I UNDERSTAND Councillor Udall, the Fire Authority chairman, has sent out a plea to residents to support the Fire Authority against the Government's decision to cap them.
I recently sent Cllr Udall an e-mail asking him to justify the 23 per cent increase in the Fire Authority's budget, which meant a 59 per cent increase in the council tax precept for the Fire Authority. He is arguing that a 59 per cent increase is not excessive! I think most people would disagree!
He is using the usual emotive argument of threatening "redundancies." These could be avoided by cutting their request for reserves (5.5 per cent of the 23 per cent) and building renewal(2 per cent of the 23 per cent).
Has he been asked how many of the Fire Authority councillors actually investigated the "budget" put forward by the Fire Brigade? I suspect many simply followed the chairman and accepted the figures without question. As the Fire Authority is now separated from the counties, any increase could be disowned by the counties, which they did!
Whilst I hope that "rebilling" is avoided, (which will add more costs), I do think the Fire Authority should take responsibility for having its budget capped.
A 23 per cent increase in their budget and 59 per cent increase in their council tax precept is excessive!
John Gardener
Bromsgrove District Councillor
Wythall South
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