Changes 'to impact children-at-risk organisations'

Commissioner Ben Adams said a settlement from government was "extremely disappointing"

Staffordshire's Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner says organisations he commissions to do victim support or help with children at risk have been affected by inflation and the government's financial changes.

Ben Adams also warned that policing may be affected by the national insurance increases, a low government funding settlement and a nationally negotiated pay award.

"A lot of the organisations I commission to do victim support or help children at risk are quite often low paid," he said. "The real effect of inflation on some of these charities is 10 or 15 per cent. So in fulfilling their duties around our commissioning, it's not working out."

The Home Office said it was working to ensure emergency services had the resources needed.

Only half of the national insurance increase for the fire service is covered by the government, and despite more being covered for the police service, national insurance for overtime work is not being covered.

Adams said that in the last four to five years "the budgets have been positive; the police officer numbers alone are up over 400 to over 2,000 in just four years".

The commissioner added: "So there are more officers, more people out in the community patrolling, etc."

But warned: "This budget round is going to be different; we've had a settlement from government that's extremely disappointing.

"It doesn't meet the national insurance increases; it doesn't cover pay increases.

"It is some way off, I can tell you, on fire and rescue in particular, where money has been redirected towards top-tier authorities, which is not helping the fire and rescue service."

'Under pressure'

Adams said there was an assumption with "a national endorsement that commissioners and others like myself set a very high council tax precept".

He also said council tax was becoming a national tax and "the basis on which public services are funded", which was "not what it's about".

"It should be about local investment to improve and enhance the service: nationally negotiated pay increases and national insurance increases should be covered by the government, I think."

Adams went on to claim that for the first time in his tenure as commissioner "the budgets are under pressure, and it will be very difficult for them not to affect service levels".

The final budget proposals will be presented to the Staffordshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel in the coming weeks.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "Fire and Rescue Services will receive up to £2.87bn this financial year, and the policing system will receive an overall funding up to £18.4bn.

"This represents a 5.5% cash increase, or a 3% increase in real terms."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.