Police Budget Protects Frontline Policing
Today (Thursday 11th February) Lancashire Police Authority set the budget, and thereby the policing precept, for policing Lancashire in 2010-11. This year’s budget is designed to protect both previous years’ investment in the protection of vulnerable people and frontline police officer posts.
In considering the available options, Authority members took into account the serious financial challenges facing the Authority and Constabulary, as in all public sector organisations over the next three-five years, noting the likelihood of stringent funding cuts from 2011 onwards.
The Authority and the Constabulary are meeting this challenge with a structured and planned approach designed to deliver a programme of efficiency savings. The first stage of this programme will bring savings of almost £2M in 2010-11, which will help to protect the provision of frontline policing services this year.
This year the budget has been agreed at £277.803M, an increase of 2.79% on 2009-10. In agreeing this figure, the Police Authority has tried to balance the need to protect the level of service delivery with an acceptable level of increase in council tax.
This means that the amount of Council Tax paid towards policing in 2010-11 for a Band D (the average) property will be £146.27 year, an increase of just 2.95% which works out at approximately 8 pence a week. The single largest council tax band in Lancashire – 40% of the total number of properties – is Band A - and the additional cost for a Band A property is £2.79 a year), or approximately 5p a week. Therefore the total amount a Band A household will pay for policing is just £1.88 per week.
At this level the Council Tax for policing in Lancashire remains one of the lowest in England and Wales: the specific amount paid, which depends on the property band, is set out below:
Band A £ 97.51
Band B £113.77
Band C £130.02
Band D £146.27
Band E £178.77
Band F £211.28
Band G £243.78
Band H £292.54
Chair of the Authority, Malcolm Doherty, said: “This budget is realistic. It, alongside the efficiency programme in place, is designed to help the Constabulary maintain the impressive level of service provided to our local communities. It has also enabled us to keep the level of council tax paid towards policing by Lancashire residents as low as possible.
“This year’s budget takes into account the tightening economic position faced by many households and the Government’s commitment to cap excessive increases.
“However, we have had to face significant increases in costs which are outside our control, such as police pay which is driven by the nationally negotiated pay deal and will increase in 2010-11 by 2.6% and energy inflation which has risen year on year. This is combined with the drop in investment income which reflects the wider economic situation.
“The Constabulary’s impressive commitment to efficiency savings and more effective working processes is definitely protecting the delivery of frontline policing which is our utmost priority. The Authority is supporting this drive for further savings and will continue its work to ensure that policing delivery reflects the things that matter most to local people.”
Clive Grunshaw, Chair of the Police Authority’s Resources Committee, added: “Over recent years Lancashire Constabulary and Lancashire Police Authority have been focussed on providing an excellent service for the people of Lancashire; this is something that we are very proud of. We also, however, have a responsibility to ensure that we get value for money for the taxpayer. Our challenge now, therefore, is to maintain our standard of excellence with fewer resources. It is a fine balance but we are confident that with smarter, more flexible working that this can, and will, be achieved."
Chief Constable Steve Finnigan said: “Like all organisations, Lancashire Constabulary is not immune to the current financial situation and needs to look at ways of saving money in all areas of what we do, whilst still delivering the best possible service.
“The challenge is not underestimated by anyone, but there is a clear determination to see that the Constabulary maintains its position as one of the top performing police forces in England and Wales. Our fundamental aim is to provide a high quality, efficient and effective service to those who come into contact with us.
“We are working closely with the Police Authority to preserve the level of service provided to local tax payers, particularly in areas that people have told us are important to them, such as, Neighbourhood Policing and Protecting Vulnerable People.
“All possible steps are being taken to achieve the efficiency savings that we need to make, while protecting frontline policing services.”
