North Yorkshire Residents Face Fire Service Tax Rise as Authorities Weigh Up Vital Safety Investments

The York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority is set to meet this week to determine the final cost residents will pay for their fire and rescue services in the upcoming financial year.

Mayor David Skaith has proposed a £9.60 annual increase for Band D properties—amounting to roughly 80 pence per month—bringing the total fire element of the mayoral precept to £116.62.

The decision, scheduled for 6th February 2026, comes at a time when the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (NYFRS) is navigating a complex landscape of dwindling government support and an increasingly unpredictable climate.

A Service Under Pressure

For the residents of Scarborough, the outcome of this week’s meeting is particularly significant. The service’s medium-term financial plan includes a capital programme that has earmarked a portion of nearly £14 million to prioritise the redevelopment of specific stations, with Scarborough listed alongside Northallerton and Malton for these essential upgrades.

Mayor David Skaith emphasized that the proposed increase is not a decision taken lightly, but one focused on the long-term resilience of the region's frontline protection.

"We are looking at the minimal possible burden on local taxpayers, having an effective well-managed public service that keep people safe and deliver value for money and also delivering on local public priorities for both services including improving the safety on our road. So whenever we're looking through our precept particularly on police and fire is making sure that we are hitting those three criteria.

Obviously I think it's incredibly important that whenever we're asking the public to increase any precept  we are asking the public to pay more money but I think we also need to take that into context of making sure our front-line services, police and fire, are both fit for purpose, but also we are future proofing and helping them be able to evolve and meet the ever growing demand and challenges that both police and fire do face."

Climate and Financial Challenges

The fire service is currently facing what the Combined Authority describes as a "challenging financial settlement" from central government. The service anticipates a reduction in government grant funding of almost 25% over the next three years, creating a multi-million-pound gap that the precept increase is intended to help bridge.

Beyond the balance sheets, the physical demands on the service are changing. Mayor Skaith pointed to recent environmental emergencies, such as this summers Langdale Moor wildfire, as evidence of why the service must evolve:

"The Langdale fire over the summertime put a huge strain on our resources and it's making sure that our fire and rescue service in-particular is fit for purpose in terms of different challenges for the fire and rescue service and things like more wildfires, flooding and such like.

So it's making sure that we not only have a fire and rescue service that does the basics but also is evolving with the ever changing climate that we are having to deal with.

Making sure that they are financially on a stable footing but also making sure that we are recovering from the financial challenge we've had in the past. Making sure got that investment coming into Fire and Rescue Service so they can get the right training and equipment and can evolve their their assets and their fleet to make sure that we are well resourced moving forward."

Public Sentiment and the Cost of Living

Despite the financial pressures on households, a public consultation involving 2,637 respondents showed a lean towards supporting the service. The survey revealed that 57% of participants were willing to pay an extra £10 or more towards the fire precept.

• In Scarborough specifically, 266 residents provided feedback on the proposals.
• While 57% supported the higher increase, approximately 32% of all respondents felt a lower £6 increase was more reasonable, citing concerns over cost-of-living pressures and pensioner affordability.

The Combined Authority's report noted that many residents view the fire and rescue service as a vital "insurance policy" that must be maintained to ensure rapid emergency responses. The final decision this week will determine if that insurance policy requires a higher premium from the taxpayers of North Yorkshire.