News

Council tax to go up to cover fire service cuts

By Becky Barnes
February 28, 2013

Households will pay more cash to Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) after its 2013/14 budget was slashed by £225,000.

The fire service budget had been set at £34.492 million compared to last year’s budget of £34.717 million meaning the service’s Council Tax precept for a Band D property in Bracknell Forest will go up £5 a year to help bridge the shortfall.

Bracknell Forest Council freeze council tax precept

Cllr Colin Dudley, Fire Authority chairman, said: “None of us wants to see cuts to this front line service.

“There has been a great deal of debate and racking of brains over this decision.

“The key factor that finally persuaded us to agree an increase was that we were, effectively, offered a one-off lifeline by Government.”

The Council Tax precept for a Band D property this year will be £60.66, a rise of 9.6 pence per week.

| Submit Comments | View Comments (7)

« Previous Story | Next Story »

Most recent user comments 7 of 7

No, people living in different areas of Bracknell Forest will be paying different amounts.

So those living in a band D Binfield will pay £1,351.09 while those in Crowthorne will pay £1,381.99 because the parishes charge different amounts on top of the borough charge. Then we have to pay more to police and fire authorities.

I think if you read chapther 3 of this it will be helpful.

http://democratic.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/Published/C00000141/M00004363/AI00034803/$FinancialPlansandBudgets201314.doc.pdf

Sandra Dee
28/02/2013 at 12:20

I take back part of what I said ... for homes in 'Bracknell' (not the Parish Council areas) there is no change

Community Spirit, Bracknell
28/02/2013 at 12:17

Council Tax is the total amount you pay.

You give so much to the borough, so much to the parishes, and another sum to police and fire.

So although Bracknell Forest Council is not raising its council tax precept, some parishes and fire and police will raise theirs, increasing the overall amount of council tax we will have to pay.

Sandra Dee
28/02/2013 at 12:10

Tweeted last night by another Bracknell Newspaper .... https://twitter.com/bracknellnews/status/306878500852334592

Community Spirit, Bracknell
28/02/2013 at 11:59

Right, but the article says that 'council tax to go up' - that's different to what was reported last night on Twitter.

Is Council Tax going up or not ?

Community Spirit, Bracknell
28/02/2013 at 11:58

Bracknell Forest Council hasn't raised its precept but some parish councils and the fire and police authorities have.

Sandra Dee
28/02/2013 at 11:50

Is this headline correct as I thought that Bracknell Forest agreed last night (as was tweeted from the councils chambers) that there was no increase for 2013/14.

Isn't the increase mentioned in this report simply how the precept is divided up rather than an actual increase to residents?