Decision Reference Number: WPCC4-0041
Lead Officer: Sara Ansell
Chief Officer approval: n/a
Date: 27/12/2024
Publication
Information in this form is subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOI Act) and other legislation. Unless the information provided is covered by an exemption and stated to be either confidential or partly confidential, the information contained in the form will be published on the OPCC website.
Status: Non-confidential
Decision summary:
This Decision Notice provides notice of the formal consideration for the setting of the precept for the financial year 1st April 2025 to 31st March 2026.
The Commissioner is required to propose a precept to the Police and Crime Panel by no later than the 01 February 2025
The Commissioner is required to act in conformity with the Police & Crime Panels (Precept and Chief Constable Appointments) Regulations 2012.
When setting a budget requirement, the Commissioner must have regard to representations received and any reports of the Police and Crime Panel.
The final precept must be determined by the 1st March 2025.
I confirm that my register of interests declaration is up to date and that none of my interests preclude me from making this decision.
Signature: P.Seccombe
Date: 05/02/25
Supporting information
1. Background information: why do we need to make this decision?
To assist the Commissioner to determine a proposed precept level, the Commissioner’s Chief Financial Officer has prepared the accompanying Budget and Precept report, which provides details on the budget, the benefits of that budget, savings required, the MTFP, reserves and the capital programme, that will be discussed at the Panel meeting on the 3rd February 2025.
In setting the proposed precept the Commissioner has had regard to public responses and those of Council Taxpayer representatives. These have been summarised in the accompanying report.
2. What additional documents are relied upon? Please provide a link or separate attachments.
Proposed budget and precept report
3. What benefits will this bring, including financial, social or environmental benefits?
The budget provides the funding for all the activities and responsibilities falling within the remit of the Commissioner and outlines the resources available to address that level of activity. The Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP) provides a guide to the longer-term sustainability of the Commissioner’s plans. It also includes information in relation to the level of reserves and their usage by the Commissioner, in addition to detail on the planned capital investment over the medium-term period and how that will be financed.
All the expected benefits arising from this budget are included within the attached report as presented to the Police and Crime Panel on the 3rd February 2025. The Commissioner will monitor the delivery of these benefits through the holding to account process.
4. What is the impact of not approving the application?
The Commissioner will not fulfil his obligations under the Police & Crime Panels (Precept and Chief Constable Appointments) Regulations 2012 and would not therefore fulfil one of his primary statutory functions.
5. How much will it cost? (please provide cost breakdown, including any identified savings, and include where they have been approved)
All the costs and savings are outlined within the proposed budget, and these are included in the supporting report.
6. Who has been consulted on this proposal?
The Chief Constable and his chief/senior staff/officer team have been fully consulted. A separate public consultation has also been ran, along with a series of targeted consultation meetings have also been held to maximise the reach and feedback of the PCC’s precept proposal.
The Police and Crime Panel have been fully consulted on the PCC’s proposal, and they will discuss the matter at their meeting on the 3rd February 2025, and indicate their support or otherwise for the PCC’s precept proposal for 2025/26.
7. Will this decision have an impact on any specific individuals or groups or communities?
The budget provides for the continuation and development of policing services for all people in Warwickshire, irrespective of their protected characteristics of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.
8. Does this decision have legal implications? Has legal advice been sought?
The PCC is required to set a balanced budget and requires the force to operate within it. Proposing the precept and approving the budget is one of the primary statutory responsibilities of the Police and Crime Commissioner.
Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 requires the Commissioner to set a budget and precept by 1st March each year.
The Commissioner must ensure that the precept is sufficient to provide for the expenditure estimates it will incur in the year in performing functions, defraying outstanding expenditure incurred earlier, any expenditure before precepts become sufficiently available and any payments into reserves.
The Localism Act 2011 has abolished the council tax capping regime and replaced it with the requirement for Authorities to hold a taxpayer’s referendum if excessive increases are proposed. In 2025/26 an excessive increase would be £14.01 or greater.
Section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003 requires the CFO to report to the Commissioner on the robustness of the estimates made for the purposes of the statutory budget calculations and the adequacy of financial reserves and the Commissioner must have regard to that report when making decisions about the statutory budget calculations. The attached report includes this assessment.
Comments from the Chief Finance Officer
The issue of proposing a budget is a necessary stage in finalising the precept for 2025/26, which will be used to support the Commissioner’s 2025/26 spending plans. All the relevant budget and precept information considered as part of this process is included within the attached report.
Comments from the Chief Executive and Monitoring Officer
The Commissioner is required to present a proposed precept to the Police & Crime Panel by no later than 1 February 2025. The Commissioner is required to act in conformity with the Police & Crime Panels (Precept and Chief Constable Appointments) Regulations 2012. When setting a budget requirement, the Commissioner must have regard to representations received and any reports of the Police and Crime Panel.
