AS the Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion, begins to set the budget for the next financial year, he wants to hear questions from the public, to put the Chief Constable.
THE public are going to be asked directly how they would like the portion of the council tax spent on policing to be used in the West Mercia region.
The initiative comes from the force’s Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion and will be via a live question and answer session on Monday, January 20, 2020 from 7pm, streamed live on the PCC’s facebook page – @WestMerciaPCC.
There will be opportunity to submit questions in advance, or live during the broadcast.
The Commissioner and his deputy Tracey Onslow will put the questions to West Mercia Police Chief Constable Anthony Bangham, and new Deputy Chief Constable Julian Moss.
“It’s important that tax payers have a say in how their money is spent, and that resources are used wisely on the issues that matter the most,” said PCC Campion.
“In previous years the public have helped to shape decisions leading to an uplift in officer numbers making the police more visible and accessible.
“This is an opportunity to have your say at the highest level, in the most open and transparent way.”
Currently the PCC is proposing a 2.94 per cent increase for the policing portion of council tax – which equates to approximately 50p extra per month for a Band D household.
This option was factored into a strategy he announced a year ago and covers rising costs.
Mr Campion has included two other scenarios in his consultation.
The first is based on a two per cent council tax increase (a cap that is currently imposed by Government), and the second is based on the maximum that was allowed for the current financial year (£12/5.54 per cent).
To have your say click here
Questions for the live broadcast can be submitted in advance via a Facebook comment or private message, or via email to [email protected]
For more information about how you can take part click here
