Meeting to be held on Monday 17 November 2025
Contact for further information – Steven Brown, Director of Corporate Services and Treasurer, tel: 01772 866804
Executive SummaryThe purpose of this report is to inform members of the Planning Committee of the Service’s intention to consult the public on its council tax precept for 2026-27, following announcement of the provisional local government finance settlement in December 2025.
RecommendationMembers are asked to note the report.
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Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service is required to consult the public on the proposed council tax precept for 2026-27.
The draft local government finance settlement, which sets out government funding and to what extent the precept can be raised, is usually announced in late December. Due to the timing, the Service is not able to seek approval for consultation from the Planning Committee in sufficient time to undertake consultation prior to the Combined Fire Authority (CFA) annual budget meeting in February.
For this reason, members have previously agreed to delegate approval to undertake consultation to the Chair in consultation with the Treasurer and the Chief Fire Officer. It is intended to consult the public between late December and early February.
A report detailing consultation activity will be taken to the Planning Committee at its meeting on 2 February 2026 ahead of the final results being discussed at the budget meeting on 25 February 2026, where CFA members will consider and agree a final budget and the resultant council tax implications.
The precept increase in 2024/25 was 5.9%, which was the equivalent of £5 per year on a Band D property, and in 2023/24 it was 2.99% which were the maximum precept increases permitted.
Ascertaining support levels for the Service’s financial plans and views from communities and stakeholders is essential to provide opportunity to influence development of their fire and rescue service and will be used to inform decision making.
None.
An equality impact assessment will be undertaken and equalities monitoring will take place to understand if the consultation has reached all parts of the community.
Data Protection (GDPR)
Will the proposal(s) involve the processing of personal data? Y/N
None.
The consultation will be delivered by the Service’s in-house corporate communications department and budget without any additional resources.
Consultation over the council tax precept is a statutory requirement.
The consultation plan will be aligned to the Service’s consultation strategy which is reviewed annually by the Planning Committee to ensure that it continues to meet statutory requirements and incorporate good practice.
Paper: Lancashire Combined Fire Authority Public Consultation Strategy
Date: February 2025
Contact: Mark Nolan, Clerk and Monitoring Officer