Councillor Roger Reed, Chairman of Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Fire Authority, has responded to Cllr Peter Marland's earlier statement on the cuts to the Fire Service
On Monday (6th November), Leader of Milton Keynes Council, Cllr Peter Marland, released a statement claiming that "The shocking incompetence and arrogance of the Tory-controlled fire authority is amazing." after news emerged that more cuts to firefighters and stations could be on the way.
Councillor Roger Reed, Chairman of Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Fire Authority, has responded to these comments saying: “I reject these unsustainable allegations. I am saddened by this attempt by the Labour members of our Fire Authority to make cheap political capital and to distract us from our focus of concentrating on providing best value for the residents of Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes.
“Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service has, in fact, performed incredibly well over the last seven years, but along with other public sector organisations remains subject to a number of budget reductions. Despite these our staff continue to serve our residents magnificently. They have supported more flexible ways of working, which is why I have argued, on their behalf, for a pay increase for them in excess of the one per cent offered by the Government.
“Following on from the terrible incident at Grenfell Tower and other major incidents it is clear that we need to increase the investment in Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service. We have managed to keep our council tax down to its lowest level over the last seven years by only increasing it by an average of 25p a year. Local authority increases have been significantly higher.
“Clearly Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service needs more investment, which is why the Fire Authority has asked the Government to allow us the flexibility to increase our council tax by up to £10 a year.”
