2014/15 Police precept
The Commissioner recently announced her precept proposals, and you can see information about the budget and how money is spent. 2014-2015 Council tax leaflet – How your money is spent
Julia Mulligan, Police and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire, received approval from the Police and Crime Panel for her proposals regarding the police precept.
The result was an increase to the North Yorkshire Police precept – the amount added by North Yorkshire Police to council tax bills – by 1.99%. This equates to £4.07 per annum, or 8p per week, for a Band D property.
Julia also consulted with the public on the proposals, who responded via letter, email and by filling in an online questionnaire.
The increase, alongside work to secure £10m of efficiency savings, will help enable North Yorkshire Police to maintain its officer numbers at a time when other forces are shrinking theirs. In 2012, following feedback from the North Yorkshire public, officers and staff, Julia overturned a decision to reduce police officer numbers down to 1,270 from 1,392: the number inherited when taking office.
As a result, she has had to find money to fund 122 more officer posts. Raising the precept by 1.99% will fund 24 of these officer posts. The remainder of the shortfall will still need to be met through efficiencies in other areas.
Further information, with all the budget details including the Medium Term Financial Plan, is available on Julia’s website. This includes all the information with which the Panel approved Julia’s precept proposal.
Julia Mulligan said: “I welcome the Panel’s unanimous decision to approve my proposals.”
“The North Yorkshire public have told me from day one that the visibility of police is a top priority for them. The £4 a year increase means 24 police officers can be funded, with efficiency savings going towards the other hundred or so.”
“These are extremely challenging times for police forces across the country. Like all public sector organisations, we need to maintain and improve services while reducing spending. I have reduced my own budget by over £100,000 and continue to cost significantly less than the old Police Authority.”
“Along with various other proposals – such as further collaboration with North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and a review of senior staff salaries – the Chief Constable and I are doing our best to ensure that North Yorkshire Police is fit for purpose both today and in future.”