Council tax rise may be bigger

People in Lichfield district may face an inflation busting council tax rise. Staffordshire Fire and Rescue says it intends to ask for a precept of "just under" five per cent - above the current inflation rate of three per cent.

The news comes after Staffordshire Police Authority said it could up its slice of the levy by seven per cent and Staffordshire County Council looks set to approve a four per cent increase.

Fire and rescue is set to recommend a £38 million revenue budget at a meeting on Thursday which includes the proposed rise in its share of council tax cash.

Lichfield District Council, which covers Lichfield, Burntwood and surrounding villages, is set to agree its council tax figures next month. Although it administers the tax it only gets a 10 per cent share of the total money paid.

The remainder goes to the county council, police, fire service and parish councils.

Richard Tettenborn, treasurer for Staffordshire Police Authority admits Staffordshire already has a precept which is the seventh highest in the country, but said other authorities pushed taxes up last year.

Staffordshire county councillors plan to increase the county's proportion of council tax by four per cent for the next financial year.

They have not yet been told the level of central government grant they will get, but identified £13 million savings to keep below last year's five per cent rise.