Cleveland Crime commissioner proposing tax rise for residents to protect frontline services (From The Northern Echo)

Crime commissioner for Cleveland proposing tax rise to protect frontline services

2:10pm Sunday 3rd February 2013 in News By Graeme Hetherington

Barry Coppinger

TAXPAYERS are set to face an increase in what they contribute to Cleveland Police.

Barry Coppinger, Cleveland’s police commissioner, is proposing increasing the police element of council tax bills by 1.99 per cent in order to protect frontline services.

It would mean an extra 5p or 7p a week on most council tax bills.

Mr Coppinger says the move, coupled with a restructure, will ensure every community across the four districts retains its own Neighbourhood Police Team.

The proposed increase in the police precept will be considered by the Cleveland Police and Crime Panel on Tuesday (January 5).

In his report to the panel Mr Coppinger said that, while the Government was offering a grant equivalent to a one per cent precept increase for the next two years, it would pose significant financial problems in the future.

He said: “We know that we will be facing a potential funding gap of over £5m by 2015-16. Finding the further savings required will be a tough challenge.

"If we were to take the grant for the next two years, it would mean that from 2015-16 onwards there would be a further shortfall of over £500,000 - that’s equivalent to 11 police officers or 18 community support officers.”

Under the commissioner’s proposals total funding available for policing in Cleveland in the coming financial year would be £137m of which £27m would be raised from the council tax precept.

A 1.99 per cent increase would add £2.58 to next year’s bill for a Band A property, £3.01 for Band B and £3.87 to Band D.

More Middlesbrough Council News

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• Escape bid foiled when four men were captured in the grounds of Kirklevington Grange open prison
• Conman who swindled a string of women jailed for seven years
• Vandals cause thousands of pounds of damages to Jubilee Wood
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More Stockton Borough Council News

• Chef who loses sense of smell in random attack angry after thug is spared jail
• Police turn to specialist bureau to try to resolve two missing persons cases
• Married Northallerton man who groomed teenage girl walks free from court
• Escape bid foiled when four men were captured in the grounds of Kirklevington Grange open prison
• Conman who swindled a string of women jailed for seven years
• Vandals cause thousands of pounds of damages to Jubilee Wood
• Police operation targets rogue scrap dealers
• Warning of fines over misuse of 999 line
• Plans for multi-million pound secondary school rebuild to be considered
• Cleveland's new assistant chief constable looking forward to writing new chapter for force

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