She had tried to bring a motion before the board to suspend the ongoing process which could result in Balmossie losing full-time night cover, with the resources going to provide a full daytime shift in Forfar, until the implications of future budgets
are clear.
Councillor Helen Oswald.
Her motion came after confirmation that the service might lose millions of pounds in funding in the near future as public spending is reduced due to the recession.
Unfortunately there was a lack of support to suspend standing orders and her attempt failed.
Tayside Fire and Rescue anticipates a budget cut of four per cent each year from 2011 which equates to something less than £1 million per year.
Councillor Oswald's motion stated: "Last year, when the operational changes at Balmossie and Forfar Fire Stations proposed in the Towards a Safer Tayside were first discussed, it was emphasised that these were in no way budget-related.
"In the media lately we have witnessed claims that the current document's proposals, identical for Balmossie and Forfar to those in last year's consultation, must be viewed in the context of the present budget constraints.
"However the proposals for these stations, which are still out for consultation until the beginning of March, were once again, not predicated on budgetary concerns, but are cost neutral.
"If, as the convener has stated, budgets are part and parcel of these proposals, we must have this out in the open and any savings required must be put before this board with all options to achieve such savings."
She continued: "There is no doubt that in the immediate aftermath of the general election in May, there will very quickly be an emergency budget whichever party wins, and I think we are all aware that the cuts are likely to be savage, perhaps even more so than described in this report.
"Surely it is better to instruct the Chief Fire and Rescue Officer to bring forward all options for cuts and savings at that time, once we are aware of just what is facing us, based on budgetary as well as operational considerations and hopefully, the Board's decisions at that time will allow him to continue to deliver a level of service acceptable to the communities within the Board's remit."
However, only five board members supported her right to bring the motion.
Mr Hunter stated that it would be wrong to pre-empt the consultation procedure and, should the scenario envisaged by Mrs Oswald result, it would be for the board to consider how best to move forward.
A spokesman for the Balmossie campaigners said this week that the campaign continues to go from strength to strength.
He went on: "The number of responses to the public consultation now stands at well in excess of 3,500 as we enter the last full month of consultation.
"Campaigners are to take to the streets of Carnoustie on Saturday, February 13, from 10 a.m.
