POLICE and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster is seeking residents’ views on the important matters facing policing, as he launches his annual consultation on the budget for West Midlands Police.
The PCC is responsible for setting the budget for West Midlands Police, which receives the majority of its funding from central government grant and also through a precept on council tax.
Part of the PCC’s role is to set the precept for council tax, which is allocated to the police.
He is also consulting on the public’s views on a government announcement that would enable an increase to council tax, by up to £13 per year for a Council Tax Band D property – £1.08 per month.
The PCC said without that increase, West Midlands Police would be forced into making further cuts, with a £27.7 million hole in the budget.
The average £13.00 per year increase in council tax, will raise £9.2 million, towards meeting the budget challenge.
Mr Foster, said: “I appreciate any kind of rise is not what people want to hear in the middle of a cost of living crisis.
“Deciding on the precept level is always a challenging process, particularly in recent years where I have had to strike a balance between unprecedented financial challenges and ensuring an appropriate level of policing service that our communities expect.
“When I was elected, I said I would rebuild community policing, and that is the job that I am getting on with. People told me that they wanted to see more police officers out on their streets. We need preventative, proactive, problem solving and visible police officers to keep people, families, businesses and communities safe and secure.
“I would encourage everybody in the West Midlands, if you work, live or study in the region to respond to this consultation.”
Visit https://www.westmidlands-pcc.gov.uk/budget-consultation-2024-25/ to complete the survey.
