Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service (BFRS) has released more details about voting to increase its council tax precept by the maximum amount allowed, meaning an increase of £3.27 per year for a Band D property.
The BFRS Authority approved increasing council tax by 2.99 per cent earlier this week, as well as approving efficiency savings and making appropriate use of reserves to balance the budget.
Read: Fire and Rescue service votes to increase Council Tax precept by 2.99%
The service says it is facing “an unprecedented financial challenge” and that, this increase represents “just the beginning for the Service” which, according to the BFRS Authority, must think differently to deliver change.
Cllr Michael Headley (Liberal Democrats), finance lead at Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Authority, said: “We need to make £1.35 million of savings over the next two years.
“We need a new approach, a fresh approach to transformation, to protect services for residents. It will be hard work over the next year to deliver the efficiencies through transformation.
“Change will not happen without investment and this is invest-to-save. We will be spending once to save off the baseline every year.”
In 2023 His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services HMICFRS said the service required improvement in several areas, including notably in the core functions of prevention, protection and emergency response.
The fire service says it is also operating in an increasingly complex and demanding environment with unprecedented workloads driven by external factors including the Home Office reform programme, inspections, and the outcomes of public inquiries like the Grenfell Tower and Manchester Arena tragedies.
“We need to find savings but we also will need to invest to build solid foundations to ensure we keep pace with the growth across Bedfordshire and the evolving demands on the fire and rescue service,” explained assistant chief executive Gavin Chambers.
“Work needs to start now to deliver those savings because we are not currently addressing the scale of change necessary at the pace needed and we must think differently about how we operate,” he said.
The news comes just days after Bedford Borough Council also raised council tax but the maximum amount allowed.
Read: Mayor thanks councillors for support of “eye-watering” council tax rise
Full Council heard on Wednesday (7 February) that the budget for 2024/25 is based upon a 2.99% increase in core council tax supplemented by a 2% increase in the adult social care precept
Next year’s BFRS budget (2024/25), was then signed off on Tuesday (13 Feb) with a capital investment of £1.1 million in fire engines, equipment and training for staff and buildings.
While the authority approved the council tax precept rise and use of reserves, it has also given the service a two-year invest-to-save fund to support transformation delivery and also approved investment in an additional director-level role to lead the “vital” work.
Chief fire officer Andy Hopkinson added, “The Service is facing an unprecedented financial challenge – and we must transform to become a more efficient and effective fire and rescue Service that thinks differently whilst also doing the basics brilliantly.
“We will see great transformation in how we provide key services as we drive forward our invest-to-save agenda, whilst protecting frontline services as we work together to make Bedfordshire safer.”
