Fire authority freezes tax bill for Brighton and Hove

East Sussex Fire Authority agreed not to put up bills for the council tax payers of Brighton and Hove at a meeting today (Thursday 7 February).

The authority oversees East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service and sets the budget for firefighters in East Sussex and Brighton and Hove.

Its members have already approved savings of more than £2 million for the coming financial year – 2013-14.

The fire authority said: “On average, while the cost of our service for a Band D council tax payer is less than £1.60 per week, the fire authority recognised that any increase in council tax would impact on already stretched budgets for many local council tax payers.”

Councillor John Livings, the fire authority chairman, said: “East Sussex Fire Authority has set a 0 per cent increase in council tax for the third year in a row.

“This has only been possible because the fire authority has made significant savings, coupled with accepting the government’s latest council tax freeze grant.

“However, this latest council tax freeze grant is for two years only and it will be necessary for this authority to resolve a significant funding gap in future years.”

Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne has also frozen the bill for Sussex Police for the coming year.

The ruling Green administration in charge of Brighton and Hove City Council wants to raise council tax by just under 2 per cent from April.

The council will vote whether to raise or freeze council tax on Thursday 28 February.