Dorset fire service tax freeze ignites heated debate (From Dorset Echo)

Dorset fire service tax freeze ignites heated debate

1:30pm Thursday 16th February 2012 in News By Catherine Bolado

THE firefighters’ union has slammed Dorset Fire Authority saying it is ‘angry and disappointed’ at their decision not to adopt a council tax rise claiming it could cost lives.

The Fire Brigades Union, which represents 95 per cent of whole-time fire crews and a third of retained crews, said Dorset fire crews have been left angry and worried about the future of the service.

On Tuesday, Dorset Fire Authority voted seven to five in favour of accepting a one-off grant by the government of £535,000, in exchange for freezing the fire service’s council tax precept for 2012/13.

The freeze grant equates to a three per cent rise in council tax.

Another option recommended by the Budget Working Group was that council tax should be raised by at least 3.5 per cent. This would have been an increase of 4.2 pence a week for a Band D property, or under £2.20 a year.

Karen Adams, FBU Dorset brigade secretary said that the authority had already made efficiency savings and that the Chief Fire Officer had been left with ‘no alternative’ but to cut the front line.

She said: “We are angry and disappointed.

“We’re angry that these seven councillors went against all the professional advice they were given. It beggars belief that they think the public would trade 4.2 pence a week per household for cuts which will increase risk to life across the county. “There are no more efficiencies to make – this is a slash and burn approach these councillors have taken. The Chief Fire Officer is left with no alternative than to look to make savings from frontline cuts which he was trying to avoid at all costs.”

Mrs Adams said she felt that many councillors had gone to the meeting with their minds made up.

She said: “Keeping a first-class fire service for the people of Dorset was in the gift of the fire authority.

“Instead they have decided that the price of a life is not worth 4.2 pence per week.”

Mrs Adams said all back office services had been cut as much as they could and more cuts would have to come from front-line.

She said: “To make the savings it will be whole-time crews and stations because they are more expensive.”

She said the cuts could come from Bournemouth and Poole as West Dorset only has one whole-time crew, in Weymouth.

She added that the service had already reduced officer numbers.

Mrs Adams said: “That’s why we are so upset. We are one of the cheapest authorities, we don’t charge very much.”

The average English fire authority charges £67.70 per Band D household per year. Devon and Somerset charges £71.77 and Wilt-shire £62.38. In comparison Dorset only charges £60.39.