Agenda item

Report by Angus Macpherson, Police and Crime Commissioner

To receive a paper on the medium term financial strategy and budget information.

The Commissioner gave a detailed presentation on his draft budget settlement.

He drew attention to the net expenditure on policing per head of population in Wiltshire being the lowest in the region and the 3^rd lowest in the country.

His plan themes were partnership, pro-activity and prevention, and his intention was to maintain the spend on prevention. Grant allocation would be more specific in the coming financial year with investment in ancillary services, watch schemes and victim and witness support. Neighbourhood Justice Panels were being rolled out throughout Wiltshire.

Strategic partnerships with both Wiltshire and Swindon provided savings of £2.5 million. Regional solutions had been found for major crime, such as armed policing and dogs, all of which were based in the county.

Whilst recognising that no increase would be welcome he noted that the funding shortfall would reduce by £2.3 million over three years with an increase of £3.15 on band D properties, and would help to protect frontline policing in neighbourhoods where the public want it.

Recruitment campaigns would happen on a regular and planned basis with 2 intakes of officers and 1 of PCSO’s. £1.5 million of reserves would be used to smooth the process.

The public is being consulted as widely as possible through parish and town councils, the farming community, chambers of commerce and Area Boards / Locality meetings.

In response to questions the Commissioner explained that the precept had to viewed from a stand alone point of view and would probably not be reconsidered in the event of a rise in council tax. He noted the unacceptable cost of a referendum, and explained that it would be about maintaining a base level of income, raised locally to be spent locally.

To date, in the first week of the consultation he had received approximately 60 responses with a mixed review. The government grant received was fixed and not affected by a rise in the number of houses.

He was confident that back office processes were operational in the face of redundancies, but drew attention to the risk associated with the need to find £12 million savings.

The Chairman drew attention to the £740,000 additional income generated by a £3.15 increase, noting that in reality the amount of new money compared with a zero percent increase was £330,000 once the figures allowed for the removal of the freeze grant. The Commissioner noted the point and agreed to make clear that he was not taking the freeze grant.

Clarification was sought on the figures in the draft budget settlement being slightly different to the figures contained in the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS). The MTFS was a living strategy document which informed the budget process, and the latest information was contained in the Draft Budget Settlement paper. The Panel welcomed the estimate figures being as close as they could be to the latest information.

Attention was drawn to the increase in regional activity and it was confirmed that a list of police specific areas that could potentially be provided on a regional basis had been compiled and would be the subject of a management meeting with Avon and Somerset.

He confirmed the £3.15 increase was based on a band D profile and worked on a sliding scale, with the increase of £6.30 in the highest band and £2.12 in the lowest. The rise would be on top of any council tax rise from local authorities and came from the OPCC,

The panel requested the projected reserves figures for 2013/14 and the forecasted reserves by 2014/15, split into earmarked and general funds. These would be provided after the meeting.

Although no figures were available for the projected spend in the Chief Constable’s budget in 2013/14 an underspend is expected, although difficult to predict with reducing staff numbers.

The impact of the Fire and Rescue Service’s discussions on amalgamation with Dorset was not yet know and was an operational issue for the Chief Constable.

The OPCC’s investment policy was queried and confirmation on whether it invested within the UK would be provided after the meeting. The panel asked that consideration be given to an additional financial health indicator for the required £12.5 million savings during the next three years.

Resolved:

The Panel noted the report.