Later this week, Bridgend Council’s Cabinet will consider the terms of a contract extension with the RNLI for beach lifeguard services in Porthcawl (pdf).
The report describes the existing partnership as “long-standing and successful” and a key part of the county’s tourism officer.
The RNLI lifeguard services have enabled BCBC to maintain blue flag status at two beaches. According to the report’s figures, over the current five-year contract, 949 people have been aided in some way by lifeguards, 12 of whom are said to have had their lives saved.
Withdrawing the contract completely has been ruled out as an option by officers. Although it would save BCBC £38,000 a year, all beaches would lose blue flag status and no lifeguards would be stationed.
The three other options – which the Cabinet are being asked to choose between – propose different funding models.
One would see an annual increase in the fee linked to inflation (CPI), another would freeze funding at current levels (with a cut in services), while the final option would see the current subsidy increase by 4% with an additional year-on-year top-up linked to inflation.
The only option which would result in the RNLI maintaining their current service is the 4%+ CPI uplift. This is expected to increase the cost of the contract by just over £9,000 in total across the next three years.
