The amount people in northern Lincolnshire will pay on their council tax for local fire and rescue services has been agreed.
Humberside Fire Authority has agreed to raise its precept on council tax for 2025/26 by £2.84 a year for Band D properties. The increase was agreed to sustain provision and enable investment for the future in Humberside Fire & Rescue Service.
With the majority of Humber-region properties in Band C or lower, though, the fire authority’s council tax increase will be less than £2.84 a year for most. 72 per cent of more than 1,300 responses to a prior public consultation favoured an increase in the fire service’s precept.
Making the decision to vote for an increase earlier this month, the Humberside Fire Authority debated responses from a public consultation, considered current financial pressures people are facing due to high inflation, and weighed against the need to maintain current service delivery and invest in the future.
“The Authority’s decision to raise the precept was made with careful consideration, acknowledging the ongoing financial strains faced by people nationwide,” said Martyn Ransom, Humberside Fire Authority’s executive director of finance and S151 officer.
“Following deliberation, it was agreed to increase the precept to sustain the provision of excellent Fire and Rescue services and facilitate investments in resources for the benefit of everyone in the Humber region.”
Mr Ransom said the majority of its budget, £38m, would be allocated to fire response, prevention, and protection activities. “Additionally, £17.3 million will be dedicated to maintaining essential firefighting equipment, training, maintenance and running of vehicles and buildings, and our support functions. Making sure our staff can continue to deliver outstanding service to our communities.”
The precepts, or charges, made by the likes of policing and fire and rescue, are only a small part of households’ overall council tax bills. The main element is decided on by the area’s local authority.
Original artice: https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/all-about/scunthorpe
