Isle of Wight residents could have to pay 3% more towards the running of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service from April, as warnings are issued about its finances in the future. It means the average Band D council taxpayer could have to pay a precept of £82.84 for the year — a £2.41 rise. This is of course on top of precept rises for Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary, town/parish councils and the 5% main rise for the Isle of Wight Council. The increase is the recommended option going before the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority (HIWFRA) at a meeting next week (Tuesday). A report says the rise is essential to ensure the financial sustainability of the HIWFRA, raising an additional £2.1million across the region. If the increase is approved, Islanders would contribute more than £4.5million to the service’s budget. Officers said it was disappointing no additional government money was awarded to support the fire authority, after Westminster gave the Isle of Wight Council an additional £3million in recognition of the additional costs of providing services on the Island. The HIWFRA has been able to balance its budget for 2024/25 but it is warning of a £4million gap for 2025/26 and says plans to address the deficit ‘must be developed and implemented’. It is citing a range of financial pressures for the expected future budget gap, including an end to one-off funding and below-inflation rises in other funding streams. In the same breath, the service has ordered a number of brand new fire engines which are expected to arrive in the coming months… The report says any reduction to the service would not be an ‘efficiency’, adding “it may be necessary to consider service reductions in the future, but these would be subject to a separate plan and appropriate consultation”. Instead, it is looking to increase the efficiency of its workforce “to optimise delivery of its frontline and support services”. Further proposals would be drawn up in the next financial year and actioned from April 2025.
ISLANDERS BEING ASKED TO PAY 3% MORE TOWARDS FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE
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More money yet they don’t attend a flooding house but will rescue a cat from a tree
They are not fit for purpose, good at washing cars though!
“service has ordered a number of brand new fire engines”
It would have made more sense to replace one every few years rather than shaft us for money this year and all subsequent years because there won’t be a reduction next year (or ever).
Blame this on older people wasting there time and my money
They do a amazing job ,permanently dealing with crashes , fires , idiots doing stupid things. They deserve alot more than they get. They constantly put their lives at risk for us. But aren’t given anywhere near enough respect like all emergency services .
That is what they are paid to do, they could always get another job.
Writes the partner of a fire fighter no doubt. They get paid plenty for working a tidy shift system with loads of free time. I know one who does painting and decorating on this days off and he is rolling in it.
Correct they have painters plumbers electricians kitchen fitters all doing cash work so not declaring it one even put his back out doing his private jobs yet claimed he did it at the fire service so got full sick pay
So we have to pay extra for a fire service that normally send three appliances to minor accidents for staff to get there call out payments.. Then in severe flooding will not go to flooded residents unless fear of life what a joke. Even worse
sending appliances from miles away to fires in Ventnor when there is a fire station
(supposedly} in the town.
Would be interesting to find out what the current appliance availability is compared to 20-30 years ago as we seem to rely on crews from the main land more these days.
Hopefully some good will come from that double fire several months back.
What are the plans for Yarmouth and Bembridge stations?
Don’t mind paying more as its a small amount compared to County Hall but we must have better availability to deal with general emergencys to major incident without the need for mainland crews with 2-3 hour delays.
One more question: does the fire authority take into account of the extra population during the summer season?
are we being asked OR forced to pay more
Council Tax is like the TV licence
It is forced on people.
Unlike energy Bill’s or insurances etc, we can shop around for better deals.
Instead we have a p*ss head wasting our money at the Council
They won’t be asking us to pay will they, they know what answer they will get
Is that the same Woke Fire Service who don’t like to get wet feet and help
households out during floods.
We the Council Tax payers should have a say the way we want our hard earned money
spent.
IW Council abuse our money.
Trouble is a whole host of residents don’t pay or pay very little council tax with the taxpayer making up the shortfall . We’re not being asked ,we’re being told . Hope the shiny new vehicles are worth it . So it seems in reality our council tax will increase by over 10% in total this year again . Keep squeezing us until we bleed
That is the plan, you will own nothing and be happy!
I saw on GB news and on the Daily Mail website a retired couple was sent a letter from their local council
in Northamptonshire, forcing them to sell their house because the council need it to house
Asylum seekers.
The Country is in a sh*t state.
We will soon be Migrants in our own country!, our childrens and their
childrens futures are not looking good.
My first response to anyone telling me that would be ”Fk you i’ll burn the bastard down first”
Daily Mail website! So it must be true then 😉
It’s about all the free loaders were made to pay into the services. They do nothing for society, pay nothing into the society, make every possible claim they can get including a free home, while working famillies are made to struggle more every day, living it up on a permanent easy life holiday, all on guaranteed free handouts for life to spend on snort/smack/swill, and never a question asked buy the DWP how they are getting more income that a workman brings home.
The free loaders are driving around in the most expensive vehicles
F.o.c, they don’t pay insurance, road fund or garage bill’s
All Buckshee, compliments of us tax payers.
these senior management pensions don’t pay for themselves you know!
They need the money to buy some new toys
Snooker table, Dart Board, Board Games and some playing cards etc.
They spend most of their time in the Station, they could be out
during floods.
This is because three fire engines turn up to a chip pan fire and fill-in replacements are ferried from the mainland. Then of course there’s the incident commander and whatever else they send out nowadays – scene security officers, safety compliance inspectors and what not.
Asked or forced? We have no say in what the increases are. Don’t worry though if you are on benefits somebody else will pay your share for you.
They are a good asset to the island as well as fire fighters they are also paramedics aswell, I don’t mind a 3% hike .Better than the old bill job who don’t do nothing for the community
I wasn’t aware we were being “asked” to pay this precept, just like the police precept we are forced to pay it without any say in the matter, what should happen is a vote given to all council tax paying islanders as to whether they should pay the precepts or not then abide by the majority decision, it is called democracy.
This funding should NOT be added to an already inflated Council tax bill. Funding should either come from central government or from the existing inflated Council tax bill. Again I say let’s save money by having less money grabbing councillors!
Another huge rise in local taxes – how do people afford all this taxation.
Yes, we need the Fire Service, Police, Ambulance etc., as these services are truly ESSENTIAL, but, on top of the proven useless IWC and equally as useless Parish Councils parasites, I a pensioner, who worked all his life and believed the now proven outright lies spouted to ensure I had sufficient to live in my old age and who pays tax on those pensions before they are paid out, now has pay out over 10% of my NET pension monthly income in local taxes!
I also served 26 years in HM Forces, but, that means sweet nothing, just, as is obvious is the complete and total lack of interest existing as to how ordinary folk can continue to survive.
26 years, congratulations thankyou for your service, how’s the index linked employee non contributory pension going?