SWINDON Council is to be urged at a meeting later this month to support firefighters in their dispute with the Government over pensions.

The Labour Group is to put forward a motion at the next full council meeting saying they support firefighters receiving adequate remuneration for their service, and Government plans present a long-term risk to the service.

The development stems from an 18-month fight by the Fire Brigades Union against plans to extend the retirement age to 60 while also increasing pension contributions.

More than a dozen strike actions have been taken by firefighters, who say they are not backing down.

The motion is to be put forward by Labour leader Jim Grant (Lab, Rodbourne Cheney) who believes raising the retirement age will put lives at risk.

He said: “I wanted to move this motion to show solidarity with our brave local firefighters who have been given a very raw deal by the government over their pensions offer.

“The government wish to raise the retirement age of all firefighters to 60 but the basis for them believing that firefighters can go on to that age without jeopardising the safety of themselves and the public is very shaky.

“Indeed the Williams Review commissioned by the government to look in to firefighters’ retirement identifies that by lowering the minimum aerobic fitness measure for which firefighters can continue their service, there is an increase in likelihood of sudden catastrophic cardiac events.

“The Government have also failed to address the current cliff edge in the pension scheme regulations which will mean a retiring firefighter at age 55 will face a 21.8 per cent reduction in their pension.

“The devolved governments in the UK have succeeded in bringing forward alternative proposals to significantly reduce this cliff edge and subsequently have succeeded in avoiding any strike action.

“We have seen the strength of grievance from the firefighters over the government’s pensions offer from the strike action they’ve taken and the petition shows that there is public support for our local firefighters, so I hope councillors of all parties will send a message to the Government that they need to reach an amicable solution with our brave firefighters.”

The FBU could not be contacted for comment but has welcomed the move and is asking Wiltshire firefighters to the meeting.

Council leader David Renard (Con, Haydon Wick), who said he had not read the motion, added that he was happy to debate the issue but was not sure of the impact it would have.

He said: “If this is a motion being put forward then I am more than happy to discuss it but it is not something we have much control over.

“As a council we can express an opinion as a concerned party but not a huge amount else.

“I would have to read the wording of the motion but we have to be wary of adding to the already strained public purse.”