Written - Police Authority Budgets 2007-2008

Today I am writing to all police authorities to inform them of the outcome of the consultation exercise on the principles for determining if a police authority’s budget requirement for 2007-2008 is excessive.

You will wish to be aware that I received two responses to the consultation exercise.

The first response, from the Clerk to Dyfed Powys Police Authority did not raise any objections but highlighted that the terminology used for referring to the council tax in the draft principles was not strictly correct as the second draft principle refers to “5% increase in council tax precept on a Band D property between 2006/07 and 2007/08” rather than  “5% increase in council tax charged on a Band D property between 2006/07 and 2007/08”. I agree that the wording of the draft  principles need to be amended to address this issue.

The second response, from the Chair of the North Wales Police Authority, objected to the issuing of the principles and queried the reasonableness of the limits I have indicated as being acceptable and the assumptions underpinning these draft  principles.

Having considered this second  response  I have seen nothing, other than a difference of opinion,  to persuade me that the principles as expressed in the draft consultation document  should be amended.

The powers to make principles allow the setting of principles for Wales against which subsequent decisions can be taken as to whether police authority budgets are excessive.  Therefore subject to the small technical amendment  referred to above, these are the Principles that I intend to lay before the National Assembly for Wales for debate in Plenary at the earliest opportunity.  A copy of the amended principles is attached.