Proposed Cheshire fire service council tax increase

Council tax payers are being invited to share their views on Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service’s plans for council tax increases in 2022-23.

The Service has launched a draft annual action plan for 2022-2023. The draft Plan, which can be viewed online at www.cheshirefire.gov.uk,  provides an update on progress against the Authority’s four-year Integrated Risk Management Plan, as well as introducing several new proposals to help improve the Service.

Cllr Bob Rudd, the Chair of the Fire Authority, said: “It is important that residents do get involved with this consultation and share their views. Their feedback really helps us to shape the future of Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service.”

This consultation will aim to get people’s views on a range of proposals, which include:

• Increasing the Authority’s share of Council Tax (its precept) by 1.99% for 2022/2023. This would result in the Fire Authority’s share of Council Tax increasing by £1.61 to a total of £82.48 per year for a Band D property in Cheshire.
• Reducing the number of false alarms in domestic premises.
• Developing work to increase awareness of water safety.
• Reviewing its Key Stage 2 fire safety education programmes to ensure they are delivered in an engaging and consistent manner.
• Implementing the outcomes of a review into improving the Authority’s response to flooding and other water incidents.
• Undertaking a review of the Authority’s specialist resources, to ensure they are in the optimum location to meet the needs of Cheshire.
• Revising its approach to introducing a day crewing duty system at Wilmslow Fire Station.
• Engage with North West Ambulance Service, staff and trade unions to introduce a cardiac response capability in Cheshire that would see firefighters respond to cardiac arrests alongside paramedics.

If you would like to find out more information and have your say visit www.cheshirefire.gov.uk, where the full draft plan can be viewed and you can complete an online survey to provide feedback. The consultation runs until 7 January 2022 and the results will be presented to Cheshire Fire Authority for consideration at the Authority’s meeting on 9 February 2022.