North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel

 

21 January 2026

 

Panel Scrutiny of the Mayor’s Draft Fire Precept Proposal 2026/27

1.0 Purpose of report 1.1 To outline the process and timescales for the Panel’s scrutiny of the Mayor’s 2026/27 precept proposal for fire and rescue, including the draft 2026/27 fire budget and MTFP proposal.

2.0       Schedule 5 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 and Part 2 of the Police and Crime Panels (Precepts and Chief Constable Appointments) Regulations 2012 set out the statutory process for scrutiny of the Mayor’s Council Tax precept proposals.  The guidance note below sets out the key provisions and timescales from the governing legislation.

 

3.0       The Mayor must notify the Panel of their proposed precepts for both policing and fire and rescue by 1 February. 

 

4.0       As Panel members will be aware, it is the Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA) which now has jurisdiction over the final recommendations to be made regarding the Mayor’s fire budget and Council Tax precept proposal for the fire and rescue service.  As such, the Panel no longer has a right of veto in relation to the fire and rescue precept proposal but must still provide a report to the Mayor with any recommendations regarding the precept to be issued, by 8 February each year. 

 

5.0       It was agreed following a review of the process undertaken with the new Mayor last year that the Panel requires adequate time to consider its recommendations and provide its report to the Mayor.  As such, it has been agreed that the Panel will henceforth consider the draft fire budget and precept proposal in January so that sufficient time can be afforded for the provision of the Panel’s report and for the Mayor and MCA Members to be able to take this into account for their meeting on 6 February.

 

6.0       In relation to the policing precept proposal, the Panel legally remains the key body which makes a formal recommendation on the proposal and for which it still carries a power of veto.  Panel will henceforth consider the precept proposal separately in early February, once the details of the national settlements for policing are also determined.

 

 7.0      Financial Implications

 

 7.1      There are no significant financial implications arising from this report.

 

 8.0      Legal Implications

 

 8.1      There are no significant legal implications arising from this report.

 

 9.0      Equalities Implications

 

 9.1      There are no significant equalities implications arising from this report.

 

 10.0    Climate Change Implications

 

 10.1    There are no significant climate change implications arising from this report.

 

11.0 Recommendation 11.1 The Panel is asked to note the report.

 

Background Documents:   None

 

 

Barry Khan

Assistant Chief Executive Legal and Democratic Services

County Hall

Northallerton

13 January 2026

 

Report Author:   Diane Parsons, Principal Scrutiny Officer.

                           nypfcp@northyorks.gov.uk