High Peak 1 Key decisions agreed at Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Authority meeting
Written by Kane Smith on 28/02/2026
Members of Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Authority have approved a one-year extension to the Service’s current Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP), agreed a £5 increase in the Council Tax precept, and formally confirmed the appointment of a new Chief Fire Officer.
At the meeting held on Tuesday 24 February, members approved:
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A one-year extension to the current CRMP (known as Our Plan)
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The 2026–27 Annual Delivery Plan
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The Medium-Term Financial Plan 2026/27 to 2029/30
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A £5 increase in the Council Tax precept
The decisions follow a public consultation, Our Plan and Budget 2026–2027, which sought views on extending the existing CRMP and introducing the precept rise.
The approved increase means the average Band D household in Derbyshire will now pay £98.41 per year for fire and rescue services.
Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service has continued to deliver high-quality services to the communities of Derbyshire and has achieved a great deal under its current CRMP despite continued financial challenges and a year of significant change across both the Fire and Rescue Authority and the Service’s Strategic Leadership Team.The Authority’s aim is to ensure financial, operational and leadership stability. Approving a one-year extension to the CRMP will give the Service and the newly formed leadership team the time required to develop the next CRMP, ensuring it meets the needs of our communities facing new and foreseeable risks.The £5 Council Tax precept increase will ensure the Service can continue to deliver its services in an ever changing and complex financial environment – this is not a decision taken lightly as both the Service and the Authority appreciate any increase has an impact on families and households dealing with the same cost of living and financial challenges; however the Authority must ensure strike a balance between affordability and the need to deliver its services.
New Chief Fire Officer formally approved
During the same meeting, members unanimously approved the recommendation of the Brigade Managers’ Appointments Panel to appoint Mick Sharman as the new Chief Fire Officer/Chief Executive of Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service.
I would like to thank everyone who contributed to the recent public consultation. The insights we receive through the consultation are critical to our planning, ensuring our future plans remain grounded in the realities of the risks faced by our communities across Derbyshire.I recognise that any increase in personal costs, including the approved council tax precept rise, can have an impact on households, and I am grateful for the careful consideration that members have given to this decision. The additional funding will support the Service in maintaining the resources required to deliver a safe and effective level of service for our communities.As we look ahead, we will now begin planning for the development of our next Community Risk Management Plan for 2027 – 2032. This will involve ongoing assessment of foreseeable risks and continued engagement with our communities, partners and stakeholders. Your support and involvement will once again be vital in helping us shape a CRMP that reflects the evolving needs of our communities, to ensure we can continue to Make Derbyshire Safer Together.
