New ‘mayoral tax charge’ to be cut by £1
MOVE WILL SEE REDUCTION FOR CERTAIN PROPERTIES ACROSS GREATER MANCHESTER
THE household cost of the new ‘mayoral charge’ element of council tax bills in Greater Manchester will be cut by £1 for some properties, Andy Burnham has announced.
The precept is separate to those for fire, police and council services and will be added on to residents’ bills from this April.
Each council determines its own element of charge for the services it provides.
The mayoral charge would fund a range of functions carried out by the mayor, including the creation of a transport strategy, combating rough sleeping and the development of the Greater Manchester masterplan concerning homes and green spaces known as the ‘spatial framework.’
Mayor of Greater Manchester Mr Burnham said the region’s 10 council leaders had agreed to keep the precept as low as possible.
The cut will see a £1 reduction for Band D properties.
The precept for the average Greater Manchester household, in Band B, will fall from £7 to less than £6.30.
Mr Burnham said the cut followed an assessment of the finalised tax base figures from all the region’s local authorities and reassessing reserves in the fire and rescue service budget.
He said: “I’ve been clear throughout this process that, along with Greater Manchester’s 10 leaders, we will do everything we can to keep residents’ council tax bills as low as possible while protecting essential services.
“That is why, after receiving the final tax base figures from districts and reassessing reserves in the fire and rescue service budget, we have been able to cut the proposed mayoral precept.
“I recognise that it is a big ask for people to pay anything more, especially in these difficult times.
“I hope that today’s decision shows that we have done everything we can do keep bills as low as possible but also achieve our vision to make Greater Manchester one of the best places in the world.”
The mayor’s office said over nine months, Greater Manchester has secured more than £250m of extra government funding.
Announcements on finalised council tax budgets for each borough in Greater Manchester are expected in coming weeks.
We will do everything we can to keep residents’ council tax bills as low as possible Andy Burnham