire authority faces a year of austerity after juggling its finances to press ahead with the new fire stations and a training academy at Exeter Airport – at the expense of replacing fire engines.
Big building projects like these mean the budget for replacing fire engines will be put on hold for another year – but the authority will be told that the situation cannot continue indefinitely.
In his report, treasurer Kevin Woodward warns of "significant pressure" on the budget, which is due to be discussed at a meeting of the authority at its headquarters in Clyst St George, Exeter, on Friday. He said: "The authority has the second largest fleet of all fire and rescue services in England. Over the last four years, finances have been reallocated away from the annual fleet replacement programme in support of other projects elsewhere across the authority, such as Middlemoor and Danes Castle fire stations and the development of the training academy at Exeter Airport. The slippage in replacing vehicles, particularly fire appliances, is becoming increasingly difficult to manage, especially with increases in ongoing maintenance costs."
The fire authority's proposed budget includes just over £45 million from local council tax-payers, with most of the rest being met by the Government, which has cut fire grant funding by a quarter.
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by monkey4peanut
Wednesday, May 02 2012, 12:09PM
“So let me get this straight. I pay the same as a couple of pints a month (£6-7) for a service that is instantly available, 24/7, that has people risking their life to save mine as the main ethos? What a disgrace, disgusting overpaid greedy firefighters!”
by Winstonsmith0
Tuesday, February 14 2012, 5:42PM
“I agree Northernchimp - £1700 is a ridiculous amount but it is not ALL for the Fire and Police services. Your council is responsible for quite a heafty chunk and we all know their top 'fat cats' earn more than the Prime Minister!
As for getting bored, do you not realise the whole nation tried extra hard not to overtire the lads in the green goddesses! Half the calls were vetted first!
Okay, you might not like the guy in No10 but he has a kind of important role, but why does Plymouth pay more than for the PM? It somehow seems very wrong and I have not really noticed major differences between counties where the senior council officers are grossly overpaid and those where a much more moderate wage is offered - other than that many of them have better transport and other facilities than us.”
by northernchimp
Tuesday, February 14 2012, 5:32PM
“Things must have changed Winston. The worst thing about covering them during the last strike was the boredom.
I'm guessing road incidents are playing an increasing part in a fireman's workload. Surely some of the money from the fuel/vehicle taxes could be siphoned off to support them. Bottom line is the £1700 I currently spend on Council Tax is already too much.”
by Winstonsmith0
Tuesday, February 14 2012, 5:06PM
“I only wish some of those commenting here could work alongside local fire fighters for a week or so. If it's a full time station you will be unlikely to see 'stay in bed all night' crews. Many brigades have put in chairs instead so any 'sleep' is far from enjoyable - anyway, there is usually quite a lot to do each night. If it's part-time manned you will see locals dropping whatever full-time work they are doing and running to the station just so the appliance can get to the scene rapidly and tackle the incident.
The system saves lives - every single day.
As for the 'bravery' references; would you go into a burning building to rescue someone? These people do, and then they do it all over again another day. Be grateful.
As for 'bosses who know nothing about the job' there is a degree of truth in that, because all large institutions rely on pen-pushers to do the backroom work like repaying the tax charged on the fuel used by the fire appliances (no red diesel allowed here). But you will likely find the Chief fire officer or his deputy at fires still - even if it is not every day.
One major nuisance and the cause of much expense in other counties is the AFA; Automatic Fire Alarm. A cunning device designed to falsely trigger if it is not properly maintained and since it costs businesses money to maintain them, some alarms to trip more often than others. In some counties they charge big money for these false alarm call outs. Do we here? It's not cheap to turn out a pump even if that little kitten looks so sweet stuck up a tree.
Personally, I would pay DOUBLE the current level for these guys and gals.”
by JMonners
Tuesday, February 14 2012, 4:57PM
“and if I refuse when asked?”
by accom
Tuesday, February 14 2012, 2:15PM
“The "cash-strapped" bosses could take pay cut from their millionaires' salaries and save some money that way.
Funny how the most highly-paid people in any field are not the ones who actually get out and do the work and the saving people. The same goes for NHS bosses and chief police people, they never deal with human beings and do the hard work that doctors/nurses/real policemen do, they just sit in offices.”
by Mustafachat
Tuesday, February 14 2012, 11:01AM
“I always recon the council tax is like a mortgage I never had. Its only the government butting out of their responsabilitys, as usual. They are looking after the bankers and a load of other hangers on,, pay for the police and fire service as you should you tightwads..”
by stagedoor
Tuesday, February 14 2012, 9:06AM
“claireteach,
if my house did burn down, i would expect no demand the council to give me another one,
where i could look after my partner, 3dogs, 2cats & simon the pet python , & our 7 children!!”
by stagedoor
Tuesday, February 14 2012, 7:56AM
“here we go again firstly "plod" wants to screw us for more money, now the good old " lets lay in our beds all night fire brigade"
get real, these services are over manned & need sorting out,
part time or better still, volunteer fireman is the way to go,
plus shut a couple of fire stations, job done!
& for heavens sake lets not hear the " heroic fireman sam & plod saved my life stories"
that tune has been played far to much already!”
by mcspredder
Monday, February 13 2012, 5:43PM
“@ nicold
At least, in our wonderful democracy, there should be a referendum on whether or not extra charges should be levied.
Of course, if the costs of a referendum were diverted to the fire service (and another for the police) it could go a long way to making up the shortfall for a year while they come up with more efficiency savings.”