Decision Title: 2022/23 Precept decision
Decision Reference Number: WPCC3-0044
Lead Officer: Sara Ansell, Treasurer
If force business, date approved by Chief Officer: n/a
Date: 18th February, 2022
Status: Non Confidential
Decision summary:
This Decision Notice provides formal approval for the 2022/23 budget and medium term financial plan for the period 2022/23 to 2026/27. The recommendations outlined in this notice are all approved.
I confirm that my register of interests declaration is up to date and that none of my interests preclude me from making this decision.
Signature: Philip Seccombe
Date: 18th February 2022
Supporting information
1. Background information
The Commissioner must set an annual precept for the financial year 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023 in compliance with the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 and the Police and Crime Panel (Precept and Chief Constable Appointments) Regulations 2013 made thereunder.
The attached report outlines all the issues in relation to the 2022/23 budget and precept setting process, and as such they are not replicated in this decision notice.
The report outlines the following recommendations that the Commissioner is recommended to approve:
- A net revenue budget after savings of £121.438m
- A net revenue contribution to reserves of £0.050m, being made up of a £0.250m transfer from the road safety reserve to fund in year work, and a £0.200m contribution to a new sustainability reserve, which can be bid against in year to support this work.
- A net budget requirement of £121.388m
- Council tax for a band D property of £262.71 (an increase of £9.75 or 3.85%)
- A council tax for a band D property calculated as follows:
| £m | |
| Budget requirement | 121.388 |
| Less: Police Grant | 38.220 |
| Less: Revenue Support Grant | 20.880 |
| Less: Council Tax Support Grant | 3.910 |
| Less: Council Tax Freeze Grant 2013/14 | 0.368 |
| Less: Council Tax Freeze Grant 2011/12 | 0.877 |
| Sub-Total | 57.133 |
| Less: Collection Fund surplus/(deficit) | 0.470 |
| Amount to be raised by Council Tax | 56.663 |
| Divide by Aggregate Council Tax Base | 215,689.50 |
| Basic amount of council tax at band D | £262.71 |
- f) The consequential council tax for each property band will be as follows:
| Band | Annual Charge £ |
| Band A (6/9th) | 175.14 |
| Band B (7/9th) | 204.33 |
| Band C (8/9th) | 233.52 |
| Band D | 262.71 |
| Band E (11/9th) | 321.09 |
| Band F (13/9th) | 379.47 |
| Band G (15/9th) | 437.85 |
| Band H (18/9th) | 525.42 |
- That the Chief Executive to the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Warwickshire be authorised to issue Precept Notices on the Warwickshire billing authorities as shown below.
| North Warwickshire Borough Council | 5,653,621.96 |
| Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council | 10,300,456.02 |
| Rugby Borough Council | 10,373,100.52 |
| Stratford-upon-Avon District Council | 15,519,845.00 |
| Warwick District Council | 14,816,715.44 |
| TOTAL | 56,663,738.94 |
- h) The reserve position set out in section 11 and 12
- i) The outline capital budget in section 9
- j) All Officers and staff be instructed to exercise tight budgetary control. Over-spending of 2022/23 departmental budgets must be avoided and the utmost caution must be exercised in entering into expenditure which creates additional commitments in future years. The PCC will be kept fully informed of the financial position throughout the year, through tight budgetary control and monitoring, reported to him on a regular basis.
- The prudential indicators at appendix A
- l) In approving the budget, the PCC notes the Treasurer’s comments in section 12 in respect of the robustness of the budget and the adequacy of reserves.
2. List of additional information attached as appendices
2022/23 Budget report and Medium Term Financial Plan 2022/23 to 2026/27.
The exchange of letters between the PCC and the Police and Crime Panel with regard for the setting of the precept and budget for 2022/23 are also published on the website.
3. Expected benefits
Section 7 of the attached report is dedicated to outlining the expected benefits from the 2022/23 budget. The budget provides the funding for all of the activities and responsibilities falling within the remit of the Commissioner and outlines the resources available to address that level of activity. The Medium Term Financial plan provides a guide to the longer term sustainability of the Commissioner’s plans. It also includes information in relation to the level of reserves and their usage by the Commissioner, in addition to detail on the planned capital investment of the medium term period and how that will be financed.
4. Impact of not approving the application
The Commissioner will not fulfil his obligations under the Police & Crime Panels (Precept and Chief Constable Appointments) Regulations 2012.
5. Costs (including any identified savings)
All cost information is included within the attached report.
6. Equality implications
All relevant policies apply to all aspects of the budget and spending
7. Legal comments
The Commissioner must set an annual precept for the financial year 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022 in compliance with the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 and the Police and Crime Panel (Precept and Chief Constable Appointments) Regulations 2013 made thereunder.
8. Publication
Information in this form is subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOI Act) and other legislation. Unless the information provided is covered by an exemption and stated to be either confidential or partly confidential, the information contained in the form will be published on the OPCC website.
Comments from the Treasurer
This decision will finalise the process for setting the precept for 2022/23 which is required to support the Commissioner’s budget for the period 1 April 2022 – 31 March 2023.
Comments from the Chief Executive and Monitoring Officer
Further to the previous decision notices relating to the precept, the Commissioner has now completed the formal and statutory processes and is now in a position to set the precept.
