Councillors Approve Council Tax Increase to Fund Policing in Lancashire
Lancashire councillors have approved a 5.31% rise in council tax bills to support policing efforts, addressing a significant funding gap.
Lancashire, Council Tax, Policing, Funding Gap
Lancashire: Councillors have approved a 5.31% increase in council tax bills. This rise is to help pay for policing in the area.
The Police and Crime Panel met at Blackburn Town Hall. They supported the increase to cover a funding gap of £6.696 million for 2025/26.
The rise means an extra £14 a year for a typical Band D home. For Band A homes, it will be about £9.33 more annually.
Most homes in East Lancashire fall into Bands A and B. The police commissioner, Clive Grunshaw, said this was the only option to avoid cutting police numbers.
He mentioned that the financial situation is better now than in previous years. However, he stressed that more funding is still needed from the government.
Grunshaw acknowledged the cost of living pressures but insisted the increase is necessary. Without it, frontline police officers would be at risk.
He is committed to improving neighborhood policing, noting that there are fewer officers now than in 2010.
Grunshaw also shared that Lancashire received a police grant of £259.040 million, which is an increase from last year.
He explained that part of this increase is to cover rising costs, including national insurance contributions.
In the provisional settlement, it was confirmed that police commissioners can raise council tax without a referendum.
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