Norfolk PCC wants your opinion on council tax rise

Norfolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner has launched his annual budget consultation and is seeking residents’ views on how best to meet them.

During his fourth year of delivering his ambitious Police and Crime Plan for Norfolk, PCC Lorne Green is now asking the public if they would be prepared to pay extra in a bid to build "a safer and more resilient Norfolk" – or prefer no rise at all.

The PCC is required by law to set the budget for Norfolk Constabulary and as part of this, decide how much the Norfolk public contributes to the policing element of Council Tax they pay.

This year’s consultation runs from Monday 16 December until Friday 17 January 2020 and will see Lorne touring the county to seek the views of Norfolk residents.

The Norfolk public are being asked whether they would prefer;

• No increase in the policing element of Council Tax (the precept) which would lead to reductions in policing services
• An increase of around 2% to meet inflation-related cost pressures, meaning at best ‘standing still with no investment’
• An increase in precept above 2% to enable investment in crime prevention activity, support to build community resilience and policing services

Lorne said:

“Through Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabularies (HMICFRS), I am provided with external assurance that Norfolk continues to have a high performing, effective well managed police force, and dedicated officers and staff who we should all be proud of.

“However, looking forward to the next five years, the risks in our communities and the pressures on Norfolk Constabulary will continue to be very challenging for the police and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Norfolk (OPCCN).

“This precept consultation is taking place at a unique time starting four days after a general election. As a result, we do not know the level of funding that will be received from central government for policing for 2020/21 and the specific impact this will have locally.

“I have reviewed the financial position of Norfolk Constabulary and the OPCCN to help me understand more broadly the impact on policing services of a number of scenarios and the options available.

“Raising taxation is a decision no-one wants to take, particularly at a time when, for so many, incomes are stretched. However, we are faced with some stark choices and I need to fully understand how supportive you are of the different options available to keep Norfolk safe and build long-term resilience.”

People can have their say by taking the online survey or by getting in contact with the Norfolk PCC office in the following ways:

By post: OPCCN, Jubilee House, Building 1, Falconers Chase, Wymondham, NR18 0WW

By telephone: 01953 424455

By email: TellLorne@norfolk.pnn.police.uk

Hard copies of the full consultation document are also available on request, and hard copy survey forms can be printed from here.