Cambridgeshire Fire Authority seeking extra three per cent from Council Tax payers

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Fire Authority is proposing up to a three per cent increase to the fire service’s proportion of council tax for 2019/20, equating to an extra £1.98 a year for a Band D property.

This will enable the Fire Authority to maintain the current service but does not allow for any growth.

Chairman of the Fire Authority Kevin Reynolds explained: “We do everything we can to keep the precept we set as low as possible and this is demonstrated by the fact we are one of the lowest cost fire and rescue services in the country. We have been assessed in our recent government inspection as ‘good’ for how efficient and effective we are as a service and we have a strong track record of identifying ways in which we can be more cost effective to either plug funding gaps or reinvest back into the Service to help us continue to improve.

“But despite this, we are having to ask for an extra £1.98 a year for a Band D property this year to enable us to maintain our current level of service. Protecting the frontline is vitally important to us and it becomes more challenging each year with additional financial pressures, but a small increase in council tax will allow us to do this.”

Increasing the amount of council tax for the fire service by up to three per cent will mean a payment of up to £70.74 per year for a Band D property. This equates to £1.36 a week.

If you have any comment to make you can email enquiries@cambsfire.gov.uk , use the feedback form on the website, comment on fire service’s social media channels or call 01480 444500.