Conservative PCC Plans Zero Council Tax Increase in Staffordshire

Staffordshire’s Conservative elected Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Ellis, wants to buck the national trend for police council tax increases.

Mr Ellis’ plans for a zero increase will be discussed on Monday 27 January with Police and Crime Panel members who will give their views before he makes a final decision.

The Commissioner is responsible for setting the budget for policing, community safety and reducing crime across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent in 2014/15.  His plans mean people will face no increase in the police and community safety portion of their council tax received by the PCC.

Savings made in the last 12 months, the budget for 2014/15 will see neighbourhood-policing numbers protected, more recruitment of new police officers and further investment in technology and other new processes, which will save even more money through joined-up working.

Mr Ellis said, “With a £4.3 million reduction in overall budget for 2014/15, the easy option would be to turn to local council tax-payers to meet the additional short-fall.  But I don’t want to do that.  Through good housekeeping, I want to spend every penny of public money better, meaning local taxpayers are an absolute last resort.

“Budgets are in a strong position so that the financial challenges can be met.  I’m going to continue to drive efficiencies, spend money more effectively in a joined up way and ensure Staffordshire Police and local authorities have the resources to keep crime reducing.  In the coming year, £2.5 million will be going to local areas to fund community safety projects, which is more than twice as much as ever before.

“Over the last 12 months, we’ve made good progress working with the police in bringing in new arrangements to make significant financial savings.  We’ve been able to get new thinking and talent flowing by recruiting new officers for the first time in years.  The plans for the next few years are ambitious, so we’ll need new blood and the brightest and best talent to deliver them.  That’s why the recruitment tap will stay firmly switched on.

“Things are moving fast here in Staffordshire, there are real opportunities through scrapping silo thinking, joining up the public sector to work together towards common outcomes.

“It’s about making significant savings and improving services, which I am confident we can achieve.  I want Staffordshire to have the best police service in the country by 2016.  In Staffordshire we’re playing our part towards the national financial challenge and I’m confident it’s a challenge we can meet.”