Council Tax 2011/12

It is the responsibility of Hampshire Police Authority to set the council tax for policing in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

The Chief Constable prepares the budget for the coming year and advises Hampshire Police Authority how much he needs to efficiently and effectively police the two counties.

The Police Authority receives the money for this budget from government grants, business rates and the police precept in the council tax. Depending on how much money it receives from government, the Police Authority has to raise a certain amount of money from the precept, which is the only part of its income the Authority can adjust.

The police precept comprises approximately one tenth of the total council tax bill. In 2011/12 the policing element of the council tax has been frozen, the council tax for a band D porperty is still £146.25. The freeze in the police element entitles Hampshire Police Authority to a government grant, equivalent to a local council tax increase of 2.5 per cent.  This grant will equate to approximately £2.5 million.  

How the money will be used

The funding announcement in December 2010 means that Hampshire Police Authority’s grant has been reduced by £9 million for 2011/12.  Due to inflation and other budget pressures Hampshire Police Authority will have to make £20 million savings.  The majority of these savings will be delivered by making efficiency improvements and £4 million of reserves will be used to allow sufficient time for sustainable changes to be developed and implemented.

The majority of the money  will again be spent on employees, in particular the delivery of excellent frontline policing.

Budget pressures and growth for new spending have been limited to £1.3million, of which £0.6million relates to essential IT expenditure to meet statutory and security requirements.

Officer posts have been removed from support roles and the officers returned to the frontline. Despite the funding reductions, there will be more officers, PCSOs and staff in frontline posts in 2011/12 than when the emergency budget funding reductions were first announced in June 2010.

Please visit the 'frequently asked questions' page to find out more about the amount for policing in the council tax.

The information booklet issued with council tax bills can be viewed on the precept notices page of this site.

The report that presented the budget and amount for policing in the council tax to the Police Authority on 15 February 2011 can be downloaded by clicking here.