Record of decision - setting the precept and budget - West Mercia Police Crime Commissioner

Title: Setting the Budget 2023-2024

Ref: PCC/D/2023/08

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Commissioner must set an annual precept and budget for the financial year 1
April 2023 to 31 March 2024 in compliance with the Police Reform and Social
Responsibility Act 2011 and the Police and Crime Panel (Precept and Chief
Constable Appointments) Regulations 2013 made thereunder.

The Commissioner proposed a 5.94% increase in the precept to be set for 2023/24
(previous Decision Notice PCC/D/2023/03). This proposal has been considered by
the West Mercia Police and Crime Panel and approved by them (response to
proposal at appendix A). The Commissioner has responded to the Panel by letter
dated 10th February 2023 (appendix C).

The Commissioner has had regard to the Budget Report of the Treasurer
(appendix B).

PROPOSAL

It is proposed that the PCC approves the budget and precept as set out below,
and within the appendix budget report:

A precept increase of 5.94% (£14.84 increase) for a Band D Property for the
2023/24 financial year. The precept and government settlement funding set a net
revenue budget of £273.038m

The consequential council tax for each property band will be as follows:
Band A (6/9th) £176.33
Band B (7/9th) £205.72
Band C (8/9th) £235.11
Band D £264.50
Band E (11/9th) £323.28
Band F (13/9th) £382.06
Band G (15/9th) £440.83
Band H (18/9th) £529.00

All figures are rounded to 2 decimal places

That the Chief Executive to the Office of the PCC for West Mercia be authorised to
issue Precepts Notices on the West Mercia billing authorities as follows:

Bromsgrove District Council £10,029,691.88
Herefordshire Council £18,798,837.59
Malvern Hills District Council £8,694,440.34
Redditch Borough Council £6,957,656.63
Shropshire Council £31,239,058.16
Telford and Wrekin Council £14,631,055.55
Worcester City Council £8,716,359.45
Wychavon District Council £13,869,189.75
Wyre Forest Council £9,188,201.00
TOTAL £122,124,490.35

APPROVAL OF
West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner

I hereby approve the above proposal.

Signed: John Campion

PART 1 – NON-CONFIDENTIAL/EXEMPT FACTS AND FIGURES

SUPPORTING REPORT

By virtue of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 and the Police
and Crime Panel (Precept and Chief Constable Appointments) Regulations 2013
the Commissioner is obliged to issue a Police and Crime precept for the year
commencing April 2023. The PCC must also set a budget for the financial year.

The Commissioner recommended a 5.94% increase in precept to the Police and
Crime Panel (Decision Notice PCC/D/2023/03).

The budget report presented to the Police and Crime panel on the 3rd February 2023
contained the following Budget proposals:

a) A Net Revenue Budget after savings of £274.768m
b) A contribution of £1.730m is made from reserves
c) A net budget requirement of £273.038m
d) A Council Tax for a Band D property at £264.50
e) A Council Tax for a Band D property calculated as follows:

£m
Budget Requirement (Net Revenue Expenditure) 273.038
Less Funding

Police Grant 81.576

Police PUP Grant 4.300

Revenue Support Grant 52.296

Council Tax Support Grant 9.200

Council Tax Freeze Grant

2013/14 0.800
2011/12 1.975
Sub Total 122.891

Less: Collection Fund Surplus/(deficit) 0.767
Amount required to be raised by Council Tax 122.124

Divided by Aggregate Council Tax Base 461,718.30
Basic Amount of Council Tax at Band D £264.50

f) The consequential Council Tax for each property band will be as follows:
Band A (6/9th) £176.33
Band B (7/9th) £205.72
Band C (8/9th) £235.11
Band D £264.50

Band E (11/9th) £323.28
Band F (13/9th) £382.06
Band G (15/9th) £440.83
Band H (18/9th) £529.00

All Figures are rounded to 2 decimal places

g) That the Chief Executive to the Office of the PCC for West Mercia be
authorised to issue Precepts Notices on the West Mercia billing authorities
as follows:

h) The reserve strategy set out in section 12.

i) The outline capital budget in section 13.

j) All officers be instructed to exercise tight budgetary control and individual
budget holders should ensure compliance with financial regulations.
Caution will be exercised in entering into expenditure which creates
additional commitments in future years. The PCC will be kept fully informed
of the financial position throughout the year.

k) In approving the budget, the PCC notes the Treasurer’s comments in section
14 in respect of the robustness of the budget and the adequacy of reserves.

l) That the Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP) be reviewed and revised by
30th September 2023. As part of this, the business planning and budget
setting process will be reviewed and improved.

m) Prior to April 2023, the Chief Constable will produce and agree with the
PCC a detailed plan for the implementation of West Mercia Police element of the
budget, including the delivery of the savings required to balance the budget.

The Police and Crime Panel met on 3rd February 2023 to consider the
Commissioner’s proposed precept.

On the 7th February 2023, the Police and Crime Panel formally published their
response to the Commissioner’s proposed precept confirming their support for the
proposal (attached, appendix A).

The Treasurer’s Budget Report (attached appendix B) has been considered by the
Commissioner.

On the 10th February 2023 the Commissioner issued a response to the PCP as
required by Schedule 5 to the 2011 Act (attached appendix C).

At the conclusion of this process it is proposed that the Commissioner confirm the
precept and budget proposals set out within the Treasurer’s budget report.

STRATEGIC CONSIDERATIONS

This decision supports the following element(s) of the Safer West Mercia Plan:

Putting Victims and Survivors First

Building a More Secure West Mercia

Reforming West Mercia

Reassuring West Mercia’s Communities

The decision supports this/ these objective(s) through the following:

By setting the precept, and thus raising funds to support policing services

Ensuring compliance with statutory duties in respect of continuing to provide
the best possible services to victims of crime, both in respect of policing and
by way of support and recovery.

By setting budgets, and identifying and allocating resources to support both
the priorities set out in the Safer West Mercia Plan and to ensure the
delivery of statutory responsibilities.

BENEFITS AND THEIR REALISATION

Monitored through Money Matters, Holding to Account arrangements, and activity
reporting to the Police and Crime Panel.

AUTHOR

Name Paul Benfield Date 9th February 2023

FINANCIAL AND TREASURER COMMENTS

All financial comments are included within the Treasurer’s budget report to the
Commissioner (Appendix B)

Signed Paul Benfield Date 14 February 2023

LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS

By virtue of schedule 11, paragraph 14 of the Police Reform and Social
Responsibility Act 2011 the Police and Crime Commissioner may do anything
which is calculated to facilitate, or is conducive or incidental to, the exercise of the
functions of commissioner. That includes: entering into contracts and other
agreements (whether legally binding or not) and acquiring and disposing of
property (including land).

PUBLIC ACCESS TO INFORMATION

Information in this form is subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOI Act)
and other legislation. Part 1 of this form will be made available on the West Mercia
Commissioner’s website. Any facts and advice that should not be made
automatically available on request are not included in Part 1 but instead in a
separate Part 2 report. There is no Part 2 Report.

OFFICER APPROVAL

Chief Executive Officer

Signature Gareth Boulton Date 15th February 2023

08 Record of Decision – Setting the Precept and Budget 2023-24 PDF

08A – 2023-24 Precept letter to PCC PDF

08B – 2023-24 Budget Report PDF

08C – PCP Precept Letter to Cllr B Durkin PDF

If you would like an accessible version, please contact [email protected]