Money matters: Essex PCC council tax plans fall through

PLANS to increase the policing precept for Essex council tax payers have fallen through after the county’s Policing and Crime Commissioner said the process would be too expensive.

Originally, Nick Alston had announced plans to introduce a 3.5 per cent hike to the precept, but a new Government cap meant this would have required a referendum – the cost of which would be around £2million.

Mr Alston said: “”The central government funding reductions mean that Essex Police will face financial challenges this coming year which will become even more serious in the following two years.

“The Chief Constable and I are determined to deliver the best possible policing over this period, protecting the front line and local policing wherever possible.

“We are confident of building a safer Essex. But we are also determined to invest in the long term development of Essex Police through encouraging the professional development of all officers and staff, adopting innovation and new technology, and building a strategic approach to the police property estate.

“My initial view is that it would not be a good use of public money to trigger a referendum in Essex. The commonly accepted estimate is that a referendum asking the people of our county whether they are prepared to vote for an increase of more than 2 per cent, or about 6 pence a week, to fund policing services would cost around £2 million.

“Given this, I propose to present a revised policing precept proposal to the Police and Crime Panel.”