Andy Burnham's mayoral tax will rise 20 percent in April, which he claims will help 'forgotten and missed children'.

Leaders approved a 19.4 percent precept rise on Friday (February 13), meaning a typical band D home will pay £25 more next year, from £128.95 annually to £153.95. The Labour mayor has come under fire for the tax rises from opposition councillors, who pointed out the precept element paying for his office will increase by 44 percent, while the fire service portion will rise by 7 percent.

However, Burnham insists a raft of spending measures will 'significantly enhance the lives of residents' and finish paying for rolling out Bee Network buses 'on-time and on-budget'. 

Headline policies include lifting the 9.30am old people and disabled bus pass rule, keeping the £2 bus fare cap until the end of 2026, helping drivers upgrade dirty taxis, and rolling out free bus travel to homeless children.

"This budget responds to challenges we see with temporary accommodation, with children in temporary accommodation in particular. There are over 8,000 in temporary accommodation," he told a Greater Manchester Combined Authority meeting on Friday.

"If you think about what that means, it means a child uprooted from the place where they grew up to a place they do not know. That can be many miles from school and friends. 

"It's hugely disruptive and damaging to the development of children in Greater Manchester and that's something none of us want to see.

"A high profile campaign… gave this the higher visibility to a group of children that can be forgotten or missed. That brought forward our consideration on this issue."

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A table hsowing how much Greater Manchester households will pay in the mayoral precept (Image - LDRS)

Burnham pledged to give homeless children in temporary accommodation last week. The mayor said 'we cannot say precisely when we will introduce the travel pass' but confirmed 'it will be done in this financial year, but hopefully as soon as possible'.

It's not the only Bee Network reform coming, with long-trailed plans to scrap a rule preventing older and disabled bus pass holders using their tickets before 9:30am now a reality.

Burnham added: "It's an independent living policy as much as it is a transport policy. 

"The idea many older people do not want to be out and about early in the day is ridiculous. This will allow them to live their lives. Today we can agree a budget to allow this to happen."

The highly popular £2 single bus fare cap will now stay in place until the end of the year under the mayor's new financial plan. He went on: "It provides simple and affordable travel. As a hopper fare, it gives incredibly good value for many, to take the pressure off [finances]."

Air quality should improve under another previously-announced measure, a multi-million-pound fund for taxi drivers to upgrade their vehicle. They will be able to take a £1,000 grant or £5,000 interest-free loan — but only if they're licensed in Greater Manchester.

It's move Burnham called 'the first step' to having every taxi operating in the city licensed here. He explained: "We want to support taxi drivers here doing the right thing. We recognise they have had a tough time following the pandemic but also the impact of out-of-area working. We remain steadfast in making the case for the end of that."

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The budget was passed by Greater Manchester's council leaders unanimously, with the exception of Oldham's Arooj Shah who was not present at the meeting. Changes will come into effect from April.

While a 'typical' band D home will pay £153.95, the vast majority of households in Greater Manchester fall in lower bands, so will fork out a smaller sum. Band A properties will pay £102.64, band B £119.74, and band C £136.85.