This in from the office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, Simon Hayes. Ed
Government cuts have forced Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Hayes to raise the policing element of the Council Tax in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight for 2013/14.
The Commissioner’s proposed rise of 3.4%, equivalent to 10p a week for a Band D household, was approved by the Hampshire Police and Crime Panel on Friday 25 January.
First rise in two years
Mr Hayes said: “This is the first time in two years the policing element of the Council Tax has risen, but I have been left with no choice. Each year of a Council Tax freeze creates additional financial pressure in the short and medium term. The Government’s reward for freezing the Council Tax does not cover the lost income.
“In the past two years, an extra £5.5m has needed to be found to cover the shortfall. That position cannot continue if people want to carry on receiving a top standard of service from their police service and their crime concerns to be addressed.”
Panel called for justification
Chairman of the Hampshire Police and Crime Panel, Councillor David Stewart, said: “The Panel felt it was important the Police and Crime Commissioner justify his decision to ask for a precept increase. In the current economic climate, when we are all having to manage our finances carefully, the Panel will be closely monitoring how this money is now spent to support delivery of the Police and Crime Plan, which itself will come under scrutiny at the next Panel meeting in March.
“We are aware of the ongoing and increasing financial pressures that will impact on the community in the future, and the Panel is determined to continue to challenge, through scrutiny, the Police and Crime Commissioner as he delivers on his commitments.”
Ongoing work to make savings
Mr Hayes said the level of the Council Tax rise has been mitigated by the ongoing work to make savings within Hampshire Constabulary. “There have already been £36m of savings in the past two years, but the people of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight have said they want to see a reduction in crime and better service for victims and witnesses,” he said.
“How that will be achieved will be set out in my Police and Crime Plan to be published by the end of March, but Government cutbacks have meant I can’t achieve my priorities without raising the policing element of the Council Tax bill.”
Where the savings will come from
Savings within Hampshire Constabulary will be coming from improved use of technology, post-Olympic savings, cutting back office functions, and changes within the Professional Standards Department, where improved processes will lead to financial savings and should result in fewer cases of corruption and a greater chance of detecting it if it happens.
“We are not alone in raising Council Tax levels. Last year, 24 out of 43 forces chose not to freeze the level because of the short term nature of the grant and the long term impact of continued freezes. The previous Police Authority held off for as long as possible, but now I am in office, I need to make the tough decisions to protect our communities. Even with a 3.4% rise, Hampshire is likely to remain in the bottom quartile of shire policing bodies for council tax precept.”
New Community Safety Fund of £1.459m
As well as overseeing the budget for Hampshire Constabulary, the Commissioner will be responsible for a new Community Safety Fund of £1.459m, which brings together the vast majority of drugs, crime and community safety funding that the Home Office has previously provided to a range of organisations. They will shortly be invited to bid for a grant from this fund as in previous years, but the overall pot had reduced by the Government by around 25%.
Mr Hayes said: “We need to be fair about the way this reduced pool of money is distributed. Some people will be disappointed, but with a smaller overall pot to distribute from, there are some tough decisions to be made.”
