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Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service is consulting the public on its council tax precept for the year ahead.

The Service is proposing a small increase to the precept in 2026-27. A total of £5 per year (on a Band D property).

Steven Brown, Director of Corporate Services at Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “As the costs of providing our vital services continue to rise, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service remains committed to delivering exceptional value for money and maintaining high standards across our county.”

“For the coming year, we are proposing a modest increase of £5 to the council tax precept for a Band D property—equivalent to just 10 pence per week. This increase will help us sustain essential services and ensure we can invest in the safety of our communities, while our precept continues to be among the lowest in the country.

“We have a strong track record of balancing the budget and maintaining vital services that represent excellent value for money to the people of Lancashire. However, our budget has not matched rising costs and new demands in recent years. Real-term funding has dropped by £10 million since 2016. There is a shortfall in our funding, at least £5 million over the next five years, and we must make savings to maintain our services and make vital investment in our service.”

The Service’s council tax precept is currently below the national average for fire and rescue services, and fire accounts for a small portion of council tax in Lancashire – around 4% of the total bill. The proposed increase would remain below the national average.

It costs approximately £1.4m per year to crew a fire engine on a 2-2-4 shift system 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The £5 precept rise gives the Service an extra £0.8m per year above inflation

Find out more and take part in the consultation by visiting our website.