Fire service looks at savings while still maintaining cover
WEST Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has vowed to wage war on inflation with record low precepts.
Councillors last week announced net expenditure for 2010/11 will be 93.7ma, a rise of two per cent.
This works out at an extra 2p per week for the average council tax payer.
Councillor David Ridgway said: “While our prime concern is always to maintain essential fire cover and protect firefighter safety, we can’t ignore the current financial climate.
“Fortunately, we have been able to find sustainable staff savings of some 600,000 over the past year to help ease budget pressures and pay for critical investments in areas like water rescue and urban search and rescue training.”
Chief Fire Officer Simon Pilling revealed that the financial forecasts were challenging but said work was under way to identify new technology, equipment and other ways of cutting costs.
He said: “ Efficiency and effectiveness have always been our hallmarks.
“A decade ago, in the face of doubters, West Yorkshire pioneered community fire safety work and has seen domestic fire deaths plummet by 40 per cent as a result.
“Between 2004 and 2009 the fight against arson saved the local economy 342m.”
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Weather for Halifax
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -1 C to 0 C
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