PLANS to increase funding for a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) contract in Bridgend county has been approved by the local council after decisions were deferred in January 2025.
The approval will now see an uplift in the council’s contribution to the RNLI, which provides seasonal beach lifeguarding services on popular beaches in the borough such as Rest Bay, Sandy Bay and Trecco Bay.
It comes as a current contract with the organisation, valued at around £38,000 per year is set to end in 2024, with councillors asked to consider a number of options for the service moving forward.
The discussions came at a monthly cabinet meeting held by Bridgend Council on February 4, where council bosses heard about the “long-standing and successful partnership” that currently existed between the authority and the RNLI in relation to beach and water safety services.
It added that this was key to on-going safety in coastal areas of the borough with a total of 949 people being aided in the last five years, including 12 cases where people had their lives saved.

The report said: “These agreements have provided value for money, been delivered successfully, and provided a level of safety for beach visitors which would otherwise not have been available.
“It is considered that the service has become a core element of the offer for tourists to the area and assisted the County Borough in maintaining two Blue Flag beaches.”
Speaking at the meeting both councillors and officers agreed that it would be in the best interests of the authority to continue with the service, with an annual increase of 4% which equates to around £3,000 additional cost per year.
Councillor Neelo Farr of Porthcawl said she supported the recommendations noting that the service saved the lives of both humans and animals using the beaches in the area.
The leader of Bridgend Council, Cllr John Spanswick added: “The service that we receive this summer from the RNLI will be the same, there’s no reduction in service, so it’s a positive move.”
Cabinet members later approved the decision unanimously adding that money raised from a planned Welsh visitor levy could potentially be used to offset some of the costs in the future.