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Dear resident,
Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend said policing teams in Surrey will be properly funded to tackle those crimes important to residents after it was confirmed her proposed council tax rise will go ahead.
The Commissioner’s suggested 4.3% increase in the policing element of the council tax, known as the precept, was discussed on Monday at a meeting of the county’s Police and Crime Panel at Woodhatch Place in Reigate.
The nine Panel members present, made up of local councillors and one independent member, voted on the Commissioner’s proposal with four votes in favour and four votes against with one abstention. The Chair of the Panel cast the deciding vote against.
However, there were insufficient votes to veto the proposal and the Panel accepted the Commissioner’s precept will come into effect.
Lisa said Surrey Police are one of the fastest-improving forces in the country and today’s decision means they can continue that momentum over the coming year.
The Commissioner thanked all those who took part in her survey, with more than 3,200 people giving their views on her proposed precept increase.
59% of respondents said they would be willing to pay the suggested £14-a-year increase on an average Band D property while 41% voted against it.
The policing element of an average Band D Council Tax bill will now be set at £337.57, an increase of £14 a year or £1.16 a month. It equates to around a 4.3% increase across all council tax bands.
Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “Asking the public for more money in the current financial climate is one of the toughest calls I have to make as Police and Crime Commissioner for this county and is not a decision I take lightly.
“But I know from speaking to residents at our recent Policing Your Community events how much they value that visible policing presence and getting a swift and effective police response when they need it.
“I am currently putting the finishing touches to my new Police and Crime Plan for the county which will focus on a ‘back to basics’ approach to policing in our communities.
“This week’s decision will mean our officers and staff will be properly supported to continue to take the fight to criminals and deliver on the priorities in that Plan to make our communities even safer for Surrey residents.”
You can find the full story here.
Kind Regards, Office for the Police and Crime Commissioner | ||||
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