Agenda item

To set out the Police and Crime Commissioner’s proposals for the 2023/24 budget, precept and the medium term financial strategy.

The Chairman reminded the Panel Members of the voting rules for the Budget Precept and the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) presented the report.

 

The PCC gave an update on the reduction in crime in various areas and the continued work to ensure every penny counted.  This included the lobbying of Central Government over the unfair funding formula.  The recommendation to the panel was to approve a £15 (Based on Band D property) increase to ensure that the Force could continue delivering for Dorset and recruit an extra 15 officers in addition to those secured via the national Police Uplift Programme.

 

The Chief Constable was invited to address the Panel (00.23.45 on recording). He expressed his gratitude for the support of the Panel on the 2022/23 Precept and the achievements made with the support of the PCC.

 

He explained that Anti-Social Behaviour had reduced by 30% in Dorset.  Nationally violence against a person had increased following Covid but Dorset’s percentage increase was around half the national increase in percentage terms.

 

The crime rate in Dorset was the 6^th lowest in the country, having improved from 10^th in the last 18 months and there had been a 65% reduction in County Lines.

 

The Chief Constable set out some headlines in relation to inflationary pressures. Dorset was 42^nd out of 43 forces when it came to national funding and national work was ongoing to address the funding formula.

 

Attached as appendix 1 2022/23 Precept letter from Chief Constable to PCC.

 

The PCC invited the OPCC Chief Finance Officer to give a detailed outline of the financial paper (44:05 on recording).

 

The Chief Finance Officer set the scene for the current financial challenges.  The settlement contained within the report had been confirmed and the Panel was given an update on the recent changes to the budget together with an explanation of the report contents.  The Chief Finance Officer was able to confirm positive assurance on both reserves and robustness of the budget.

 

The PCC had undertaken a public survey to see how the residents felt about the precept.  The Director of Operations detailed the results of the survey (50:15 on recording).

 

The Panel Members were given the opportunity to put forward their questions to the PCC.  (54:47 on the recording).

 

In summary Panel Members were advised that:

 

A lower precept increase would result in a reduction in the number of officers and inability to maintain the uplift numbers.

 

It was important to maintain the safety of the Dorset residents and the PCC clarified that over half of the properties in Dorset were Band C or below and would have a proportionately lower increase than the Band D £15 increase.  The precept also comprised a small part of the Council Tax bill.  Dorset was one of the lowest funded forces in the country and the PCC had been working hard to address this with the National Funding Formula Group.

 

The biggest risk assumption for 23/24 was the pay award.  The Chief Finance Officer had attended the Force Efficiency Board meetings to look at how financial savings could be made, and noted that all options were being considered.

 

Efficiencies in savings were an ongoing process and efficiencies in procurement would be looked at when contracts came up for renewal.  In response to the PCC’s comments regarding the unfairness of the National Funding Formula and his ongoing lobbying to Government, the Panel agreed to write a letter of support to the PCC’s requests.

 

ACTION: PCC to share his letter with the Chairman.

 

Following Panel questions the PCC summarised the discussion and the Chairman put forward the recommendation. (01:36:35 on the recording).

 

Proposed by Mr Mike Short, seconded by Cllr Dove.

 

Decision: That the recommendation to increase the precept for 2023/24 to £83,406,053 equivalent to a Band D charge of £280.58, an increase of £15 per annum or £1.25 per month was unanimously approved by the Panel.

 

Both the PCC and the Chief Constable voiced thanks to the Panel and the residents of Dorset. (01:41:25 on recording).