| The cost of the fire and rescue service in North Yorkshire is low compared with many other authorities |
North Yorkshire Fire Authority has good financial management arrangements and a track record of managing within its budget, so says the latest Audit Commission report.
County Councillor John Fort, Chairman of the Fire Authority welcomed the latest report saying: “I am pleased that the performance of our Service continues to be recognised by others including the Audit Commission. The cost of the fire and rescue service in North Yorkshire is low compared with many other Authorities ; as a result of our track record of providing high quality, cost effective services that are appropriate to risk, expenditure on North Yorkshire’s Fire & Rescue Service has fallen every year in real terms since 2005. In 2009/10 the cost of North Yorkshire’s Fire Service was within the lowest 25 per cent of all Fire Authorities nationally.”
Chief Fire Officer Nigel Hutchinson said: “One of the key challenges facing the Authority is maintaining the effective prevention, protection and emergency response services with less resources, reduced funding in the medium term is likely to mean that the Authority will be faced with a significant challenge.”
He went on to say: “We are prioritising our resources and looking at ways in which to achieve further efficiencies that will have the least impact on frontline services in order that we may continue to provide the high quality services expected by our communities.”