Tax rise proposed for police and fire service

Council tax bills across Northamptonshire could increase further after the police, fire and crime commissioner asked for more funds.

Danielle Stone, the Labour commissioner, has proposed an annual increase for Band D households of £15 for the police and £12 for the fire service.

She said the money was needed for the police to "ensure services are protected" and to avoid cuts to the fire service.

The councils in both West and North Northamptonshire already plan to hike their own shares of council tax by the maximum of 4.99%.

If it goes ahead, Stone's proposal would see a Band D household paying £335 a year towards policing in 2026/27 – an increase of 4.69%.

"I have to ask for this increase in the policing precept so that police officer and PCSO numbers can be maintained and the force can deliver on people's priorities," she said.

She added that the chief constable would also need to make savings of more than £4m next year.

Stone said the proposed increase for the fire service was "well above the government's suggested level of £5 a year" due to the "severe" financial challenges the service was facing – and she had been left with "no choice".

The fire service has already "identified savings of £2.3m in the past 12 months, which goes some way to meeting the challenge".

The proposals will be considered by the county's police, fire and crime panel on 4 February.

Meanwhile, Northampton Town Council has voted for a 4.9% increase in its portion of council tax bills, which represents a rise of £2.27 a year for a Band D property, says the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Les Marriott, chair of the council's policy and finance committee, said: "This is the first council tax increase we've made since the town council was made five years ago.

"This small increase will cover the rising costs of safely delivering the popular community and civic events we organise and support."

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