Taxpayers funding fire officers’ subscriptions

According to research by the Taxpayers’ Alliance, Humberside Fire and Rescue Service has spent the most in the country over the past three years on the Chief Fire Officers’ Association – a total of £61,856 – closely followed by South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (£57,426).

In total taxpayers contributed £1,730,589 – not including figures from two fire services which did not respond to a Freedom of Information request.

The CFOA insists it does valuable work, saying it helps taxpayers get improved local services by sharing information from all over the country.

But the Alliance pointed to the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, which withdrew from the organisation in April after facing a 20 per cent hike in membership fees.

The fees were increased after all its Government funding was axed the previous year.

Andrew Allison, the Alliance’s National Grassroots Co-ordinator, said: “If the CFOA is such good value, why has the largest fire authority in the country withdrawn from it?

“It obviously didn’t feel a 20 per cent hike in fees was good value for money.”

HFRS confirmed they paid for the membership of around seven senior officers, of area manager grade upwards.

Its spending over two years rose by more than £7,000 to more than £25,000 this year, according to the figures.

In a statement chief fire officer Richard Hannigan said: “HFRS is a corporate member of CFOA which means that it can access a professional network of information, advice and guidance. HFRS benefits from this professional network and Humberside officers contribute a great deal to it.

“For example, HFRS provides the national lead for Equality and Diversity and for Fire Service Qualifications.

“Humberside senior managers are encouraged to be members of CFOA as this supports and develops their ability to manage an essential public service in challenging times.”

North Yorkshire FRS spent £40,726 over three years and West Yorkshire £32,989.