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Budget

Council tax increase of 1.8% proposed...

14 Jan 2010

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority is being recommended to set a budget that will keep the increase in Council Tax down to 1.8%.

The Authority aims to keep the increase in Council Tax at or below the increase in state pension of 2.5%. Based on a Band D property, Council Tax would increase by just £1.08 per year to £61.38.  

The recommendation was made at a meeting of the Finance and General Purposes Committee on Thursday, 14 January 2010, at which members agreed to submit the 1.8 per cent proposal. The final decision on the 2010/11 fire service budget will be decided at a meeting of Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority next month.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service is committed to its employees, with nearly 80 per cent of the budget spent on personnel. The remainder of the budget is spent on operational equipment, clothing, supplies, fleet maintenance, information and communications technology, as well as to fund capital programmes.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service continues to spend around £2.5 million a year on retaining a modern, well-maintained fleet as well as nearly £500,000 on building improvements and maintenance.

Committee Chairman, Councillor Ian Beagley, said:

“I am pleased to be recommending to the Fire and Rescue Authority, a council tax increase of just 1.8% in Hampshire. For the past three years we have proposed a budget that keeps in line, or is below, the average percentage increase in state pensions. This proposal would maintain our policy of linking Council Tax increases to pension increases.”

David Howells, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Director of Corporate Services, added:

“At 1.8% this will be one of the lowest increases of any fire and rescue authority. We are determined to help those most affected by the recession, through efficiency measures such as a freeze on recruitment. With this proposal we will be able to maintain our service levels, as well as look at more flexible and efficient crewing.

“We appreciate what a tough year it has been for many residents across the county, and we certainly don’t want to add to it. We have therefore worked hard to keep the increase down to two pence a week and hope that Band D taxpayers will find that a reasonable price to pay for the wide range of services provided by the fire and rescue service.”

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority will meet on Wednesday, 10 February at Eastleigh Civic Offices, Leigh Road, Eastleigh, to set the budget as well as review the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service Plan. The meeting starts at 10am.

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