Zoe Metcalfe has requested an “urgent meeting” with secretary of state for local government Michael Gove after being told she can only raise the fire service’s council tax precept by a maximum of 3%.

The North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner is consulting on what the annual police and fire precepts should be from April.

She has put forward increases of 2.99%, 6.2% and 9.2% as well as a precept freeze.

For Band D properties a 2.99% increase would see an extra £2.41 added onto council tax bills to pay for the fire service. But Ms Metcalfe warned this would be inadequate due to rising inflationary costs and staff pay awards.

According to a report that went before councillors at a meeting of City of York and North Yorkshire Council's police, fire and crime panel in Northallerton this afternoon, four firefighters in Harrogate will lose their jobs in April in a move that will save £210,000.

From April 2025, a further four firefighter jobs will go in Scarborough to save £215,000 as well as seven other members of staff across the county saving another £375,000.

A report described the fire service’s finances as “exceptionally tight”.

Around half of the crime commissioner’s budget comes from council tax with a government grant making up the rest.

Ms Metcalfe told councillors she was “really disappointed” to discover the fire precept can be raised by a maximum of 3%, whereas she said a 5% rise “would make such a difference.”

However, a rise of more than 3% would require a public referendum.

She said:

Read more:

• Four Harrogate firefighters to be axed in April


• Crime commissioner Zoë Metcalfe hints at council tax increase

Conservative councillor for Romanby, Peter Wilkinson, added:

The precept survey, which is open until January 21, is available here.