GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S new Police and Crime Commissioner is asking the public’s views on setting the council tax budget.

PCC Martin Surl also wants to hear from businesses and other organisations.

Policing in Gloucestershire is funded through a government grant and council tax.

Gloucestershire Police Authority - which was responsible for the constabulary’s budget before it was disbanded to make way for the new PCC system - was already planning to raise its share of the council tax budget by 3.9 per cent before the government announced cuts to its contribution to the cost of running the constabulary by almost two per cent.

It leaves Mr Surl in quite a quandary.

"If we leave the tax as it is, we won’t be able to absorb the cuts the government expects us to make next year and in subsequent years which could affect frontline services and our ability to reduce crime and increase peace and good order in the county," he explained.

"And if we use our reserves, which has also been suggested in Whitehall, we would have no money to replace ageing equipment or improve our infrastructure."

You can have your say by contacting the commissioner at budget@gloucestershire.police.uk or by writing to 1 Waterwells, Waterwells Drive, Quedgeley, Gloucester, GL2 2AN.

Comments have to be in by noon on Friday, January 25, 2013.