Police share of council tax will remain at six-year level as commissioner promises value for money in force

Police and crime commissioner for Herts David Lloyd set out plans to freeze the police precept from the council tax bill for the sixth year running at a meeting of the panel held yesterday.

Mr Lloyd pledged to keep the force’s share of the taxpayer’s bill at its current rate as well as increase the number of police officers in the county constabulary.

The proposals aim to combat a 7% reduction in the force’s Police Grant Settlement for 2015/16 by identifying a further £5.2million of efficiency savings in the next year.

The commissioner said: “I am proposing to freeze the council tax for policing so that the residents of Hertfordshire do not have to pay a penny more but will still receive a first class policing service that protects the public from harm and delivers a service that is value for money.

“Prudent financial planning over the last three years has put Hertfordshire in a strong position to face the forthcoming cuts to the policing budget. Savings have been achieved as part of a local savings programme and from collaborating with our neighbouring forces of Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.

“This also means that we are in a position to recruit further officers to help develop the Constabulary’s ability to protect vulnerable people such as children and victims of domestic abuse.”

According to a force spokesman, freezing the police element of the tax bill will mean all households in the county pay the same for the precept as they have done since 2010 – for example, those that pay Band D council tax will still pay £147.82 for the year for policing.