Council tax rise proposed to boost police funding

A council tax rise is being proposed to boost policing over the coming year.

The Conservative police and crime commissioner for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Darryl Preston, is recommending an increase of 4.99% in the policing element of the council tax precept for 2026/27.

As a result, the policing precept for council tax for Band D properties would rise by almost £15 to £314.37 a year.

The police and crime panel will review the proposed rise at a scrutiny meeting at Peterborough City Council's offices in Fletton Quays on Wednesday.

Band D council tax is the standard measure of council tax used by local authorities and precepting authorities to determine council tax requirements.

Policing funding comes from two sources, from central government and from the policing precept of council tax bills.

Preston's task is to set a precept for the force, which will enable the appropriate allocation of assets and funds to the Chief Constable.

Central government announced the provisional funding settlement for policing on 18 December.

According to the report, the net total funding for Cambridgeshire for 2026/27 is provisionally £220.6m – an estimate based on the commissioner increasing the precept by the full £15 on Band D properties.

The report highlights that Cambridgeshire Constabulary is currently the fourth lowest funded force (by total funding) in the country.

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