Fire engines could be withdrawn and services reduced as County Durham and Darlington's fire service confronts a financial 'cliff edge', councillors have cautioned. County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Authority is exploring ways to balance its budget amid declining government funding, increasing costs and uncertainty over its future finances.
Amongst the savings previously proposed is the withdrawal of a second fire engine from a station, which could deliver around £1.34m in savings. Speaking at a joint scrutiny meeting on Thursday (November 12), Cllr Richard Bell said the financial situation was 'very concerning' and cautioned difficult decisions could lie ahead.
He said: "We've got the cliff edge in 2028 when we don't know what's happening. It could lead to removing appliances and cutting services."
Funding gap expected to widen
Keith Lazzari, director of corporate resources at County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, informed councillors the authority was experiencing pressure as government funding declines while its costs continue to climb. One of the biggest concerns is what unfolds when the Government's current funding deal expires.
The authority currently anticipates facing a shortfall of just over £1m by 2028. But that could escalate to more than £3m the following year if temporary government funding is removed.
Mr Lazzari said: "If this funding is withdrawn, there'll be a significant funding gap from 2029 onwards. In view of this uncertainty, the authority will need to continue to prepare for the possibility of further reductions in funding going forward."
Cost pressures and council tax reliance
The fire service is additionally contending with mounting pressure from inflation and staff pay increases, which could result in expenditure exceeding previous forecasts. Meanwhile, more than 60 per cent of the authority's funding is now drawn from council tax.
The service has already identified approximately £500,000 worth of savings that do not affect staff pay, however further measures will need to be explored as it strives to balance future budgets. Councillors will scrutinise potential savings over the coming months before recommendations for the 2027/28 budget are presented to the Fire Authority in February.
