Humberside Fire Authority has agreed a maximum pre-referendum level council tax precept rise for the fire service but will still have to dip into its reserves in the next year.
The service faces a challenging financial picture with falling Government grants and having to use some of its reserves.
In 2026/27, there will be a 4.85 per cent rise in the fire service precept, working out to a £4.99 increase for council tax Band D households. This means a Band D household can expect to pay £107.92 next financial year on the fire service precept. This, of course, is only a part of a household’s council tax bill, and does not include what the local council tax sets, possible parish council precepts, or the Humberside Police precept.
The agreed rise follows a recent public consultation. From 1,553 responses received, 77 per cent supported an increase, and the 4.85 per cent increase was most favoured, with 37 per cent of respondents selecting it.
The feedback informed Humberside Fire Authority members’ discussions when they agreed to the 4.85 per cent rise. Even with this increase, the fire service will still be using £3.5m from reserves and must identify savings worth approximately £2.4m to balance the budget over the next three years.
The fire authority’s chair, Cllr Nigel Sherwood (Conservative – North Lincolnshire Council) said: “This decision reflects the balance members must strike between affordability for households and the need to invest in a service that continues to perform strongly, adapt to emerging risks and support its workforce.” He said the public feedback was “invaluable” and every fire service member of staff “plays a vital role in maintaining the high standards our communities expect.
“This decision supports our shared commitment to protecting lives, property and the environment, while continuing to invest in the people who make that possible.” The service also plans a significant capital investment programme across fleet, estates, training and digital services, including £4.7m investment in its land and buildings.
Government grant funding to Humberside Fire & Rescue Service to fall
After the Government Fair Funding review, the fire service is to lose £2.7m in non-council tax precept funding over the next three years. Government grant funding is to reduce by about two per cent annually for the next three years.
In the medium term, Humberside Fire & Rescue Service faces the third-highest reduction in Government grant cash across all fire and rescue services. This is on the back of a long-term trend of declining Government grants to Humberside Fire & Rescue Service.
Between 2011/12 to 2022/23, it lost around £11m funding from Government. The share of the service’s financing that will depend on the council tax precept will grow, from 50.4 per cent up to 52.4 per cent in 2026/27. The precept’s share of financing is set to continue to rise in future years, to 58.6 per cent by 2030/31.
About two-thirds of precept revenue comes from Hull and East Riding Council areas. The smaller populations in North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire account for the remaining third.
A busy 2025 for Humberside Fire & Rescue Service
Reflecting on the year gone, the fire service has pointed to much to be proud of. Its firefighters responded to over 11,000 incidents, with first fire engines arriving within target times 96.5 per cent of the time.
Prevention and engagement work in 2025 included more than 11,600 Home Fire Safety Visits, 33,000 children engaged in schools and over 5,000 business engagements. This time last year, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) also rated the service as ‘Outstanding’ for understanding and preventing fires and other risks, alongside multiple ‘Good’ ratings.
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