On your bill this will appear at the "Mayoral General Precept". The vast majority of this goes to Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service. The service is funded partly by grants from central Government and partly by council tax paid by the residents of Greater Manchester. It remains one of the lowest-cost and highest performing emergency services in the UK.

Over the course of the year, for the average Band B property, the fire proportion of the precept is £51.49. To give an idea of how your money is spent, for the period 1st April 2019 to December 2019, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service:


• Responded to 8,472 fires across Greater Manchester
• Attended 1,452 road traffic collisions
• Attended 2,871 other incidents that required specialist fire service support
• Rescued 1,524 people


In addition to funding the fire service, part of this precept also goes to fund the mayor, plus the functions he is responsible for. Over the course of the year, this is £19.25 for the average Band B bill.

This mayoral precept funds:

  • Transport Strategy including Local Transport Plan development and monitoring
  • Administration of Bus Service Operators Grant
  • Developing the new plan for jobs and homes for Greater Manchester (known as the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework)
  • Mayoral Development Corporations
  • Costs of the Mayor’s office
  • Grants to District Councils

In addition, this year the mayoral precept will increase in order to reform and improve the bus system in Greater Manchester, including free bus travel for care leavers up to the age of 21 and continuation of the successful ‘Our Pass’ pilot for all 16-18 year olds which started part way through last year.  There will also be a continuation of the Mayor’s successful A Bed Every Night scheme to reduce rough sleepers across Greater Manchester.

Here is what the new mayoral precept will be for each council tax band:

Total costs per Band

Band A

Band B

Band C

Band D

Band E

Band F

Band G

Band H

Mayoral General Precept (including fire)

60.63

70.74

80.84

90.95

111.16

131.37

151.58

181.90

Increase to support Fire & Bus Reform

9.33

10.89

12.44

14.00

17.11

20.22

23.33

28.00

Percentage of households in each Band %

45.6

19.6

17.4

9.2

4.8

2

1.2

0.2

 

Comparison of Expenditure

These tables give a detailed breakdown of these costs:

 

2019/20

£000

2020/21

£000

Variation

£000

Gross Expenditure*

134,243

239,151

104,908

Income

-16,665

-20,514

-3,849

Cost of Service

117,578

218,637

101,059

Capital Financing Charges

1,540

1,687

147

Revenue Contribution to Capital Outlay

5,666

4,201

-1,465

Net Service Budget

124,784

224,525

99,741

Contribution from Balances

-9,195

-8,657

538

Budget Requirement

115,589

215,868

100,279

Localised Business Rates

-10,311

-10,614

-303

Business Rate Baseline

-39,600

-40,250

-650

Section 31 Grant – Business Rates

-1,366

-2,062

-696

Section 31 Grant – pensions

-4,803

-5,605

-802

Transport - Statutory Charge

0

-86,700

-86,700

Collection Fund surplus

-1,781

-1,265

516

Council Tax Requirement

57,728

69,372

11,644

 

*Following the GMCA Amendment Order laid in April 2019, the increase in gross expenditure in 2020/21 reflects further powers of the Mayor for transport functions, for delivery of Bus related activities. As noted in the Mayoral Budget report to GMCA on 14th February 2020, the cost of these functions will be met by a £86.7 million statutory charge to District Councils, with a corresponding reduction in the Transport Levy on District Councils.

Mayoral Expenditure Breakdown 2020/21 (non-fire)

 

2020/21

£000

Mayoral Direct Costs Incl Corporate Support

1,239

Spatial Development Strategy

 -  

Mayoral Priorities Incl - A Bed Every Night

2,633

Transport Policy & Strategy

3,500

BSOG - grants to operators

11,500

         - administration

50

‘Our Pass’ Incl Opportunity Cost

16,200

Sub-Total - Pre additional transport powers

35,122

Bus Reform

5,250

Bus Concessionary Reimbursement

51,300

Supported Bus

27,900

Accessible Transport/Ring & Ride

4,600

Allocation of Bus Operational costs

2,900

Total Including additional transport powers

127,072

 

A significant source of funding for the Greater Manchester Combined Authority comes from grant income, with over £100 million anticipated within 2019/20 to deliver various programmes such as Adult Education, Work and Health programmes and Homelessness Initiatives. In addition to grant funded activity the Authority receives funding from local district contributions and retained business rates revenues as part of the 100% retained business rate pilot.