Council tax payers in Kent will see another rise in their bills.

Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Authority (KMFRA) has approved plans to raise its council tax bill precept by just less than £5 for the average household.

Yesterday, the body approved plans to raise the precept by 6.01%, meaning the average Band D household will see a £4.95 increase on their yearly bill from April. Tuesday, February 21

Residents' council tax bills are made up of different precepts which include funding for the county council, the local authority, fire and rescue services, the police, and — depending on where they live — parish councils.

The Provisional Local Government Finance Statement which was announced at the end of last year confirmed fire and rescue services could increase their precepts by up to £5.

KMFRA — which consists mostly of councillors from Kent County Council (KCC) and Medway Council — decides the budget strategy for funding Kent Fire and Rescue Service, and monitors its performance.

Its chairman cllr Nick Chard said: "We decided the budget and it was a unanimous decision to raise the council tax precept by 6.01% or just below £5 a year for the average Band D household.

"We are all acutely aware of the rising cost of living and so this wasn't an easy decision.

"However, the extra funding is critical to ensure we can provide effective a fire and rescue service.

"Raising the precept helps us to create a safer future for Kent and Medway, and ensure we will always be there in times of need."

The budget set a required spend of £85.3 million from April, of which, £57.7 million will come from taxpayers.

It includes spending for a number of projects including the upgrade of IT systems in fire engines, and vehicle replacement.

The service is also redeveloping its Ashford site on the Henwood Industrial Estate to the tune of £1.4 million.

The budget also featured a £424,000 overspend caused by a higher-than-budgeted pay award for non-operational staff.

Cllr Chard — who also sits on KCC representing Sevenoaks West — explained the pay awards for non-operational staff is not decided by the authority, rather, it is decided nationally.

The increase pay award has driven the authority towards having an overspend for the first time in its history.

Earlier this month, members of the the Kent and Medway police and crime panel approved plans to raise its precept — which funds Kent Police — by an average of £15 a year.