Statement of assurance - 2025 to 2026 - Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue

Financial

LFR is included within all county council financial procedures including:

  • budget setting
  • budget monitoring
  • production of final accounts

This ensures public money is properly accounted for. The service conducts its activities, as part of the county council, in accordance with its duty under section 3 of the Local Government Act 1999 in respect of ensuring it performs:

  • economically
  • efficiently
  • effectively

The chief finance officer is responsible for preparing our statement of accounts in accordance with proper practices. The purpose of the accounts is to give clear information about our finances to:

  • electors
  • local taxpayers and service users
  • elected members
  • employees
  • other interested parties

The statement of accounts for 2024 to 2025 has been included with the 2024 to 2025 audited statement of accounts. This is due for publication by 27 February 2026. These accounts, including earlier years, can be found on our website at LCC statement of accounts.

Our financial statements and value for money conclusions are independently audited. No matters have been identified which would prevent the auditors from giving an unqualified:

  • opinion on the financial statements
  • value for money conclusion

The external auditors present regular planning updates and progress reports to the audit committee. These reports can be viewed at audit committee meetings. When published, the audit opinion can be found within the annual audit letter.

Value for money

LFR's 2025 to 2026 revenue expenditure budget of £29.4 million was fully utilised with a number of variances.

There was a cost pressure of £0.499 million which included key variances:

  • organisational support - £0.629 million underspend
    • £0.517 million underspend on the Control project
    • £0.046 million overspend including breathing apparatus testing and evaluation and on-call availibility recruitment skills (OARS)
    • £0.130 million underspend on licenses
  • professional development - £0.125m overspend
    • £0.49 million overspend relating to training recommendations from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry
    • £0.074 million overspend relating to the new Trauma training contract with LIVES
    • £0.026 million reduction in forecast commercial income
  • response - £0.942 million overspend
    • £0.578 million overspend relating to increased costs of turn-outs and attendances
      £0.054 million additional costs relating to the closure of Brayford One
      £0.076 million pressure due to the early withdrawal of the Firelink grant
      £0.072 million pressure resulting from changes to terms and conditions for bank holiday entitlements of retained staff

These cost pressures were funded by a contribution from contingency. 

Following a rephasing process early in the year, the capital budget was £2.616 million for 2025 to 2026. At the closure of accounts, the service reported an underspend of £0.771 million primarily as a result of £0.408 million relating to the control project and £0.272 million on the Fleet budget. With each of the instances of rephasing and underspend, supporting rationale outlined project slippage and further reprofiling rather than a change to the overall budget.

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