Leaders at Swansea Council have urged the region's fire authority to think carefully before raising its levy by an above-inflation amount. Six councils fund the vast majority of Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service's budget through a levy, which will be set in February.
A 13% increase has been recommended for 2023-24, but the final levy approved by the fire authority could potentially be even higher now because of a reduction in some Welsh Government grant funding. Concern over the scale of the levy increase was raised by Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart, who said at a cabinet meeting that while he acknowledged the pressures faced by the fire service, the council had pressures of its own. He said the planned levy increase would cost the council around £2 million.
READ MORE: Seagulls blamed for causing leaks in spectacular apartments overlooking Welsh bay
