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   Salford firefighters will cost city '£1 a week'
by Tom Rodgers A pound a week - that's how much on average Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue say their services will cost to every Salford taxpayer. That's due to a planned 2.5% increase in the Council Tax.. Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue told SalfordOnline that they spent £3.35m last year in total - £1.3m in training, £800,000 on "partnership work", and £1.25m in providing "state of the art" safety equipment. A spokesperson noted that further investment was planned in 2010/11 to update their fleet of fire engines, specialist equipment and training facilities for their firefighters. Following the release of this year's Fire Authority Budget proposals, the Authority's Joint Policy and Finance Committee recommends that the increase in the level of Council Tax Precept this year is limited to just 2.5%, its lowest since records began. "This small increase is set against a backdrop of significant financial pressure," said a spokesperson, "to find efficiencies for not only the Fire and Rescue Service locally and nationally, but for all public services." He continued: "Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) has more than met this challenge having been acclaimed the most efficient Fire Service in England, and having reduced deaths and injuries from fire in 2009 to Greater Manchester’s lowest ever recorded figure." "And whilst improving its service to the Greater Manchester public, GMFRS has not shied from helping other communities both nationally and internationally. Greater Manchester Firefighters and equipment played a critical role in the recent floods in Cumbria and only days ago, Firefighters returned from Haiti having deployed as part of the UK International Search And Rescue (UK – ISAR) Team," he added. Fire Authority Chairman Councillor James Pearson welcomed the Authority's budget recommendations: "The current global financial crisis is having a major impact on the provision of public services going forward. The Fire and Rescue is not identified as a special case, so we will need more than ever to continue to change and adapt as all public services." The budget plans will go forward to the Fire Authority meeting on 11th February for final approval. Photo: The team at Salford Fire Station Due to problems with spam only SalfordOnline members can now leave comments. Becoming a member of SalfordOnline only takes a minute, just hit the red Join Us button at the top right hand side of the page to create your Personal account. Got a news story? Need help with publicity for an event in Salford? Send it to newsdesk@salfordonline.com or call the SalfordOnline newsdesk on 0161 789 5377. |
