Agenda item

The report will be presented by Councillor Barrie Patman, Chairman of the Budget Task and Finish Group which met on 19 January 2022.

As in previous years, the Thames Valley Police & Crime Panel formed a Budget Task & Finish Group to assist in discharging its statutory duty to scrutinise the Police & Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Thames Valley’s proposed Council Tax precept for 2022/23.

Councillor Barrie Patman, the Chairman of the Budget Task and Finish Group presented the report. He thanked Ian Thompson and Linda Waters for attending the Task and Finish Group which met on 19 January 2022 and updating Members on the PCC’s draft budget proposals.

Members were provided with details of where the additional funding from the proposed precept would be invested and this included:

•         Forensics would be improved which would improve most investigations across the force, speeding up processing times which would result in bringing offenders to justice quicker and increase victim satisfaction.

•         The improvement of technology and mobile data collection, through in-car Automatic Number Plate Recognition and camera recording.

•         The development of a Specialist Rape and Sexual Offences team.

•         Improvement to custody management including capacity. The creation of dedicated teams to fast-track cases which would reduce delays for victims.

•         More investment in the Contact Management Platform and the Pronto system which would improve outcomes for residents. Roll out of digital 101 and improving and maintaining call handling capacity-by converting temporary staff to permanent staff.

•         Enhancements to public protection units with additional officers and improving data analytics and reporting.

•         Investment in essential ICT infrastructure and, system developments which would improve service delivery.

•         The recruitment of more officers in addition to Home Office funded uplift programme.

•         The continuation of projects such as the Rural Crime Taskforce and the Drug Focus Taskforce by ensuring sustainable funding for frontline operational policing.

•         Plans to increase the number taser-trained officers to better protect police officers and tackle violent criminals.

•         Purchasing additional storage space for increasing quantities of digital evidence including specially body worn video footage.

•         Improving training in line with recommendations from the centre.

•         Violence against Women and Girls requires additional investment.

•         The monitoring of sex offenders.

•         Additional capacity to deal with the proliferation of stalking.

•         Improvement in intelligence capability for murder and murder prevention strategies.

•         Improving the efficiency and effectiveness of police vetting.

•         Review and improving the activities of the Central Redaction Unit.

•         Upgrading Armed Response capability sufficient to meet projected threat. This will include upgrading of weapons and vehicles.

The Panel was provided with the following comments and observations of the Task and Finish Group:

·       The proposed £10 increase would protect front line police service and provide the Force with the resources to carry out all the increased additional policing responsibilities brought about by the changing face of policing and technology changes.

·       The proposed £10 increase flexibility for each year could not be deferred and carried over in part or full to future years. 

·       Inflation was difficult to predict, although it had been included at 4.0% for 2022/23. Inflation and pay award inflation had a big impact on the budget and this was a reason for the preferred £10 increase.

·       Discussion took place on the increasing use of reserves, and Members were assured that TVP reserves were in a healthy position and would stay above the 3% target guideline for the next three years.   

·       Collaborations would continue to be sought with rationalisation of the TVP estate taking place with further opportunities explored. Reference was made to the workforce working more flexibly with advancements in technology and the shared facilities, particularly with the Fire Service (dual stations).

·       Another area of collaboration could be around a joined-up CCTV network with local authorities, a theme the Police and Crime Panel would be reviewing at a future meeting. There would be benefits in terms of reducing operational costs and the advantages in terms of crime prevention and detection.

·       Reference was made to Police and Crime Commissioners having three-year settlement whereas local authorities, as a whole, again had to deal with a one-year settlement. This with many PCCs proposing to take the full £10 increase did have a negative effect on Council Tax bill payers. Members were informed that the increase being sought was such that the benefits for the residents of the Thames Valley area far outweighed the burden. It was noted, that hopefully through the increased recruitment of Police Officers, there would be improved policing for the whole area.

A recommendation had been put forward which was debated during the next item as follows:-

          That the Police and Crime Panel approve the Police and Crime Commissioner’s precept for 2022/23, (Option 3), to increase the council tax precept by £10 (Band D), as set out in the OPCC report ‘Revenue Estimates 2022/23 and Medium-Term Financial Plan 2022/23 to 2024/25’, subject to satisfactory responses to the written questions raised at Appendix A and any other supplementary questions asked the Panel.