Cheshire residents asked to accept increase in police precept

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Cheshire's police and crime commissioner is asking Cheshire residents if they are willing to support an increase to the police precept to put more feet on the beat.

David Keane is today (Tuesday 8th January 2019) launching a consultation with the option to increase the policing precept in local council tax payments by £2 per month for the average band D household.

In December, the government announced that Cheshire Constabulary would receive funding to cover unavoidable pressures on policing but assumes that Cheshire taxpayers will fund almost two thirds of this through an increase of the policing precept.

David said: "The government has recognised that we need more money for policing but it is putting the burden on local taxpayers. Cheshire Constabulary has made more than £60 million worth of savings since 2010 but with non-pay budgets now over stretched, we have a stark choice to either fund this locally or significantly cut policing numbers.

"I believe that by funding policing through rising council tax, the government is essentially pitting the police against the local population. But without an increase to the precept, the funding offered for 2019/20 is insufficient to cover the existing budget, let alone inflation and increasing demand on our resources.

"With increasing pressures on household budgets, I understand that this proposed government increase to council tax payments is a bitter pill to swallow. However, I been left with no choice but to consult on the difficult option."

Residents and businesses across Cheshire are being asked to complete a survey to give their views on 2019/20's precept ahead of the commissioner setting the constabulary's budget in February.

The commissioner will also be holding a number of consultation events across Cheshire for residents to talk with him directly about their priorities for police funding. The nearest consultation event will be held in Macclesfield at Sainsbury's, 61 Cumberland Street on Tuesday 22nd January from 11am-2pm.

Cheshire residents can also give their views by completing a survey on the Cheshire PCC website

The consultation closes at midnight on Sunday 27 January 2019.

Tags:
Council Tax
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Comments

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.

Adrian Scott
Tuesday 8th January 2019 at 5:22 pm
A bit rich coming from the guy that just wasted hundreds of thousands trying to ruin the reputation of Simon Byrne. We should also be asking how much of the savings that he claims were made by his predecessor and how much during his term of office, I think we may be surprised.
I will support the operational policing of cheshire 110%, but not this overpaid civilian.
David Hadfield
Tuesday 8th January 2019 at 9:15 pm
Well said Adrian.
…. and what about the scandal a couple of years ago when this David Keane person decided to appoint a Deputy, who just happened to be someone he'd known for 20 years ? …….. I think she was paid £50,000 per year, allegedly.

…… and what about the kerfuffle when he decided to move his office from Police Headquarters in Crewe (or it may have been Winsford) to Warrington, where, coincidence of coincidences, he just happened to live in that area, allegedly ?

…… it all cost a small fortune, but, according to him, a very small amount in the big scheme of things …… yeah, right !!
Mark Eltringham
Wednesday 9th January 2019 at 12:37 pm
She was paid 50,000 a year. Also worth pointing out that in that year she actually did very little. An FOI request highlighted just how little to the extent that there were weeks on end in which there were no records of any activity at all and other periods in which single phone calls were listed.
Alan Brough
Thursday 10th January 2019 at 10:12 am
I would enthusiastically support the removal of the Police & Crime Commissioners office so that the money saved could be used to provide more desperately needed "feet on the beat"

The huge amount of money wasted in pursuit of the politically motivated accusations against the Chief Constable, plus David Keane's record of hiring unqualified cronies to staff his office should act as a stark warning to us all.

Keep politics out of Policing.
David Hadfield
Thursday 10th January 2019 at 11:41 pm
Another great comment from Alan Brough. Thank you.
Jeffrey Yates
Saturday 12th January 2019 at 1:06 pm
Why is the proposed "solution" to keep throwing more money at the problem?
If the police were freed up to do their job, instead of acting as quasi Social Workers/Clerks/Bureaucrats etc. etc. maybe they would have more time for actual policing. Employ the right people and let them get on with the job! Also, well said Alan Brough!
Chris Jones
Monday 14th January 2019 at 6:12 pm
What is noticeable in the £2 increase is the omission of what percentage that is. 13% I make it.
Wow for what, false promises and a box ticking force only fit to wave rainbow flags.