Annual charge to be added to Council Tax by Mayor of Greater Manchester

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham

An annual charge to "help deliver Mayoral priorities" - set at £7 a year for the average band B household in Greater Manchester - is proposed to be added to council tax bills.

Part of a council tax bill – called a precept – is assigned to the Mayor of Greater Manchester to help fund the services he is responsible for.

The proposals will be discussed at Friday’s meeting of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, ahead of the final budget-setting meeting in February.

Mayor Andy Burnham said: “I recognise that it is a big ask for people to pay more, especially in these difficult times, but, at the same time, I am facing pressure from the public to go further and faster on tackling homelessness and congestion while protecting green spaces.

"I have tried to get the balance right, keeping bills down but also keeping Greater Manchester leading the way.”

The police element of council tax is also set to rise by £9.33 for the average household.

The Deputy Mayor, Bev Hughes said: “This increase will not make up for the hundreds of millions of pounds the government has cut from our police service, but will help to mitigate to some extent the worst effects of these continued cuts.”

The fire service element of council tax will remain at just under £47 for the average Band B property.

If the proposals are accepted, the total amount of the precept, including police, fire and other mayoral functions for 2018/19 will be £189.18 for the average Band B property – compared to £172.85 for 2017/18, an increase of £16.33.