Plan to raise council tax for police and fire service

ANDY Burnham has unveiled plans to increase the portion of Greater Manchester’s council tax which helps fund police and fire services.

- JOHN SCHEERHOUT

The proposal would see the ‘police precept’ part of the council tax rise by £10.11 to £199.34 for a Band B property per year, while the ‘fire precept’ would rise further by £3.89 to £63.16 for the same property. Under the proposals, the ‘mayor’s precept’ – which goes towards bus transport and tackling homelessness – would remain frozen at £24.69 for a Band B property for a second year.

Individual councils set their own council tax rates, but the bills also include additional ‘precepts’ to fund other services. The proposed increases would fund more cops and another fire engine, said Greater Manchester mayor Mr Burnham, who said the hikes were to make up for below inflation rises to government grants.

Mr Burnham said: “I am proposing to freeze the mayor’s precept for the coming financial year, recognising people are still under pressure with the cost of living. We need to think very carefully before we ask people for more money.