I was asked ‘why’ most of our local taxes are going up by either cost of living inflation or the maximum allowed by the government – in particular the Police precept (tax).
I would say most weeks another survey or consultaion hits my inbox – some (not all)
I publish and attempt to get you the electorate to have an opportunity to have
|YOUR SAY|.
Most of these surveys/consultaions can be ‘boring and somewhat lengthy, and people just can not be bothered.
We are rapidly approaching local elections in May and I have been sent the latest Conservative Newsletter asking to ‘tick’ pre-determined boxes – clever questions which require limited answers.
However I will give credit where due – Both Whittlesey Town and Fenland District Councils have NOT put up local precept/tax for many years –
However it is not only the Conservatives (some of whom want tax increases) who have kept these increases at zero, myself and others have also lobbied and fought to keep at zero increase.
The same can not be said of Cambridgeshire County Council which at best is somewhat dysfunctional (as I|’ve said on a number of occasions).
I see that Cllr Steve Count now states that if the conservatives were in control at Cambs CC there would be a ‘Zero’ increase – Sorry again for having a go at Cllr Count – It never happened before when he was leader of the majority conservative Group.
Back to the Police Precept : – I wrote an e-mail to :- Cllr Edward Leigh
Chair and independent co-opted member Cambridgeshire Police and Crime Panel asking him for further information as to how much, if any weight is given to the consultaion which took place re- Police funding increases.
He wrote back to me the same day (Friday) :- The Panel meeting did examine the consultation report, expressing concern about the relatively small number of responses, and poor representation of women and younger people.
Nevertheless, the consultation responses provided some degree of evidence that the majority of the public do want funding to be increased for policing (though still below inflation).
About 1% of the voting population of Cambridgeshire bothered to express their views on the implending increase. Some 66% were in favour and supported an increase and 33% were not supportive, a very small sector of respondese.
So – when people complain (myself included) of our never ending Tax increases, ‘we’ are partly to blame….and I go back to the argument that sometimes we are overloaded with these surveys and consultaions that the mere thought puts people off.
Elections at best 35% turnout for local elections – 65% not bothered or apathetical at best.
I am grateful to Edward Leigh for sending me the following links where if you have a spare 10 minutes can read all the reasoning and answers to the consultaion and its outcome.
The consultation report is available here:
https://democracy.peterborough.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=543&MId=4691&Ver=4
The specific report is here:
https://democracy.peterborough.gov.uk/documents/s48961/23%2002%2001%20-%20Appendix%202%20-%20Precept%20Survey%20Report%202023-24%201.pdf
There is an article on© The Peterborough Telegraph Click Here about the increase Police precept.
