A 5% increase in the South Wales Police precept (a charge added on to council tax bills) is set to be agreed at this week’s South Wales Police & Crime Panel meeting.
A 5% increase works out at an extra £14.40-a-year at the Band D average, with the Band D precept increasing from £287.71 to £302.11.
In his report to the Panel (pdf), the Police & Crime Commissioner, Alun Michael (Lab), says the amount of money the police force receives from the UK & Welsh governments will fall £11.7million short of the force’s operational requirements. That gap will need to be met from cuts and precept increases.
The proposed precept increase will bring in an additional £7.8million, with the remaining £4.5million found from cuts and savings elsewhere – though few details are provided (pdf – Appendix 12).
“This increase provides very little flexibility within the budget and will require continued very tight financial discipline and strict control in order to achieve a balanced budget in the 2022/23 year. In view of the pressure on residents, I have considered whether there is scope to further reduce the budget, and I have concluded that to do so would put at risk the service we provide to the people of South Wales and be likely to disadvantage those who are most vulnerable and live in our poorer communities.”
– Police & Crime Commissioner for South Wales, Alun Michael
Bridgend Council’s Cabinet has already announced its intention to freeze council tax for a year, while the South Wales Fire Service precept is set to increase by 2.4%.
The county’s 20 town and community councils will set their precepts separately.
