Housing money. Pic: Pic: www.TaxFix.co.uk

Part of the council tax bill for people in Lichfield and Burntwood is going up.

The Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Authority has agreed to push up its precept by 1.75% from April.

It will mean people living in Band D properties will pay 2.4p a week more, taking the annual contribution to the fire service to £71.56.

Stephen Sweeney, chairman of the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Authority said the increase was needed.

“This coming year we will receive a Government funding cut of £1.82million and so an increase of 2.4p per week in council tax is necessary to ensure that we can continue to provide the first-class service that our communities have come to expect and that they deserve.

“We are confident that the weekly increase will ensure that the safety of our residents and firefighters is not compromised, and that our vision of making Staffordshire one of the safest places to be can continue to be fulfilled.”

The fire and rescue authority is entering the second year of an efficiency programme which aims to find £4million of savings by 2019/20.

Founder of Lichfield Live and editor of the site.