If you live in the West Yorkshire Police area, do you want ¬£140 to spend on policing in the region? West Yorkshire Police Authority wants to consider the views of local people when setting the budget for the police for the coming year….
As in previous years, the authority is using an e-survey to find out how the public of West Yorkshire feel about the cost of policing in the county and whether they agree or disagree with an increase to the police council tax. The survey also asks residents to imagine they had £140 to allocate to a range of police functions based on individual importance.
In February this consultation will assist the authority to set the budget for West Yorkshire Police for the next financial year, 2012/13.
Local tax payers contribute towards the cost of the police service through a police precept on the council tax. The precept makes up the difference between funding from Central Government and the actual cost of running the police force.
By law the authority has to set the budget and agree how much to raise local council tax.
The current Band D council tax for policing in West Yorkshire is £130.50 a year, or £2.51 a week, unchanged from 2010/11. Most people are in Bands A or B (about 64pc) and pay £87 and £101.50 respectively.
Cllr Mark Burns-Williamson, Chair of the Police Authority said: “Last years budget survey received the highest number of responses to date and some excellent feedback from members of the public. This year with the continuing economic difficulties, it is more important that ever we hear the thoughts of even more residents to help us when we are considering the budget for the coming year.
We have some difficult choices ahead and big savings to make between now and 2014/15 (approx £100m over four years), but we are committed to reducing the impact on front-line services as far as possible, ensuring the best value for money and that high standards of policing remain.
“The authority understands the impact of council tax on household budgets, particularly during the current financial climate, which is why it is so important to get some feedback on policing priorities before the budget is set.”
The budget will be announced at a full Police Authority meeting on Friday 17 February 2012.
