PCC wants extra £24 on council tax bills
COUNCIL tax could rise by £24 a year on average to pay for police services for some residents of the West Midlands under proposals from the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC).
David Jamieson announced the plans at this week’s Strategic Policing and Crime Board. But the proposals will still be subject to a consultation.
Mr Jamieson said raising council tax was not something he wished to do, but that he had been left little choice by the government. He accused the government of misleading the public on its police funding announcements.
And he added that the rise was necessary if the force was not to shrink further.
“The public have made it clear that, despite government cuts, they want to see more police officers on their streets. I will do all I can to make that happen,” he said.
“To ensure the force doesn’t shrink any further, the government has strongly indicated it expects PCCs to increase council tax by the maximum amount. That means £24-a-year increase for a Band D taxpayer.
“A £24 increase in the West Midlands still means local people will pay at least £40 less than people living in areas covered by neighbouring forces such as Staffordshire, West Mercia and Warwickshire. With the force still facing real term cuts it is the only option left to protect officer numbers. I would prefer government not to shift the cost onto council tax payers, but have left no other choice.”
Mr Jamieson said that recent statements made in the House of Commons regarding police funding were ‘misleading ’. Earlier this year forces across the country were told they would have to increase their pension contributions, something which will reportedly cost West Midlands Police around £15 million.
He said: “Extra pension commitment for the force now is going to be in the region of £15 million, rather than £8.6 million. The total extra grant from the government just about covers that, so what they called extra funding was not extra funding, it was standstill funding for the pension alone.” local they