A fire and rescue service is facing having to borrow at least £25m, equal to around 70% of its annual budget, to fund new equipment and other spending, after the government abolished its grant.
At a meeting of the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel Michael Porter, director of finance at the commissioner’s office, said that the fire precept can only be increased by 1.99%, and there will be no capital grant from government, leaving North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue service requiring £31.1m to fund its projects over the next five years.
Mr Porter said: ‘Almost the entirety of that £31 million would need to be borrowed. Borrowing would need to be around £25m to £26m to be able to fund that level of investment.’
The service requires capital funding to pay for vehicles, maintenance of property and fire kit.
Steve Howley, Fire Brigades Union North Yorkshire brigade secretary, said: ‘The government has left North Yorkshire fire and rescue service in a horrendous position – it’s abolished the entirety of its capital funding for it. When coupled with the already desperate financial state of the service there will be serious implications. The fire and rescue service is now struggling to buy the basics needed for our firefighters to protect their communities, and struggling to invest in its dilapidated buildings, many of which are unfit for purpose in 2022. For example, we still have several stations which do not have adequate facilities for female members of staff.
‘The Government needs to start taking fire and rescue seriously and fund it appropriately. The firefighters of North Yorkshire are staring down the barrel of a gun, either cut firefighter jobs to pay for basic provisions or fail to have adequate facilities or equipment. Neither option provides the public of North Yorkshire with the protection they deserve or require.
‘The Chief Fire Officer and Police Fire and Crime Commissioner need to be open and honest with the public regarding just how dangerous the financial picture is. We must not forget that two North Yorkshire MPs are government ministers, one of them being the Chancellor. They should not be allowing this to happen, they should be protecting our firefighters and their constituents, the public of North Yorkshire.’
According to the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner the annual fire budget is £36.3m.
The meeting in question took place on 13 January.
For more information, interview or comment please contact Ben Duncan-Duggal at ben.duncanduggal@fbu.org.uk
