The revised settlement ensures an increase in core spending power into next year and follows sustained engagement by the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), alongside interventions from local MPs and representative bodies. The additional funding will be targeted at services facing the greatest funding inequities.

The settlement also confirms greater council tax flexibility, allowing standalone Fire and Rescue Authorities to increase precepts by up to £5 per year for a Band D property. Authorities applying the full rise will receive at least an uplift in core spending power, providing improved protection against cost pressures.

NFCC modelling had indicated potential real-terms cuts of up to £102 million under earlier proposals. Following sector advocacy, the Government increased the funding floor by 2.2% in December, with this latest settlement confirming a further uplift backed by additional funding.

NFCC Chair Phil Garrigan said:

“We welcome the Government’s decision to strengthen the funding floor with the provision of an additional £15 million. This is a clear improvement on the provisional position and a reflection of sustained and constructive engagement between the NFCC, Government, local MPs and representative bodies.”

“After a decade of cuts, Fire and Rescue Services were facing further real-terms reductions. The reforms announced before Christmas were welcomed, but we were clear they did not go far enough in recognising unavoidable pressures and rising demand. The Government has listened. This revised settlement offers greater stability and capacity to protect the public.”

“This is an important step forward, but long-term underinvestment – particularly so the loss of almost £1 billion in capital funding, a significant reduction in firefighter numbers and the previous disinvestment in the central co-ordination of the sector – must now be addressed. Securing sustainable investment for the future is the next priority.”

Government data shows Fire and Rescue Services in England responded to 642,170 incidents in the year to September 2025 - a 28% increase over the past decade - while wholetime firefighter numbers have fallen by 25% since 2008 (around 11,000 posts).

The NFCC continues to call for a long-term investment strategy to ensure services remain equipped to meet increasingly complex risks and future demand.

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