URL: https://democracy.merthyr.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=1820

Decision Maker: South Wales Police and Crime Panel

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Purpose:

Content: The Commissioner recommended an 6.99% increase in the 2026/27 precept.    The SWPCP considered the Precept proposal and after questioning the Commissioner, the Chief Constable, the Deputy Chief Constable and members of the Commissioner’s team and following a full debate, resolved to approve the proposed Precept. The Commissioner is therefore permitted to implement her proposed increase which provides for a 2026/27 revenue budget of £442,211,587 with a total precept income of £211,664,158 which is an increase of £26.47 a month on a Band D Property and an annual Band D Precept of £405.14.     The report was approved subject to the following recommendations;   In the first instance the SWPCP wanted it recorded that it would have welcomed a lower Precept proposal but recognises the pressures and demands placed upon policing South Wales and to that end it was cognisant of the fact that effective policing can only be maintained if South Wales Police are properly funded. However, once again the SWPCP expressed its disappointment that the financial burden of paying for an effective police force is being gradually transferred from central government to the council tax paying public via the Precept and the SWPCP feels strongly that this should not continue.   The SWPCP notes and supports the work undertaken by the Commissioner and her office to lobby Central Government to provide South Wales Police with Capital City Funding and recommends that further efforts are made to secure this funding. The SWPCP will write to the Home Office to support the Commissioner’s application for Capital City Funding. The SWPCP also recommends that to add further weight to this application the Commissioner should contact the leaders of the seven South Wales Police area local authorities for them to endorse their support to the application.   The SWPCP welcomed the Commissioner’s commitment to neighbourhood policing. It recognises that policing is a critical and essential service and that reducing funding would present unacceptable risks to the public and would negatively impact upon wider public services for example the health services.   The inequity of Apprenticeship Levy continues to be a concern for the SWPCP. South Wales Police is disadvantaged to the sum of £2.5M per annum compared to a similar sized force in England by the government’s application of the Apprenticeship Levy in Wales. The SWPCP recommends and supports further engagement with the Home Office to address the inequity.  

Date of Decision: February 3, 2026