Plans to increase precepts for East Riding police and fire services
It's reported the increases are needed to help balance the books
The cost of the police and fire services could go up by almost £20-a-year for Band D homes if proposals to increase precepts are approved.
A report to Humberside’s Police and Crime Panel recommended an increase to the precept of £14.99-a-year to fund the force from April.
The recommended increase for Humberside Fire and Rescue Service is £4.99-a-year for Band D homes, a report to the Authority overseeing it recommended.
Both reports stated the increases were needed to help balance the books alongside millions required in savings in the case of Humberside Police.
It comes as the police and crime panel was previously told the force would need to find £7.5m in savings in the next five years as inflation drives up costs.
Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Jonathan Evison told an East Riding Council committee the force faced a financial perfect storm, with the cost of utilities alone rising by £2m.
The report to Humberside Fire Authority stated the service would need to save £270,000-a-year on top of the £1.1m already clawed back in efficiencies from 2018 to 2022.
It added the service had lost around £11m in Government funding since 2011.
The proposed precept increases of £4.99-a-year for the fire service and £14.99 for the police would be levied on top of council tax bills if the increases are approved.
Both amounts are the maximum the service and force can hike their precepts by before triggering a referendum.
The police and fire service both ran consultations where they asked Humberside households what increases they would back.
The results of the police’s consultation showed 29.6 per cent of the 1,590 respondents backed an increase of £14.99, with 69.3 per cent backing some form of hike.
A £14.99 increase was the most popular option, with 15.2 per cent backing a £9.99 hike and 24.5 per cent in favour of increasing the precept by £19.99.
Results for the fire service consultation showed 34.9 per cent of the 2,325 respondents backed the proposed increase of £4.99.
A £7.99 hike was the second most popular option with 16. per cent of respondents supporting it, followed by a £2.69 with 10.7 per cent.
It comes as East Riding Council’s draft budget has proposed a 4.99 per cent increase in council tax this year, equivalent to an increase of £80.68-a-year for Band D homes.
The hike is set to be decided at the authority’s budget meeting on Thursday, February 9.
Hull City Council is yet to reveal its proposed council tax hike but the announcement is expected in the coming weeks.