New investment in the safety of firefighters and local communities has been confirmed by Cheshire Fire Authority - despite agreeing to freeze its Council Tax level for the second year in a row.
Three new standard fire engines and four 4 wheel drive vehicles are planned at a total cost of £864,000 to keep the front-line emergency fleet up to date and further improve the Service's ability to respond in severe weather.
Other proposals include a £150,000 investment in mobile technology so firefighters, community safety advocates and technical fire safety staff can work more efficiently and effectively at incidents, in homes and in business premises.
The investment was agreed at last week's meeting of the Fire Authority, when Members set the organisation's budget for 2012/13 at £44.1million and agreed its tax level should stay unchanged at £66.43 for a Band D home – equivalent to £1.28 per week. The figure for a Band A property is £44.29 and ranges up to £132.86 for Band H.
Fire Authority Chair Cllr David Topping said the freeze had been possible due to £1 million in efficiencies and savings which meant key safety projects could still be supported.
He said "These are very difficult times financially for everyone but I am delighted that by making these efficiencies we have been able to freeze our Council Tax level as well continuing to invest in frontline services.
"We have been recognised as the leading fire and rescue service in the country and I believe being able to protect our communities for less than £1.28 a week for an average household represents excellent value for money."
The £1 million savings include: £368,000 from restructures and post reductions in the Community Safety and Community Fire Protection departments, £103,000 by cutting posts and restructuring the Service Management Team, £300,000 through a recruitment freeze and keeping some non-operational posts vacant and £242,000 from freezing non-critical departmental budgets.
The Authority expects that it will still need to make a further £2 million in efficiencies up to 2014-15 to make up for cuts in Government funding.
Residents' overall Council Tax bills are made up of money needed to fund local councils, Cheshire Police and Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service.
Photo: Fire Authority Chair Cllr David Topping.
