Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority set council tax precept

Date published: 17/02/2006

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority have today set their council tax precept increase at 3.7%. This represents a rise of only 3 pence per week (£1.65 per year) for a Rochdale resident living in a band D property. The new figure of £46.38 per year for a band D property makes Greater Manchester one of the most efficient and cost effective Fire and Rescue Services in the country. 

This small increase is set against a backdrop of extensive change for the Fire and Rescue Service not only locally, but nationally.  Over the past twelve months the Service has modernised significantly and various initiatives to help improve service delivery and find efficiencies have been introduced. These include; a move to borough working to help ensure local risks are addressed even more efficiently, the introduction of a new system to roster firefighters more flexibly, the introduction of a new work routine for stations and wherever possible releasing resources where they are under-utilised. 

Efficiencies as part of our Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP) have also made it possible for the Authority to invest in other areas such as new appliances, equipment and in delivering community fire safety initiatives. Ensuring firefighter safety continues to be a key priority, sadly due to the levels of attacks on firefighters Greater Manchester has experienced, investment has had to be made in ensuring appliances, equipment and more importantly personnel are protected. 

Fire and Rescue Authority Chairman, Councillor Fred Walker said, “These are challenging times for all public services and there is significant pressure to ensure financial efficiencies are found. We have worked hard to ensure we deliver a value for money service and we believe this small increase in the precept demonstrates this. 

Our focus has been to ensure that any efficiencies help us to maintain or improve our vital service whilst ensuring no detriment to service delivery or firefighter safety. By achieving this we can continue to provide a high quality service to our communities in support of our vision of making Greater Manchester a safer place.”