The fire service’s governing Fire Authority will decide whether to increase its portion of Council Tax by 2.97% next year, at its budget setting meeting this month.

Current indications are that South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue will lose around £700,000 in its Government funding in 2018/19, when compared with 2017/18.

Householders in Band D currently pay £68.96 per year for their Fire and Rescue Service, around £1.33 per week. The decision to increase council tax would raise around £714,000 in annual funding for the fire service- the equivalent of around 20 firefighters.

Fire Authority Members will make their decision on Council Tax at the fire and rescue authority meeting on Monday 19 February.