Two consultations will close next week regarding the tax we pay to the emergency services.

Both Cheshire Police and Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service could see changes.

Police and Crime Commissioner John Dwyer is asking people across Cheshire for their views on community safety and how much residents should contribute to the police budget through their local tax.

You can complete the survey at this link.

A Cheshire Police Car in Macclesfield, on Churchill Way. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)

Police and Crime Commissioner John Dwyer said: "I have to set a budget for the next year that gives the police the resources they need to meet your expectations and keep you safe. To do that I need your feedback on what issues affect your community, how safe you feel, and how much you think local people should contribute to the police budget.

"Last year residents backed a small rise in the police precept. Look at the results: Calls are being answered faster, incidents are being responded to quicker, there have been more arrests, more criminals charged and more 'action taken'. Cheshire's streets have more officers and fewer criminals on them. These are the basics of policing that people expect and in 2023 Cheshire Constabulary improved across all of them with the public's support.

"Nobody should be in any doubt about the difference that having your say makes to policing in Cheshire. It's through your support that the police were able to make our county even safer in 2023, so please do have your say."

The office for John Dwyer added: "Government funding for Cheshire Constabulary is set to increase, but not by the nearly £16 million added to the cost of policing. Savings of over £6 million have been identified, but to find extra funding for policing Commissioners can increase the police precept by £13 per year - £1.08 per month - for a Band D Council Tax property, without the need to hold a referendum.

John Dwyer, outside his office in Winsford. (Image - Cheshire PCC)

"Nearly two thirds of Cheshire properties fall into Bands A-C, meaning most households would pay less."

Answers to frequently asked questions about the police budget and survey are available here.

Mr Dwyer's survey will close at midday on Tuesday 23 January. Have your say at: www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/policebudget202425.

Meanwhile, Cheshire Fire Authority is the publicly accountable body responsible for providing a fire and rescue service to the communities of Cheshire. The Authority has two main sources of income; grants from government (which make up around 33% of its budget) and council tax (which accounts for 67% of its budget).

CFA said in a statement: "For the last financial year in 2023/24, the Authority had a total budget of £51.74m to provide a fire and rescue service across Cheshire. The Authority has a legal duty to set a balanced budget, which means matching its income with its outgoings. Its outgoings include paying staff wages, purchasing firefighting equipment, improving or maintaining premises and paying for things like energy and fuel."

A sign outside Bollington Fire Station, Albert Road. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)

"In spite of the impact of austerity and the fact the Authority has not received capital funding (to pay for assets like new fire engines and fire stations) from the Government since 2014, it has in recent years been able to invest in its staff and its services through careful financial management and planning. This has allowed it to maintain equipment, invest in new technology, improve training and modernise its buildings. This has enabled Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service to become one of the most effective and efficient fire and rescue services in the country.

"In addition, the Authority's draft Community Risk Management Plan for 2024-2028 sets out a package of proposals to improve emergency response provision across Cheshire and deliver more prevention and protection activities to keep communities safe from fire and other emergencies. If approved by the Authority, these proposals can be delivered within the Authority's existing budget.

"Unfortunately, the Authority is still faces financial pressures, for example as a result of ongoing inflation and the predicted impact of future pay deals for staff, which are negotiated on a national basis and not always funded by the Government. To ensure it can meet these challenges and set a balanced budget which will allow it to continue to fund the fire and rescue services provided across Cheshire, the Authority is considering whether it should increase its share of council tax (precept) by 2.99% in 2024/2025."

The impact of a 2.99% increase on all council tax bands would be as follows:

A fire engine. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)

• Band A - an increase of £1.74 per year, taking the annual precept from £58.32 to £60.06
• Band B - an increase of £2.03 per year, taking the annual precept from £68.04 to £70.07
• Band C - an increase of £2.32 per year, taking the annual precept from £77.76 to £80.08
• Band D - an increase of £2.61 per year, taking the annual precept from £87.48 to £90.09
• Band E - an increase of £3.19 per year, taking the annual precept from £106.92 to £110.11
• Band F - an increase of £3.77 per year, taking the annual precept from £126.36 to £130.13
• Band G - an increase of £4.35 per year, taking the annual precept from £145.80 to £150.15
• Band H - an increase of £5.22 per year, taking the annual precept from £174.96 to £180.18

The Fire Authority will consider its budget in February 2024 and at the meeting it will decide whether to increase the amount of council tax. Before deciding what to do the Authority is keen to understand what people think.

You can have your say by clicking on the red link in this sentence Cheshire Fire Precept 2024. It is open until Friday 26 January 2024, should you wish to share your views on the Authority's proposal to increase its share of council tax for 2024/2025.

The fire survey follows the recent closure of a consultation on the eradication of on-call fire services in Macclesfield.