MPs back argument for increased budget

Apr 4 2008 by Laurie Stocks-Moore, Chester Chronicle

CHESTER’S MP has backed Cheshire police as they fight to overturn government plans to cap their budget.

Christine Russell will meet a local government Minister to convince him the county is a special case and should be allowed to increase its share of council tax by 17%.

Last month, Cheshire Police Authority promised it would pay for 54 new police officers with the extra revenue but triggered the government’s automatic capping by exceeding the government’s 5% limit.

Christine Russell (Lab) said: “I think we have a really strong case. We just have to go and make the argument that Cheshire constabulary should be a special case.”

Only a quarter of police funding comes from the council tax purse and a MORI poll of Cheshire residents revealed 87% support an increase of at least £1.50 a month towards increased policing. 65% of households would be paying less than that.

Mrs Russell added: “The public expect the government to keep a lid on excessive council tax rises but local accountability seems to demonstrate that the public are prepared to pay.

“The argument I’ve been making to ministers is that the police in Chester are remarkably successful and they do it on the lowest precept of all the shires.”

Minister of State for Local Government, John Healey, faced a barrage of questions from Cheshire MPs in parliament last Thursday (March 27) when announcing plans to cap the precept.

He warned capped authorities may need to rebill for a lower council tax.

Stephen O’Brien (Eddisbury, Con) responded: “The Police Authority and the chief constable have said that if they do not manage to secure an increase in funding, neighbourhood policing will have to be the first point for cuts.

“That seems ironic when taken with the other targets that the police authority has to meet, including anti-terrorism, particularly in relation to the adjacent Merseyside and Greater Manchester challenges and to the rurality of the area.”

Andrew Miller (Ellesmere Port & Neston, Lab) and Mike Hall (Weaver Vale, Lab) claimed Cheshire has been punished for having an already low precept. Mr Miller said: “Will (John Healey) make a special effort to look at the historical anomalies in Cheshire created by factors that he inherited and seek to find a way of creating an authority that has a basis for going forward over some years?”

Mike Hall added: “The average council tax for policing in Cheshire will be £132, while the national average is £180, so council tax payers in Cheshire will still pay £52 a year less in council tax for policing if the rate remains unchanged.”