Cleveland Fire Authority has approved increasing council tax for the coming year
Cleveland Fire Authority has approved increasing council tax for the coming year, with finance bosses adding the rise plays a “critical part” in protecting services.
Councillors unanimously gave the go-ahead to increase the amount each household pays to the fire authority in council tax for 2024/25 by 3%, the maximum allowed in line with national referendum limits.
This means the amount Cleveland Fire Authority will receive from an annual council tax bill for a Band A property, which accounts for more than 45% of the region, will rise by £1.73, equating to 3p a week, to a total of £59.64.
For a Band D property this means a £2.60 annual rise, 5p a week, to a total of £89.46.
Chris Little, treasurer at the fire authority, said the increase will raise approximately £418,000, while they have also seen an increase in grant funding for 2024/25 of around £747,000.
However, he stressed overall the fire authority has seen a £4.7million reduction in government funding between 2013/14 and 2023/24, a decrease of 25%.
This has resulted in a 33% reduction in the number of wholetime firefighter posts from 494 to 332.
Mr Little added the council tax increase plays a “critical part” in allowing them to provide a balanced budget that protects services and provides financial resilience.
He said: “I don’t think there is a choice, regrettably, in my professional advice to the authority, to not increase the council tax.”
In total the authority faced a £1.521million deficit for 2024/25, which is also being met through measures including greater than expected grants from government and £9,000 of reserves.
Alongside the contribution to the fire authority, the majority of council tax is paid to the local council, with a section also going to the office of Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner, with each organisation setting their own rates.