Andy Burnham plans to increase council tax to boost police and fire services

Andy Burnham has unveiled plans to increase the portion of Greater Manchester's council tax which helps fund police and fire services.

The proposal would see the 'police precept' part of the council tax rise by £10.11 to £199.34 for a Band B property per year, while the 'fire precept' would rise rise further by £3.89 to £63.16 for the same property. Under the proposals, the 'mayor's precept' - which goes towards bus transport and tackling homelessness - would remain frozen at £24.69 for a Band B property for a second year.

Individual councils set their own council tax rates, but the bills also include additional 'precepts' to fund other services. The proposed increases would fund more cops and another fire engine, said Greater Manchester mayor Mr Burnham, who said the hikes were to make up for a below inflation rises to government grants.

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Mr Burnham, said: "I am proposing to freeze the mayor’s precept for the coming financial year, recognising people are still under pressure with the cost of living. We need to think very carefully before we ask people for more money.

“I am really proud of the work of our emergency services in Greater Manchester, but they need more support to help them continue to improve.

“It is unfortunate that we haven’t received the funding package we needed from central government which doesn’t fully cover inflation. This has left me with no choice but to propose an increase to the police and fire precepts, but I don’t want to further add to the local tax burden which is why I am proposing to freeze the mayor’s precept.

"I have seen first-hand the significant improvements GMP have made over the last year,