Residents across Nottinghamshire could have their precept for policing go up by more than five percent from April.
Nottinghamshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Gary Godden (Lab), is proposing a 5.1 percent increase on the precept for policing, which forms a part of residents’ council tax bills.
This will mean residents living in a Band D property could have the amount they pay on their policing precept go up by £15 – £296.10 to £311.10 for the year – from April.
Mr Godden said the increase will help balance the policing budget at a time when there are significant inflationary and demand pressures.
• Nottinghamshire PCC proposes £15 council tax rise to maintain police staffing levels
During a Police and Crime Panel meeting on Monday (February 2) all but one member – the Conservative Party’s Cllr Jonathan Wheeler – supported the tax rise.
“If we don’t balance that budget you are putting pressure on a real frontline reality,” Mr Godden said:
“You are talking about fewer officers, reduced recruitment, thinner staffing, and this will obviously effect a lot of the residents of Nottinghamshire in many different ways.
“You are potentially looking at slower response times, reduced visibility, officers stretched ever-thinner, and police morale under strain. Leadership in policing today means confronting hard truths and not pretending they don’t exist. I believe in Nottinghamshire we are doing that.
“Nottinghamshire can deliver a balanced budget if we agree the proposed £15 on a Band D equivalent.”
The proposal has prompted concerns from councillors across the city and county.
• Rushcliffe set to freeze council tax to remain the lowest in Nottinghamshire
Cllr John Wilmott, of the Ashfield Independents, said: “My problem is, I know you’ve needed this money, but I’ve got reisdents and it is putting real pressure on them having the cost of living crisis, the price of rents and mortgages, fuel costs, food price rises at the present time, and insurance costs.
“It is all pressure being put on my residents and it really is a huge, huge problem.”
Cllr Wheeler said he had concerns over a lack of investment in the prevention of rural crime across Rushcliffe borough, before voting against the precept proposals.
The Office for the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) says a public survey of more than 5,400 respondents, carried out door-to-door and online, showed “significantly” more support for an increase in the policing precept than a freeze.
However during the meeting the panel heard the relatively small pool of respondents – compared to the population of the entire area – was “not a true reflection” of residents’ thoughts.
The panel was also told the force in Nottinghamshire needs to deliver £25 million in savings over the next four years, which has come down from £30 million a year prior, even with the rise in the precept.
The financial plan over the next few years further assumes more increases to the precept by around £10 per year.
Around 60 percent of all homes across the city and county are in Band A and B. The breakdown below is shown as; 2025/26 precept/proposed 2026/27 precept (increase):
Band A: £197.40/£207.40 (£10)
Band B: £230.30/£241.97 (£11.67)
Band C: £263.20/£276.53 (£13.33)
Band D: £296.10/£311.10 (£15)
Band E: £361.90/£380.23 (£18.33)
Band F: £427.70/£449.37 (£21.67)
Band G: £493.50/£518.50 (£25)
Band H: £592.20/£622.20 (£30)
