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   Fire Authority sets lowest ever council tax increase
£1 a week - that's how much on average Greater Manchester's award-winning Fire and Rescue Service will cost the average household in 2010. The increase in the level of Council Tax this year is limited to just 2.5%, its lowest ever*.
Fire Authority Chairman Councillor James Pearson welcomed the Authority's budget decisions: "The current global financial crisis is having a major impact on the provision of public services going forward. The Fire and Rescue is not identified as a special case, so we will need more than ever to continue to change and adapt as all public services." Vice-Chairman Councillor Paul Shannon: "Balancing our prevention, protection and emergency response work is under constant review, and we believe that these proposals will allow the Service to continue to make Greater Manchester a safer place for all.” Deputy Chairman Councillor Wendy Meikle said: “Over recent years Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority has under gone significant change to improve its efficiency and effectiveness. This has prepared us well for the financially challenging future that we all now face. We will continue to drive forward improvements in the safety of our communities from fire, whilst ensuring that ’value for money’ is achieved.” So how are we doing in the areas important to you? **Our aim is to get to you within 7 minutes if your house is on fire….. We currently get to you in less than 5! If you have an accident and you’re trapped in your car, we aim to get to you within 8 minutes……We currently get to you in less than 6! Within 9 minutes we will have at least 8 fully trained Firefighters helping you and your family In 2009 we: Visited over 62,000 homes giving fire safety advice and fitting life saving smoke alarms Educated nearly 23,000 young people in how to stay safe through our Crucial Crew scheme What do others say about us? The Audit Commission recognised us as pioneering in realising efficiencies and performing well in terms of cost per head of population in comparision with similar Authorities” What next? We strive to improve both the operational service to homes and businesses throughout the Greater Manchester, but also the safety of our firefighters. That is why we continue to invest in the best equipment and training. Last year this investment included ordering 22 new fire engines, new and improved training facilities and new state of the art fire helmets. This year it will include new breathing apparatus sets and two new fire stations in Bury and Rochdale. This small increase is set against a backdrop of significant financial pressure to find efficiencies for not only the Fire and Rescue Service locally and nationally but for all public services. Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) has more than met this challenge having been acclaimed the most efficient Fire Service in England, and having reduced deaths and injuries from fire in 2009 to Greater Manchester’s lowest ever recorded figure. And whilst improving its service to the Greater Manchester public, GMFRS has not shied from helping other communities both nationally and internationally. These achievements have taken investment in training and development, partnership fire safety initiatives and equipment which, have and will continue to, really make a difference and help to keep people safer. This investment is set to continue in 2010 and is a key feature for the year ahead as set out in the Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP). Lets be clear, efficiencies have not adversely affected the Service, in fact real emphasis has been placed on further improving the Service, which is why a review of areas such as the management structure is underway. Picture attached: (Left to right) Deputy Chairman Councillor Wendy Meikle, County Fire Officer Steve McGuirk, Fire Authority Chairman Councillor James Pearson and Vice-Chairman Councillor Paul Shannon Due to problems with spam only SalfordOnline members can now leave comments. Becoming a member of SalfordOnline only takes a minute, just hit the red Join Us button at the top right hand side of the page to create your Personal account. Got a news story? Need help with publicity for an event in Salford? Send it to newsdesk@salfordonline.com or call the SalfordOnline newsdesk on 0161 789 5377. |
