Introduction

Lancashire Combined Fire Authority delivers a fire and rescue service to the whole of Lancashire, raising awareness about fire safety through visiting homes and schools, enforcing fire safety laws; being available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to respond to emergencies.

The net budget for 2023/24 is £68.2m, an increase of £5.2m compared to last year’s budget of £63.0m. This increase was largely the result of pay awards and inflationary pressures, which is partly offset by the identification of £1.9m of budget savings.

What Does the Fire and Rescue Service Cost?

Based on the forecast population of Lancashire, circa 1.5 million, we cost just 10 pence per person per day.

Summary

2024/25

(£)

​2023/24

(£m)

​Gross Revenue Expenditure

74.3

71.1

​Less Income

(3.4)

(3.8)

​Less grant in respect of increased firefighters pension costs

-

(3.1)

​Contribution to Capital

2.5

4.0

​Net Budget Requirement

75.2

​68.2

​Less Central Government Grants

(13.5)

(10.3)

​Less Local Share of Business Rates inc top up grant

(21.1)

​(19.8)

​Deficit/(Surplus) on Council Tax and Business Rates Collection fund

(1)

(0.4)

​Council tax requirement

39.4

37.7

 Council tax income

Summary

2024/25

​Council tax base                                                                                              

465,006

​Band D Council Tax equivalent

​£84.73

How The Budget Compares with Last Year?

The Fire Authority net budget requirement for 2023/24 is £68.2m compared with a budget of £63.0m last year. The reasons for the 8.3% increase in the overall budget are as follows:

​Change in spending between years

​£ million

​Budget requirement 2023/24

​68.2

​Add pay awards and other inflationary pressures

5.5

​Less savings identified

​(1.5)

Less other adjustments

​(3)

​Budget requirement 

​75.2

Council Tax has increased by £2.46 (less than £0.05 per week) which means that for a Band D property the amount payable for the Fire and Rescue part of the bill is £84.73 per year.

What Do You Get for Your Money?

39 fire stations
58 fire engines
45 specialist vehicles
1,121 staff
999 calls answered
Attendance at 5,861 fires
Attendance at 681 road traffic collisions
Attendance at 4,375 other emergencies including animal rescue, flooding, collapsed structures, gaining entry and water rescue
Fire safety inspections
Prosecutions under fire safety law
21,351 Home Fire Safety Checks
Visits to all school year 2 and year 6 classes
Road safety education packages

More information

For a hard copy of this information, please contact us:

Email: enquiries@lancsfirerescue.org.uk

Post:

The Chief Fire Officer
Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service
Headquarters
Garstang Road
Fulwood
Preston
PR2 3LH