Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service is forecast to exceed its budget for 2026-27 by approximately £1.062 million after an intense period of call-outs driven in part by extreme weather, council papers show. The service’s allocated budget for the year is close to £43 million.
Rising demand and staffing costs
Figures supplied to Norfolk County Council indicate that pump call-outs have climbed markedly over recent years, with a reported 73% increase across a five-year period. The rise has been attributed to a combination of weather-related incidents, more water rescues and an increase in the complexity of emergencies attended.
The service has already been granted an additional uplift of nearly £700,000 to help manage the extra demand, but further pressures on staffing and overtime have contributed to the overall projected overspend.
"We continue to seek ways to help alleviate the pressure while ensuring we remain ready and available for our county," a service spokeswoman said.
Role of retained firefighters
Around 60% of frontline fire staff in Norfolk are retained (on-call) firefighters, the council statement notes. Retained crews typically hold other primary jobs and are paid when called out, which means costs fluctuate with the number and timing of incidents.
- Call-outs have risen substantially over five years (reported as 73%).
- The service has received a near-£700,000 uplift in funding to meet demand.
- Critical overtime and standby costs are key drivers of the projected overspend.
Political and financial scrutiny
Cabinet members at the county council discussed the forecast overspend and the need to tighten financial controls. Justine Thomas, the council’s cabinet member responsible for the budget, said stricter measures were required to curb and postpone non-essential spending.
"Tighter levels of financial controls to reduce, delay and prevent non-essential spending" were needed, she told councillors.
Despite the immediate pressures, Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service defended its record on cost-efficiency, pointing out that its expenditure per head compares favourably with other areas. The service says it currently sits among the lower-cost brigades nationally when measured against population served.
What this means for residents
For Norfolk residents, the overspend raises questions about how the service will balance fiscal discipline with maintaining frontline readiness as extreme weather events become more frequent. The service has emphasised efforts to find efficiencies while ensuring adequate cover across the county.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Projected overspend (2026-27) | £1.062m |
| Service budget (approx.) | £43m |
| Additional uplift already provided | ~£700,000 |
| Increase in pump call-outs (5 years) | 73% |
Councillors will continue to scrutinise expenditure as part of the wider county budget process. Any measures to reduce the overspend are likely to involve a combination of tighter financial controls, review of discretionary spending and continued monitoring of operational demand.
