Increase to mayoral precept element of council tax approved

Greater Manchester residents will face an increase to the mayoral general precept element of their council tax bills, after leaders approved spending plans for the next financial year.

Andy Burnham’s request to raise council tax for his budget has been approved, following the increase of the policing precept part of the bill last week.

The increase of £12 for Band D properties is made up of £5 for fire services and £7 for the general budget to cover bus reform and homeless shelters. This mayoral element will increase by £8 per year for Band A properties.

The police precept part of the bill was also raised by £10 for Band D households (£6.67 for Band A properties), despite protests by members of the public last week.
 

Council Tax breakdown

Council tax is made up of four elements. The majority is made up of the general element, set by the local authority. The remaining elements are the ring-fenced adult social care element, which is also set by the local authority, the policing precept and the mayoral general precept. The latter two are both set by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

The mayoral general precept partly funds the fire service and other Greater Manchester-level purposes like rough sleeping support and free bus passes for young people, whilst the policing precept is the amount you contribute to local policing.

The Greater Manchester mayor told council leaders on Friday (11 February) that he is ‘extremely conscious’ of the cost of living pressures residents face, claiming he had been ‘careful’ not to increase tax too much in recent years.

But Burnham said there is an ‘exceptional case’ for the increase to his general precept now.

He explained that the extra funding would allow the fire service to maintain 50 pumps across all of its stations with four to five firefighters staffing each one.

The additional revenue is also needed to fund a pay rise for firefighters which recognises they may be required to respond to a marauding terrorist attack.

It comes after the fire service in Greater Manchester was criticised by inspectors for lacking the capability to deal with a marauding terror attack – but the watchdog warned not to increase firefighter’s pay for this reason.

Another ‘exceptional pressure’ on the budget next year will be the cost of bringing buses back under public control, Burnham told council leaders.

The Labour mayor said there are still ‘significant uncertainties’ for buses as operators await a government decision on Covid-related subsidies continuing.

He also raised concerns about operators cutting services and raising fares.

Defending the ‘major reform’ to buses, Burnham said: “This is really the moment to do it because the model we’ve had for 35 years is falling apart.

“The very fact that operators are looking to withdraw services tells you that there isn’t the stability in that model and hence this is the moment to change.”

The increase will also contribute towards an extension of the Our Pass scheme which offers free travel for young people in Greater Manchester.

A Bed Every Night, which currently houses around 600 homeless people per night, will also continue thanks to the increase, Burnham explained.

The proposal to increase the general mayoral precept was unanimously approved by all 10 leaders, including Bolton’s Martyn Cox – the only Conservative councillor on the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

Council leaders also approved a three-year programme for A Bed Every Night.

Joseph Timan, Local Democracy Reporter