Police commissioner in U-turn after budget veto

Leicestershire and Rutland's police and crime commissioner (PCC) Rupert Matthews has rethought his budget plans after his original proposals were rejected by a scrutiny panel.

The country's only Reform UK PCC proposed to increase Leicestershire Police's share of council tax by £11 from April but a police and crime panel vetoed the move after temporary chief constable David Sandall warned it would leave the force without the resources it needed to keep the public safe.

Sandall argued the police precept should rise by £15 for a band D property, the maximum allowable under capping rules.

On Tuesday, Matthews confirmed he would now implement the £15 rise.

The PCC said he recognised the role of the panel in scrutinising his original decision.

Sandall thanked Matthews following his change of position.

The force's most senior officer previously told the cross-party panel that not increasing the precept by the maximum amount would leave the force with a budget shortfall of £4.7m in the coming financial year, and rising each year after.

The 12 members of the panel then voted unanimously to reject Matthews' budget.

The PCC was criticised by Tory, Labour, Lib Dem and Green panel members and also Reform UK Leicestershire County Council leader Dan Harrison who said Matthews had behaved in a "most unworthy way".

Matthews said he had been keen to limit the impact of any increase on tax payers but members of the panel had been very clear that the residents of their communities were willing to pay more.

"The panel recommended that the maximum level of precept should be imposed on local taxpayers," he said.

"The challenges put forward by the panel do not lead me to question my original decision-making process, but I do recognise their role to scrutinise my decision making and represent the views of their relevant organisations and electorates by extension.

"I wanted to go for a low level of council tax precept on behalf of local residents, which was blocked by the panel."

Matthews added: "The additional income will cover the force's remaining deficit of £750,000, which means that the temporary chief constable no longer has an in-year savings target.

"The balance will boost both our reserves and be used to fund demand-reducing prevention activity to lessen the pressures on the call centre, and frontline officers and staff."

Sandall said there had been weeks of hard work and negotiation with Matthews over the force's finances.

"I personally thank the PCC for taking this positive step as it is a good decision for the public and the force," he said.

"I am grateful to all the people who have worked hard to ensure the PCC has had the right information and advice to help with his decision, but also to our partners and the public who supported the police through their local councillors or on social media.

"Over the last three years we have managed to save £23m, and we already have plans in place for this next financial year to save £3.5m, and the good news is the £15 precept will close the remaining £1.2m funding gap in 2026-27.

Sandall said the the PCC had supported the force to make some key investments.

Leicestershire Police Federation Chair Andy Spence said: "I am pleased that the police and crime commissioner has listened to reason and agreed to raise the council tax precept by £15, despite his initial reluctance to do so."

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