- Home »
Fire Authority
The Fire Authority is the publicly accountable body which manages the fire and rescue service on behalf of the communities of Cheshire, Halton and Warrington.
The Authority's role is to:
- set the Annual Budget
- agree the staff, vehicle and other resources needed to deliver an efficient service
- approve the Service's plans, policies and strategies
- approve the composition of the Committees, Sub-Committees, Advisory Groups and Task Groups of the Authority.
The Fire Authority and Local Authorities
The Fire Authority is made up of 23 elected Members appointed by Cheshire West and Chester (8), Cheshire East (8), Halton Borough Council (3) and Warrington Borough Council (4). The current political composition of the Authority is Conservative (12), Labour (7) and Liberal Democrat (4).
The Authority is a separate legal body, with the power to set council tax and to set its own policies and procedures, without seeking the approval of these local councils.
From 1 April 2009 the Membership of the Fire Authority will increase to 23 Members, when the seven councils within the part of Cheshire covered by the current County Council boundary are replaced by two new unitary councils, Cheshire East and Cheshire West and Chester.
From 1 April 2009 the Fire Authority will cover the four unitary areas of Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Halton and Warrington. Each council sends a number of elected Members to serve on the Fire Authority. As an Authority Member, councillors represent the whole of Cheshire and are not just required to act as the formal representatives of their own council.
The allocation of Members is based on population and has been agreed as follows:
- Cheshire East: 8
- Cheshire West and Chester: 8
- Halton: 3
- Warrington: 4
To find out more about our members: Fire Authority Members
