Agenda item

The Commissioner reported that the Home Office Grant Settlement for Staffordshire had been set at £131.479million, an increase of £10.5million on the previous year. The total policing requirement was £212.402 million with the Commissioner proposing to part fund the balance from an increase in Precept of 3.94% (£8.53 pa per Band D property). The Commissioner acknowledged that this figure was marginally below the permitted Referendum limit of £10 but felt that it struck a balance between what could reasonably be asked of Council tax payers and the investment required in local policing.

The Home Office Settlement was noted to include £2.532million ring fenced for the recruitment of 90 additional officers by 31 March 2021. This was Staffordshire’s target number for the first phase of the 20,000 additional officers promised in the Governments manifesto.  Receipt of the ringfenced funding was dependent on the 90 officers being recruited however the sum available would not fully fund that number of posts. More details on the funding and conditions attached were awaited therefore the Commissioner was unable to answer queries raised by panel members as to whether it might be awarded on a pro rata basis should it not prove possible to recruit 90 officers in one year.  The Commissioner was confident that the target could be met with a recruitment programme being developed and made reference to his belief that future years’ increases in manpower might not automatically be entirely made up warranted officers. He predicted recognition of the need for specific expertise to address the changing nature of crime (eg Cyber crime)

The Commissioner referred to the latest published Crime figures which showed Staffordshire to be one of four Forces recording a reduction in crime levels, and reported on his continued commitment to ensuring that budgets were allocated to areas where maximum benefit would be realised. To this end, for the remainder of the increased funding his proposals included: investment in the Special Constabulary to enhance their role in the community, investment in ANPR (Automatic Number Plant Recognition) to support the further growth of the Team and it’s capability in terms of tracking offenders throughout the County and beyond, further expenditure on technology and digital capability in order to maximise their benefits (eg. purchasing the most up to date mobile devices), and investment in IT software to assist with demand management and prioritising the deployment of resources.

The Panel noted that the Settlement was for one year only in view of Government’s Capital Spending Review and acknowledged the increased level of risk built into the 2020/21 Budgets due to uncertainty around future funding. 

The Commissioner submitted an updated MTFS for the period 2020/21 – 2023/24 which showed the funding gap for 2019/20 had been resolved due to a combination of unpredicted increases in funding streams.  Future predicted funding gaps were partly attributed to the fact that the capital spending review was for one year only.  Further analysis would be required however the prediction was a deficit of £3.328m by 2024.

Members questioned the assumptions on which the MTFS was based, particularly on police pay, non-pay costs and the Council tax base.  The Commissioner reported confidence in the latter two but acknowledged concern expressed at the 2.5% assumed increase in police pay, particularly as the full details were not yet available on the full funding of the additional officers required by central government.

Whilst welcoming the ongoing investment in technology, members sought clarification of the allocation to front line systems (eg the 101 service). Responding the Commissioner reported that investment would provide alternative on-line reporting options.

The Panel further queried the effect on the MTFS of collaborative working. The Commissioner reported that whilst the 2020/21 budget proposals did not include specifics, the shared use of facilities would reduce Police costs.

RESOLVED – That the proposed budget and Precept increase of 3.94% (£8.53 per annum, per household (Band D) ) be supported and the Commissioner be notified accordingly.