Vital investment for fire and rescue service agreed by councillors

Cheshire Fire Authority has approved a multi‑million‑pound investment package to complete the modernisation of fire stations, upgrade frontline firefighting equipment and adopt new technology, helping to keep communities and firefighters even safer.

The decision was confirmed today (Wednesday, 11th February 2026) as members signed off a £61.7m budget to run Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service in 2026/27.

The Service’s funding for the year will once again come from a blend of Government grants and council tax, with the Authority agreeing to increase its precept (share of council tax) by the equivalent of £5 a year for a Band D property. This follows a public consultation on the proposed increase during January.

Cllr Stef Nelson, Chair of Cheshire Fire Authority, said:

“In spite of rising cost pressures and no real‑terms increase in central government funding, I am pleased we have agreed a balanced budget that not only maintains our excellent fire and rescue provision but also ensures we can continue to make vital investments in our services.

“To balance the budget, we will make around £1.1m in savings, primarily by bringing down utility costs, continuing to reduce staff absence and overtime, and introducing a new structure in our Protection Department. A further £448,000 from reserves will fund essential one‑off costs.”

He added:

“We are grateful to everyone who responded to our public consultation. The £5 annual increase in council tax will support our work towards our vision of ‘a Cheshire with no deaths, injuries or damage from fire and other emergencies’.”

Alongside approving the Service’s budget for the next 12 months, members also agreed a major multi‑year capital investment programme to start from April, which will be funded from the Authority’s reserves and around £2m of borrowing – far less borrowing than originally planned owing to work to identify savings and efficiencies.

The capital plan includes:

The £10.5m redevelopment of Ellesmere Port Fire Station by summer 2027 and Warrington Fire Station by autumn 2027, involving partial demolition and extensive remodelling to provide modern welfare facilities for staff; dedicated ‘clean’ and ‘dirty’ areas to reduce harmful contaminants; improved gyms to support firefighter health and fitness, and enhanced community rooms

The refurbishment of fire stations at Malpas, Nantwich, Poynton and Stockton Heath to achieve similar benefits. All of Cheshire’s 28 fire stations will then have been newly built or completely modernised over the last 10 years

£1.6m to replace firefighters’ breathing apparatus in 2027/28 with state‑of‑the‑art lightweight equipment that uses digital technology to help commanders monitor firefighters’ location and vital signs during high‑risk incidents

investment in a new digital mobilising system at Northwest Fire Control in Warrington, which Cheshire operates jointly with Cumbria, Greater Manchester and Lancashire fire and rescue services

Continued improvements to housing at fire stations where firefighters live on site to respond to emergencies outside normal working hours

improvements at the Service’s headquarters complex in Winsford including the creation of a new Occupational Health Unit, additional office space, a new on-site stores facility and modernised conference, training and meeting spaces. This work includes revisions made possible by purchasing the former Winsford Police Station building, adjacent to headquarters.

Cheshire Fire Authority comprises 23 elected members from the four local authority areas covered by Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service: Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Cheshire, Halton and Warrington. They are responsible for approving the Service’s budget and holding the Chief Fire Officer to account for the delivery of the fire and rescue service in the county.

The detailed budget papers considered by Cheshire Fire Authority are available to read and download from Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service’s website.

On 17th December 2025, the Government confirmed that standalone fire and rescue authorities in England would be permitted to increase their council tax precept by up to £5 on a Band D property for the 2026/27 financial year without triggering a referendum. Cheshire Fire Authority consulted on the proposal throughout January 2026. A total of 416 people responded to the consultation with 58.9% of people supporting the proposed increase.

The proportionate impact of a £5 council tax increase on a Band D property is as follows:

• Band A - an increase of £3.34 per year, taking the precept from £63.39 to £66.73.
• Band B - an increase of £3.89 per year, taking the precept from £73.96 to £77.85.
• Band C - an increase of £4.45 per year, taking the precept from £84.52 to £88.97.
• Band D - an increase of £5.00 per year, taking the precept from £95.09 to £100.09.
• Band E - an increase of £6.11 per year, taking the precept from £116.22 to £122.33.
• Band F - an increase of £7.22 per year, taking the precept from £137.35 to £144.57.
• Band G - an increase of £8.34 per year, taking the precept from £158.48 to £166.82.
• Band H - an increase of £10.00 per year, taking the precept from £190.18 to £200.18