2025-2026 Precept Consultation
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Introduction
David Skaith, the Mayor for York and North Yorkshire, is asking for your views before setting the amount that goes to North Yorkshire Police and, separately, to North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service from your council tax bill. This is known as a Precept.
The Mayor has to balance council tax increases against the growing demands for both emergency services.
Addressing years of underinvestment in North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service is a high priority for the Mayor.
Any increase in funding must be thought through carefully. Before setting the levels of precept for the two services, the Mayor would like to know your views on the possible options.
- The survey will take no longer than 7 minutes to complete.
- The survey will close at 10am on Monday 20 January 2025.
If you require this information in a different language or format, please contact the Office for Policing, Fire, Crime and Commissioning at [email protected] or call us on 01423 569 562 to request a copy.
Funding for North Yorkshire Police
How is North Yorkshire Police funded?
North Yorkshire Police currently has a budget of £221 million. Around £97 million of this (44 per cent) comes from a precept on your council tax.
To maintain the current level of service, North Yorkshire Police will need an extra £15 million to cover inflation and other ongoing costs. About £5m of this would need to be raised through the precept.
The Government has set a national limit allowing an increase of up to £14 in policing precepts for an average Band D property. If this was applied in York and North Yorkshire it would raise £4.4 million.
The following options are based on the amount of council tax an average Band D property would pay for policing. This is currently £306.86 per year.
| 2024/25 | 2025/2026 | Increase per year | Increase per week | |
| Property Band | £ | £ | £ | £ |
| A | 204.57 | 213.91 | 9.33 | 0.18 |
| B | 238.67 | 249.56 | 10.89 | 0.21 |
| C | 272.76 | 285.21 | 12.44 | 0.24 |
| D | 306.86 | 320.86 | 14.00 | 0.27 |
| E | 375.05 | 392.16 | 17.11 | 0.33 |
| F | 443.24 | 463.46 | 20.22 | 0.39 |
| G | 511.43 | 534.77 | 23.33 | 0.45 |
| H | 613.72 | 641.72 | 28.00 | 0.54 |
How much more are you willing to pay each year for policing in York and North Yorkshire?
- Up to £12 a year (£1 per month)
This would raise around £3.8 million but is below the organisation’s inflationary pressures and would likely lead to reductions in current levels of service delivery unless savings could be delivered. - Up to £14 a year (£1.17 per month)
This would raise around £4.4 million, matching the organisation’s inflationary pressures. Current levels of service delivery would be maintained and it would hopefully allow some investment. For example, in neighbourhood policing, early intervention and prevention activities and tackling violence against women and girls. - Up to £18 a year (£1.50 per month)
This would raise around £5.7 million and is likely to be higher than the organisation’s inflationary pressures, allowing more significant investment. For example, in neighbourhood policing, early intervention and prevention activities and tackling violence against women and girls.
Funding for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service
Important Update on Fire and Rescue Funding – 24 December 2024
On December 18th, the Government announced its new funding package for fire and rescue services. From 1 April 2025, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service will receive around £2 million less than expected due to the removal and reduction of grants and higher national insurance contributions.
To maintain the current delivery of services AND provide investment, council tax for a typical Band D property would now need to increase by up to £24. The £15 option would no longer allow for investment.
As Mayor, I am committed to addressing the underinvestment in North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service by increasing the fire precept.
During the recent consultation on the priorities for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue service, 88% of respondents said they supported investment to address the legacy of underinvestment.
Over the last five years, significant savings and efficiencies have been made from the police and fire services working together, substantial savings being made from a shared estate and co-location of frontline staff, as well as shared support services.
However, to avoid overspend, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has had to significantly reduce its capital investment programme, preventing much needed modernisation of its fire stations, vehicles, and equipment.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service continues to seek savings and efficiencies. However, without increased funding, the delivery of frontline services will be affected, reducing the level of service provided to the public at a time when climate change is increasing the demand for our fire and rescue services through increased flooding and moorland fires.
To put the finances of North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service back on track will require a precept increase of £15 a year, just £1.25 per month for a Band D property.
This would allow the Service to maintain the current delivery of services and make some improvements. For example, it would help fund crucial upgrades to fire stations, enhance firefighter safety and welfare with better equipment and training, and reduce debt, making your fire service more stable and financially secure.
Without this level of increase, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service will have to ‘save to survive’ rather than ‘save to invest.’
Excerpt from precept leaflet:
As Mayor, I am committed to addressing the underinvestment in North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service by increasing the fire precept.
During the recent consultation on the priorities for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue service, 88% of respondents said they supported investment to address the legacy of underinvestment.
Over the last five years, significant savings and efficiencies have been made from the police and fire services working together, substantial savings being made from a shared estate and co-location of frontline staff, as well as shared support services.
However, to avoid overspend, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has had to significantly reduce its capital investment programme, preventing much needed modernisation of its fire stations, vehicles, and equipment.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service continues to seek savings and efficiencies. However, without increased funding, the delivery of frontline services will be affected, reducing the level of service provided to the public at a time when climate change is increasing the demand for our fire and rescue services through increased flooding and moorland fires.
To put the finances of North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service back on track will require a precept increase of £15 a year, just £1.25 per month for a Band D property.
This would allow the Service to maintain the current delivery of services and make some improvements. For example, it would help fund crucial upgrades to fire stations, enhance firefighter safety and welfare with better equipment and training, and reduce debt, making your fire service more stable and financially secure.
Without this level of increase, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service will have to ‘save to survive’ rather than ‘save to invest.’
How is North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service funded?
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has a budget of £45 million. Around £27 million of this (60 per cent), comes from a precept on your council tax.
In the past, there has been significant underinvestment in North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service. The Service needs at least £5 million more than last year to maintain current service levels and to provide long-term investment and essential improvements to fire stations, training and equipment. Most of this would need to be raised through the precept.
The Mayor is committed to addressing this underinvestment by increasing the amount of precept for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.
The following options are based on the amount of council tax an average Band D property would pay for fire and rescue services. This is currently £83.02 per year.
| 2024/25 | 2025/2026 | Increase per year | Increase per week | |
| Property Band | £ | £ | £ | £ |
| A | 55.35 | 65.35 | 10.00 | 0.19 |
| B | 64.57 | 76.24 | 11.67 | 0.22 |
| C | 73.80 | 87.13 | 13.33 | 0.26 |
| D | 83.02 | 98.02 | 15.00 | 0.29 |
| E | 101.47 | 119.80 | 18.33 | 0.35 |
| F | 119.92 | 141.58 | 21.67 | 0.42 |
| G | 138.37 | 163.37 | 25.00 | 0.48 |
| H | 166.04 | 196.04 | 30.00 | 0.58 |
How much more are you willing to pay each year for fire and rescue services in York and North Yorkshire?
- Up to £6 a year (50 pence per month)
This would raise around £1.9 million but could result in a reduction in the delivery of services and resources which may put firefighter and public safety at risk. - Up to £15 a year (£1.25 per month)
This would raise around £4.7 million, allowing the Service to maintain the current delivery of services and make some improvements. For example, it would help fund crucial upgrades to fire stations, enhance firefighter safety and welfare with better equipment and training, and reduce debt, making your fire service more stable and financially secure. - Up to £24 a year (£2 per month)
This would raise around £7.5 million, allowing enhanced investments in fire stations and other buildings, vehicles, training, equipment, and firefighter safety and welfare. It would reduce debt and create a financially secure Service for the future. It would also enhance other areas of service delivery from prevention and protection to emergency response which would help improve public safety.
Media release
Read the media release
Have your say on funding for policing and fire and rescue services in York and North Yorkshire.
David Skaith, the Mayor for York and North Yorkshire, is asking for your views before he sets the amount that goes to North Yorkshire Police and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service from your council tax bill, also known as the precepts.
In his recent consultation to inform the Police and Crime and Fire and Rescue Plans, people said they wanted our police service to focus on a range of issues including neighbourhood policing, violence against women and girls and early intervention.
Within the Fire and Rescue Service people told us they wanted to modernise our service, to ensure they could prevent and respond to increased and changing risks.
Before setting the levels of precept for each emergency service for 2025-2026, the Mayor would like to hear your views. Mayor David Skaith will then make his budget proposals to the Police, Fire and Crime Panel in February 2025.
The survey opens on Monday 2 December, and closes on Monday 20 January at 10:00am.
David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire said:
“It is my priority to provide a safe place for everyone in York and North Yorkshire. This includes providing emergency services that can keep everyone who lives here, works here or visits us, safe and feeling safe.
“One of my roles is to set the precepts for both North Yorkshire Police and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service
“Balancing the budgets against rising costs and underinvestment, especially in our fire service, has led to challenging times. Asking for more investment to develop and maintain our services is never a task taken lightly.
“It is vital that I hear your views, before I make any decision. So please take a few minutes and go to YourPoliceAndFire.com and tell me what you think.”
Precept leaflet
Precept Survey – Hard Copy Printable Version
Communications toolkit
Promoting the Mayor’s consultation on funding for policing and fire and rescue services in York and North Yorkshire.
Please can you help to raise awareness of the Mayor’s consultation which will assist him is setting the budgets for our police and fire services.
It is important that we hear the voices of your shareholders, staff, suppliers and customers, so please use these resources to help promote the survey.
Key message
David Skaith, the Mayor for York and North Yorkshire, is asking for the public’s views before he sets the amount that goes to North Yorkshire Police and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service from York and North Yorkshire’s council tax bill. Please take a few moments and share your views with him at www.YourPoliceAndFire.com
Take part in the survey
- The survey is online here: www.YourPoliceAndFire.com
- If you require the survey in an alternative format, please contact the Office for Policing, Fire, Crime and Commissioning by email: [email protected] or calling 01423 569 562.
Internal newsletter / intranet message
David Skaith, the Mayor for York and North Yorkshire, is asking for your views before he sets the amount that goes to North Yorkshire Police and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service from your council tax bill. Please take a few moments and share your views with him at www.YourPoliceAndFire.com
Social media messages
Mayor for York and North Yorkshire @YNYMayor, is asking for the public’s views before he sets the amount that goes to @NYorksPolice and @NorthYorksFire from your council tax bill. Have your say at www.YourPoliceAndFire.com
David Skaith, Mayor for York and North Yorkshire, is asking for the public’s views before he sets the amount that goes to our police and fire services in York and North Yorkshire from your council tax bill. Please have your say at www.YourPoliceAndFire.com
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Frequently asked questions
FAQs
What are police and fire precepts?
The police and fire precepts are the amounts dedicated to policing and fire and rescue services in North Yorkshire and York from every household in their council tax bill.
Why is the Mayor setting the precept and not the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner?
Prior to May 2024, the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC) was responsible for setting; the policing precept (the portion of the council tax to fund local police services) and the fire and rescue precept (the portion of council tax to fund fire and rescue services).
In May 2024, the Mayor for York and North Yorkshire was elected to lead the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, resulting in the dissolution of the PFCC. The Fire and Rescue Authority became part of the Combined Authority. Consequently, a Mayoral General Precept will be introduced, forming part of the overall council tax to fund services under the Mayor’s jurisdiction. Fire and Rescue will now be included in the Mayoral General Precept rather than being a standalone precept.
Why are you asking for the public’s opinion?
The Mayor is legally responsible for setting both the policing precept and the Mayoral General Precept, which now includes the fire and rescue element. The Government sets national referendum principles that limit council tax increases before a referendum is required. These principles apply to the Mayor’s policing precept but not to the Mayoral General Precept.
To set the policing precept, the Mayor must consider the views of council tax payers across York and North Yorkshire. While consultation on the Mayoral General Precept is not legally required, it is generally advisable to ensure transparency, accountability, and public engagement in decisions affecting local taxation and public services.
What is the Mayoral General Precept?
The Mayoral General Precept includes:
- The fire and rescue precept – element.
How is the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service funded?
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has a budget of £45 million. Around £27 million of this (60 per cent), comes from the precept on your council tax.
How is the North Yorkshire Police funded
North Yorkshire Police currently has a budget of £221 million. Around £97 million of this (44 per cent) comes from the precept on your council tax.
How much do I pay for policing and fire and rescue services in York and North Yorkshire?
An average Band D property currently pays:
- £306.86 each year for policing services.
- £83.02 each year for fire and rescue services.
Does the Government limit how much local precepts can be increased by each year?
For 2025/2026, the Government has set a national limit allowing an increase of up to £14 in policing precepts for an average Band D property.
The Government does not impose national limits on increases to Mayoral General Precepts, which, in York and North Yorkshire, also includes fire and rescue services.
Why does North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service need more investment?
A three-year freeze on the fire precept, imposed by a previous fire authority in 2012, has led to a funding shortfall of approximately £21m to date. Historically, the Government has often capped annual increases in the fire precept at lower 2.99%, which is typically below inflation.
These factors, along with significant inflationary cost pressures, create a need for a significant precept increase to fund fire and rescue services provided by North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.
Collaboration has been progressed at pace with substantial savings identified from a shared estate and co-location of frontline staff, but to avoid overspend North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has had to reduce the capital investment programme, preventing much needed modernisation of the estate, fleet, and equipment.
Who is responsible for setting the policing and fire and rescue precepts?
Prior to May 2024, the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC) was responsible for setting the policing precept and, in their role as Fire and Rescue Authority, the fire precept.
In May 2024, a Mayor for York and North Yorkshire was elected to lead the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, resulting in the dissolution of the PFCC. The Fire and Rescue Authority became part of the Combined Authority.
As a result, a Mayoral General Precept was introduced, forming part of the overall council tax to fund services under the Mayor’s responsibilities. Fire and rescue services now forms part of the Mayoral General Precept.
The Mayor is legally responsible for setting both the policing precept and the Mayoral General Precept, which includes fire and rescue.