Dyfed Powys Police Authority recently met to consider its budget and precept for 2006/07. At that meeting, the authority approved an increase in overall budget of 3.11 per cent, which resulted in a 6.6 per cent increase in the Band D police element of Council Tax. This equated to £9.54 per annum. At the meeting, severe concern was expressed by members that the level of increase in Council Tax was substantially attributable to a change in the Home Office's arrangements for the financing of police pensions, which had resulted in a £1.325 million shortfall in Home Office funding. Concern was also expressed that the amount of money being provided for Counter Terrorism measures by the Home Office was being reduced by nearly £100,000. At the meeting, the Chief Constable had explained the nebulous nature of the calculations carried out by the Home Office in arriving in the pension adjustment, and that despite continued discussion with officials, this figure had not been corrected satisfactorily. Mr. Grange also praised Welsh Assembly Government officials and ministers for their support in pursuing this matter on behalf of the Force with the Home Office. On February 22, Sue Essex, Minister for Finance, Local Government and Public Services, wrote to Clr. Don Evans, chair of the Police Authority, outlining her severe concerns that the authority had set a budget resulting in an increase in the Band D precept of 6.67 per cent. She indicated her expectations that precepts should not increase by more than five per cent and explained that she was prepared to use her capping powers if necessary. In conclusion, she asked Clr. Evans to re-convene the authority in order to set a lower precept. A special meeting of the Police Authority was held on Tuesday, at which members expressed severe disappointment with the position adopted by the Welsh Assembly Government - particularly in light of the fact that the authority's proposed budget increase of 3.11 per cent was amongst the lowest in England and Wales. Furthermore, the extent to which the Council Tax increase exceeded the five per cent guideline equated to a Council Tax increase of just under 5p per week for a Band D taxpayer. However, to achieve this reduction, a budget cut of nearly £1/2 million would have to be delivered. The Chief Constable's representative at the meeting outlined three options for reducing the level of expenditure, these being: 1. Delaying the recruitment of police officers. This option would necessitate up to 50 fewer officers being recruited in 2006/07. 2. A freeze in the recruitment of police support staff. This would mean that administrative tasks would have to be carried out by police officers, which in turn would lead to less police officers on the street. 3. The delay or cancellation of a number of building projects - including the replacement of new police stations at Llwynhendy and Cardigan. Following much discussion and in order to avoid substantial costs of re-billing of Council Tax, a majority of the authority agreed to reduce the Council Tax increase to 4.97 per cent. This was equivalent to a budget increase of 2.49 per cent. In doing so the authority acknowledges that this may result in deterioration in the level of service provided by the force and therefore requested that authority and force officials should continue to make strong representations to the Home Office to rectify the situation and to re-consider the reduction in Counter Terrorism funding. The authority urged the Welsh Assembly Government to assist in this process.

DECISION WELCOMED Christine Gwyther has welcomed Dyfed Powys Police Authority's decision to keep the rise in their council tax precept under five per cent. Speaking from the Welsh Assembly, she told us. "We all understand the challenge of running a modern police force and I congratulate Dyfed Powys Police Authority on their efficient service and their exemplary crime detection and clear-up figures. I can now congratulate them on their financial figures as well. I had been disturbed in recent weeks to hear that they intended to raise their council tax precept by 6.7 per cent. This was not in line with other police forces in Wales who were voting to keep their rises under five per cent - which is twice the rate of inflation. "After consultation with the Welsh Assembly Government, Dyfed Powys Police Authority changed their mind and the rise has been brought down to 4.97 per cent. I am so pleased that, as a direct result, the hard working council tax payers in Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire will not be asked to pay over the odds for their police services."