Agenda item

The Panel considered a report of the Police, Crime and Victims; Commissioner (PCVC) regarding proposals to consult on changes to the Police Precept for 2018-19 (for copy see file of Minutes).

The PCVC informed the Panel that he proposed to take a flier to the Celebration of Superheroes event in Shildon on 28 October which sought views on four different funding scenarios.  The flier was at page 11 of the Agenda pack.

A formal consultation document would be brought to the Panel on 4 January 2018 and formal consultation would take place in the same way as in previous years.  The formal consultation document would make clear proposals on the back of clearer information that currently existed about the parameters for consultation.

The January consultation would include public meetings such as Area Action Partnerships, and other opportunities including in Darlington, and a survey of the general public, looking for agreement to what were likely to be firm proposals to increase the Police precept.

Councillor Boyes informed the Panel that he would be supportive of a 2% increase in precept and praised the flier in the way each of the four different funding scenarios were qualified by consequences of the scenario.

Mr Dodwell asked whether consultation would take place through ‘In the Know’ or Neighbourhood Watch.  The PCVC replied that while he would consider this, online consultation last year had produced a variable response.

Councillor Crathorne supported the wording used in the flier which gave a brief background to police funding and presented four scenarios, with consequences of each one.

Resolved:

That the report be noted.