All councils and other public organisations are preparing their budgets for 2022-23, and South Wales Fire Authority has prepared their draft budget requirements (pdf – Item 7ii).
The total annual budget for the fire service during 2021-22 is just over £77.5million. The draft revenue budget will increase this to £79.3million in 2022-23.
Nearly all of that funding comes from local authorities in the South Wales Fire Service area, usually based on population and population changes.
The average increase is just under 2.3%. The increase proposed for Bridgend of 2.45% – the equivalent of £180,000 – reflects the local increase in population compared to the rest of the fire service area.
Pay increases in the public sector and the cost of training are amongst the pressures behind the draft budget increase.
There are also levels of uncertainty around pensions and the future role of firefighters, with the Welsh Government actively considering plans to use firefighters to respond to medical emergencies – which could require changes to shift patterns.
To save money, the Fire Authority is considering energy efficiency measures on the fire services estate, such as the installation of solar panels.
The Fire Authority has a capital spending plan of £7.46million. This includes £613,000 on IT upgrades, £3.26million on new vehicles and equipment and £3.58million on estates/premises – including a new fire station at New Inn near Pontypool.
