December 2014

Ref. FN92411142

“Making West Midlands Safer”

•Response, prevention and protection “Our priorities, outcomes and strategic objectives”

•Risk-based attendance standards“We remain committed to the highest standards of emergency

incident cover”

•Risk-based prevention activities“Designed to provide maximum impact for the investment

made”

Our Service Delivery Model

1322 Firefighters 38 Fire Stations

19 BRV

41 PRL

Comprehensive Spending Review

2011/12 to 2014/15

• Total grant reduction £22m (27%)

Government Grant£59m57%

Rates £9m 9%

Council Tax£35m34%

Where does the 2014/15 funding come from?

Provisional Grant Reductions

2015/16 9% (£6m)

2016/17 7% (£4m)

2017/18 7% (£4m)

2018/19 7% (£4m)

Council Tax

Lowest Fire Service Council Tax in England and Wales:

Band D: £53.87 per annum

West Midlands Fire ServiceProvisional Budget Forecast

2015/16

£m

2016/17

£m

2017/18

£m

2018/19

£m

Balanced (3.5) (6.5) (10.0)

• Maintaining current service delivery model• Council tax increase of 2%

Capital 2015/16 & 2016/17

• National grant Reduced from £70m per annum to £37.5m.

• All allocated on a bidding basis.

• WMFS – 2 bids, unsuccessful.

AUTUMN STATEMENT DECEMBER 2014

The coming years will require “very substantial savings in public spending”

AUTUMN STATEMENT DECEMBER 2014

I.F.S: Cuts “will be on a colossal scale”

Planning Options

• Any further efficiencies

• Service Degradation

• Referendum

2015/2016 Budget Timetable

• Provisional Grant Figure? 17th December• District Leaders’ Meeting 18th December• Ratepayers’ Meeting 2nd February• Policy Planning Forum 2nd February • Final C-Tax/Grant Figures End of January• Final Business Rates Figures End of January• Authority Meeting 16th February

BUDGET2015/16 TO 2018/19

Budget figures reflect the financial position prior to the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement announcement

QUESTIONS?Ref. FN92611133