PAYMENTS of millions of pounds a council must make to the fire service have been questioned by a councillor who previously chaired its authority.
The South Wales Fire & Rescue Authority was disbanded by the Welsh Government last year after the brigade was found to have a culture of sexual harassment and misogyny.
Fire services are funded by charges imposed on local authorities in the area they serve known as a levy. In the current financial year, Torfaen Borough Council has had to pay £5.7m towards the service’s £95.8m total budget.
But in its own upcoming budget plans the council has made provisional arrangements for that to increase by £173,000.
Councillor Steve Evans, who chaired the fire authority before the board was fired en mass and replaced with Welsh government-appointed commissioners in February last year, questioned that figure at a council scrutiny meeting.
The Upper Cwmbran Labour member said: “Have we asked the fire service for any future savings plans? Unfortunately, we’re not represented on there any more.”
Council finance officer Robert Green said talks are ongoing with the service but at present the council doesn’t know for sure how much it will have to pay.
He said: “Ultimately the fire and rescue service are a levying body and we don’t have control over that increase.”
Mr Green said the commissioners have said they are committed to “minimising” the increase.
Andrew Lovegrove, the council’s finance chief, said the council was due to meet with the fire service commissioners on January 29 when they will have a better understanding of their budget and said he would “pass on” councillors would like to see “efficiencies and value for money”.
Cllr Evans replied: “Being the ex-chair I know where they need to be looking.”