Isle of Wight residents may face a rise in the amount they pay for the fire service, on top of a hike in the cost of policing.
The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service (HIWFRS) is proposing households across the region pay an average £5 more a year — or 6.63 per cent — for its services.
That means a Band D resident could pay £80.43 a year.
Considering impact on residents
The fire service could approve the increase at its meeting next week (21st February) but realises it is more important than ever to consider the impact it could have on residents.
With government funding more favourable than first thought, HIWFRS said it has avoided the need for service reductions and invested in the organisation.
Retained personnel
One area of strategic assessment is the fire service’s retained personnel.
HIWFRS says it has been a challenge to maintain the availability of the on-call workforce, due to recruitment and retention, and the investment will allow more support in that area, ensuring response times in rural areas are maintained.
£4.3m paid by Islanders
More than £4,350,200 is expected to be paid towards the service from Islanders.
Permission had been given to fire authorities to charge residents more than the standard three per cent increase, and moved the highest it could increase the precept up to £5.
Impact of inflation
If it were capped by three per cent, the authority said inflation would erode the reserve contributions and HIWFRS would be facing a budget deficit of £2 million
It would need to make plans to address ‘considerable deficits’ in the future which could lead to service reduction.
Maintaining assets
As part of the budget, reserves for the authority could build up so there is enough money set aside to maintain its assets.
Inflationary pressures are having significant pressures on the budget and over £6.5 million has been set aside to deal with the increases next year.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
