Congleton council tax payers look set to see an increase of 4.43 per cent in the amount they pay towards policing.

Congleton and Cheshire residents took part in a survey until December 5 2021[.L], which was started to help Conservative John Dwyer achieve his goals for his second stint in office.

If the increase suggested by PCC (Police and Crime Commissioner) John Dwyer is ratified by the police and crime panel on Friday (February 4) that will mean almost £10 extra a year on the police precept for a band D council tax payer across the county.

In a letter to the panel, which is responsible for scrutinising the PCC's precept and police and crime plan, Mr Dwyer says: "This is an increase of around 83p per month, which represents an additional 4.4 per cent. This is lower than the current rate of inflation, which at 5.4 per cent for CPI (consumer prices index) , is the highest since official records began in January 1997."

Altogether 3,738 local people responded to the PCC's budget consultation which outlined his proposal and 70 per cent supported the increase of up to £10 a year.

Mr Dwyer states in the letter: "I am therefore proposing an increase of £10 per annum (based on band D) to go towards funding my Police and Crime Plan priorities including improved 999 and 101 response call times, funding to make Cheshire's roads safer for everyone, tackling economic, cyber and digital crime and action to reduce anti-social behaviour and repeat re-offending.

"This budget will ensure that the chief constable has the resources needed to help Cheshire residents feel safe. This will enable improvements to be made, to take on increasingly complex demands, and meet the priorities I set out in my Police and Crime Plan following consultation with the residents of Cheshire."

In November, Mr Dwyer estimated that a 15p increase in the precept per week could pay for 54 more Cheshire Police Officers, or 66 Intelligence Analysts, or 75 Call Operators.

A 20p per week increase would see 73 Officers, or 89 Intelligence Analysts, or 100 Call Operators. The actual result has met in the middle.

The precept rise claims to help deliver Mr Dwyer's six-point plan for keeping Cheshire Safe.

Improving victim confidence was the number one priority which could be achieved by appointing a Victim's Champion to improve the trust of those subject to crime. Reducing reoffending rates is another key priority of Mr Dwyer, to achieve by 2024.

Meanwhile Cheshire East Council is expected to raise its share (precept) of the council tax by 2.99 per cent when its budget is decided at full council on February 24. One per cent of that increase goes towards adult social care.

This will mean a rise of £47.21 for a Band D property, taking it to £1,626.24 a year.

Cheshire Fire Authority is expected to raise its precept by 1.99 per cent, which will add an extra £1.61 per year to a Band D bill, taking its share to £82.48. Its budget meeting takes place on February 9.

Taken together, this means a Band D council tax payer can expect to pay an extra £58.82 in council tax for 2022/23.

This doesn't include the town and parish council precepts which vary in each locality.

Earlier in the month, we reported that Mr Dwyer gave his Deputy a 33% pay rise.

Please click here to read that Congleton Nub News article.

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