Avon and Somerset Police Authority set to freeze council tax precept to gain £5m boost (From Gazette Series)

Avon and Somerset Police Authority set to freeze council tax precept to gain £5m boost

9:30am Friday 27th January 2012 in News By Marion Sauvebois

A GOVERNMENT proposal to inject £5 million into the Avon and Somerset Police Authority could buy households time before a potential major council tax hike next year.

The police authority’s finance committee voted at a meeting last week in favour of freezing their share of the councils' bills - known as their precept - to become eligible for a one-off national grant.

Throughout December and January, members of the public were consulted at various meetings and online about the force’s budget including the possibility of maintaining the current policing precept and accepting government funds equivalent to a three per cent council tax rise.

A total of 55 per cent of locals taking part in the internet survey welcomed the coalition’s top-up grant.

A decision is due to be made on February 8 at a meeting of the full Police Authority.

Yet, accepting the government offer could have serious repercussions for taxpayers in the long-run.

The coalition deal’s 12-month limit would create a £2.6 million shortfall in 2013/14, meaning either a significant precept increase or even more cutbacks in the coming years.

This will be a decision for the elected Police and Crime Commissioner, who will replace the Police Authority in November 2012, to make.

Finance committee chairman Cllr William Wallace said: "Our meeting will give the future Police and Crime Commissioner an idea of what the coming years, with no additional money for policing, could look like.

"However given the 20 per cent reduction to our central government funding we are already making difficult decisions.

"We now have a greater understanding of what residents want us to do and people will see further reductions in our spending over the coming year.

"Inevitably the workforce will be smaller in the future, but we know the Constabulary are working hard to ensure they remain agile, adaptable and effective in keeping the communities of Avon and Somerset safe." All of the consultation results and committee papers can be found online at aspola.org.uk