[13 February 2008]

Fire authority 2008/09 service planning and budget - key issues

The Fire Authority has approved a Revenue Budget of £36.892m for 2008/09, a 3.6% increase on last year. This translates to a Council Tax increase of 4.6% (Band D property) as the Fire Authority only received a 2% increase in Government Grant.

The Fire Authority has undertaken consultation over the period September 2007 to January 2008 to ensure its employees; stakeholders and public/council taxpayers all support the service proposals and their resultant costs.

"It is clear from the results of this latest consultation that the Fire Authority has strong support from its stakeholders and local communities for what it is trying to achieve," said Councillor Mike Murphy, the Conservative Group Leader and Chairman of the Fire Authority in announcing the precept. He continued by saying that all Members of the Fire Authority fully appreciated this continued support from its local communities. "The key issue, each year, is to ensure the Authority has sufficient resources in order to pprovide high quality services to the standard our communities expect, and at a price that council taxpayers are prepared to pay," he said. "We also acknowledge that such support is dependent upon Council Taxpayers believing that our Fire Authority will continue to meets all of its statutory responsibilities, remain cost effective and help to improve community safety for everyone's benefit"

The Vice Chairman, Councillor Ted Kemble, who chairs the Authority's Scrutiny and Audit Panel confirmed that savings of over £900,000 had been made within the organisation to meet operational costs and additional community safety services approved as part of the Revenue Budget proposals. He said "We must continue to improve our own organisational efficiency to ensure we can save more lives and stop the needless injuries in fires, road crashes and other rescues, but above all, we must make sure everyone is safer in their home and stop the avoidable deaths in fires in homes in our local area".

Councillor Phil Scott, the Labour Group Leader also welcomed the budget proposals as it has resulted in a further £605,000 invested in additional community safety services as well as additional investment in learning and development. He said "Everyone has recognised this was a very difficult budget bearing in mind the financial constraints imposed upon us, but the Fire Authority has managed to strike the right balance by taking minimal savings from operational budgets, continuing to invest in community safety services."

Councillor Maurice Skilton, the Liberal Group Leader said that, "East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service had achieved all their objectives in front-line work, preventative work and other community initiatives, all within the framework of the budget." He went onto add that the hard work and professionalism of all East Sussex Fire & Rescue staff was attributed this success and that the commitment and dedication shown by all staff members should be recognised.