By Andrew Topping, Local Democracy Reporter
All Nottingham and Nottinghamshire homes will pay more council tax to the police next year after councillors approved an annual hike.
Caroline Henry (Con), Nottinghamshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, brought her tax rise forward as she looks to balance the books at Nottinghamshire Police.
The rise was approved by councillors at a meeting of the Police and Crime Panel on Tuesday (February 7).
It means residents living in the average ‘Band D’ home will pay the force an additional £14.94 per year from April, taking the total paid to £209.37.
For ‘Band A’ homes, which make up most of all homes in the city and county, the increase is £9.96 per year meaning £179.46 is paid in total.
Before agreeing to the rise, the panel was told the force’s budgets had been hit by £4m due to current inflation rates.
A further £13m is also needed to fund staff pay awards, wage increments, restructures and pension contributions.
This has been partly offset by more than £4m in efficiency savings and the council tax hike approved on Tuesday.
Nottinghamshire Police is forecast to have a budget of £261.7m in the upcoming financial year, with £89.6m raised through council tax.
About £208m in total is spent on staff wages.
Speaking in the meeting, Mrs Henry said: “It’s not easy when we’ve got the cost of living crisis to ask for you to approve a precept increase.
“I know people are really struggling and it’s not a decision I’ve taken lightly, but we must recognise the fact that the police are facing the same financial pressures as everybody else.
“Our costs are increasing and I have a duty to make sure we have an efficient and effective police force in Nottinghamshire.”
The £14.94 Band D rise was just six pence less than the maximum £15 Mrs Henry is allowed to take.
It led to some concerns from members of the panel that residents will be hit hard.
Cllr Stuart Richardson (Lab), who was Mansfield District Council’s representative, read a statement from the district’s Labour mayor Andy Abrahams.
It said: “[This is] one of the worst cost of living crises for generations.
“Families can barely survive. The [police and crime commissioner] should cut her cloth to meet their needs and not impose a whopping increase.
“The Conservative Government should not shift the responsibility for funding police onto local government. It’s an underhand way of shifting blame.”
During the meeting, Mrs Henry said she has continued to lobby Westminster for different funding methods to support local police forces.
She said meetings with ministers have led to promises of a review into how forces like Nottinghamshire Police receive funds.
However, in the meeting, Cllr Johno Lee (Con), of Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “We have to remember national government, local government and the police don’t hold their own money.
“No matter whether that funding comes from increasing the precept, national government funding or the county council, it’s still [taxpayers’] money.
“As far as my wallet is concerned, it makes no difference as it’s still coming from my money or my residents’.”
Mrs Henry’s commissioner role is an elected position responsible for overseeing force spending and setting broad priorities.
It is different to the non-political position of Chief Constable Kate Meynell, who is the most senior police officer in the force holding day-to-day operational control.
Mrs Henry’s rise comes as the Nottinghamshire Fire Authority also proposes a £5 annual precept increase for all homes in the city and county.
Nottingham City Council has also proposed a 4.99 per cent rise – the maximum available – hitting Band A and Band D homes with £65 and £97 increases respectively.
A planned 4.84 per cent rise at Nottinghamshire County Council would hit Band A homes by £53 and Band D by £79.
And district and borough councils can increase their bills by 2.99 per cent – working out at slightly more than £3.50 on a Band A or more than £5 for Band D.
Mansfield District Council has frozen its bills, while other authorities are beginning to outline their plans this month.
