Finance and Audit

The Police Authority has set a Net Budget Requirement for 2009/10 of £326.121m. The Precept, which provides the balance of funding not covered by Government Grant, is set at £59.259m. In council tax terms this is equivalent to £93.74 per property at Band A and £140.61 at Band D, an increase of 5% (£4.47 for the year at Band A, equivalent to 9p per week; £6.70 at Band D, equivalent to 13p per week) over the current year's level.

The Authority was awarded a net increase in general grants of 2.6% in the Local Authority Finance Settlement 2009/10. This increase was disappointing and did not meet the inflationary and development needs of the Foece, and was well below the Metropolitan Force average increase of 3.11%.

Notwithstanding the above, within the precept increase of 5%, the Authority has been able to put in place a significant investment plan. This has been achieved primarily due to a programme of efficiences and savings amounting to £3.25m.

These resources have been used to increase front line Police Officer strength by 79, who will be deployed in accordance with the priorities contained within the Strategic Policing Plan. This increase in officer strength comprises of an additional 32 officers, along with the redeployment of 47 from back office functions.

Increasing front line Police Officer numbers has been a strategic objective of the Authority since 2004, when Members aspired to an extra 600 Police Officers on the beat. The additional front line Police Officers incorporated within the 2009/10 budget will mean that the Authority has successfully deployed an extra 489 officers towards its goal of 600. In addition, this budget will also continue to support the retension of the current Police Community Support Officers establishment of 466.

Paul Johnson BA (HONS) CPFA

Treasurer

Merseyside Police Authority