A message from Ben Adams, Police and Fire Commissioner for Staffordshire:
As a key partner I would personally like to invite you to take part in a consultation to provide feedback on how much you would be prepared to pay for Policing and Fire & Rescue services in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
I am responsible for setting the budget for Staffordshire Police, and Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service, including the amount of council tax used for both services.
For 2024/25, I am asking residents of Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent to share their views on the following options, based on a Band D property currently paying £260.57 each year for Police services and £84.25 for Fire & Rescue services.
Police:
No increase in precept
An extra £5 per year (42p extra a month) This is a 1.92% increase.
An extra £10 per year (83p extra a month) This is a 3.84% increase.
An extra £15 per year (£1.25 extra a month) This is a 5.76% increase.
An extra £20 per year (£1.67 extra a month) This is a 7.68% increase.
Fire & Rescue:
No increase in precept
An extra £2.50 per year (21p extra a month) This is a 2.97% increase.
An extra £3.75 per year (31p extra a month) This is a 4.45% increase.
An extra £5 per year (42p extra a month) This is a 5.94% increase.
While both services have sound finances, the future is uncertain with energy costs remaining high, international instability and the cost of servicing our national debt following the pandemic likely to restrict central government grants. Staffordshire Police and Fire & Rescue will continue to make savings and increase productivity but to secure their future, to keep improving service levels and provide the security we expect, it will require investment.
This year, many people have seen their pay, benefit or pension increase but balancing household budgets is still challenging. I aim to keep council tax as low as possible and will only ask for more in order to maintain or improve your Police and Fire & Rescue Service.
I would welcome your thoughts on these options.
What level of additional council tax contributions would you support to help our Police and Fire & Rescue services?
I have attached a graphic and suggested content for use on social media and would appreciate any support in promoting this consultation.
The council tax consultation runs until 4 January 2024.
Have your say here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/precept24-25
Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire & Rescue and Crime, Ben Adams