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07
Dec 2022
North Yorkshire Police needs £12m to meet rising costs, says commissioner
North Yorkshire Police needs £12 million extra funding to tackle rising costs, says the county’s crime commissioner.
Zoe Metcalfe, the Conservative North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, is currently consulting on her budget plans for police and fire services for 2023.
The commissioner’s office says the force has a budget of £191 million — 45% of which comes from council tax payers.
However, amid soaring inflation, the force requires an additional £12 million to meet salary increases and the rising cost of fuel and utilities.
Ms Metcalfe said she expects the government to allow her to increase the police’s share of council tax by £10 a year — a 3.6% rise for a band D property.
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But she warned that this would only raise £3.1 million and “would likely lead to reductions in current levels of service delivery unless savings could be delivered”.
Ms Metcalfe said:
Meanwhile, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue would require an additional £2 million for next year, the commissioner's office estimates.
Ms Metcalfe said she expects the government will allow her to raise the fire precept by 3% - which would raise £700,000.
However, the commissioner's office said this would be "significantly below inflation and would likely lead to reductions in current levels of service delivery".
Ms Metcalfe is expected to outline her budget plans for fire and police services in February 2023.
The consultation into police and fire precepts closes on January 16, 2023. You can take part in the survey here.
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