FUTURE spending on Hampshire's fire service has been thrown into the melting pot because of the uncertainity raging over the firefighters' pay dispute.

As the Hampshire Fire Authority's finance chiefs work out their final sums there is still a big question mark over how much cash support will come from Whitehall.

Yesterday the fire authority met at Eastleigh to discuss its budget proposals - 48 hours after the Fire Brigades Union had dramatically suspended its planned third strike.

Treasurer Paul Carey-Kent and Hampshire Fire Chief Malcolm Eastwood had drawn up a £51.2m base budget, based on a 4 per cent increase in the firefighters' pay from this month.

Now independent arbitrator Acas has been asked to find a solution to the deadlocked pay row.

But Hampshire Fire and Rescue bosses have warned that the final pay award could have a major impact on the budget.

Every additional one per cent increase in pay above the four per cent currently assumed would cost about £250,000 in a full year.

Fire authority members had been recommended to approve the base budget figure. But chairman Councillor Michael Cartwright won committee support for his suggestion that it should just be noted.

He said that they could not do much more until they had a detailed picture on the outcome of the pay dispute and the level of government funding.

The budget will be further considered in the new year and the authority will give its final seal of approval in February.

By then the firefighters' pay dispute should have been settled and Hampshire will know much cash it is going to get from Whitehall.

Commenting on the pay dispute, Cllr Cartwright said: "Gradually all parties are getting round the table to talk."