Our services are funded by taxpayers, and we have a legal duty to ensure that the services we provide offer value for money and meet the needs of an ever-changing society. With an annual budget of £117.197 million, we are committed to delivering the best affordable service for our communities. The chart opposite offers a detailed analysis of our funding sources.
By implementing smarter working practices and introducing an improved budget management system, we have achieved a balanced budget. This means our expenditure matches our funding, eliminating the need to use any of our reserves. Additionally, we continuously seek ways to optimise our resources and improve efficiency, ensuring that we can maintain high standards of service while being fiscally responsible.
Value for money - We contribute significant social and economic value through our responses to fire and non-fire emergencies, as well as our prevention and protection activities. At fire-related incidents, we prevent further property damage. Additionally, we save life, prevent injuries, and protect the environment. Our prevention and protection activities encompass Safe and Well visits, audits and inspections of commercial premises, and fire setter and antisocial behaviour schemes. Each of these activities has been calculated to provide a positive social return on investment.
Efficiency and Productivity - As part of the 2021/22 Spending Review, the National Fire Chiefs’ Council and the Local Government Association proposed that Fire and Rescue Services in England could achieve 2% non-pay efficiencies and increase productivity by 3% by 2024/25. Our Efficiency and Productivity Plan outlines how the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority aims to deliver these efficiencies and increase productivity to meet the national targets set for the 2021/22 - 2024/25 spending review period.
Procurement - The Authority leads on the regional Yorkshire and Humber procurement group, where procurement pipelines and contract registers are regularly reviewed to facilitate collaborative purchasing. The Authority uses national framework agreements where it is economically advantageous to do so, thereby ensuring that value for money is maximised.
"We provide our firefighters with the best equipment to ensure their safety."