Northampton Borough Council refuse to back down on plan to cut £100,000 PCSO funding
THE LEADERS of Northampton Borough Council have refused to back down on controversial plans to cut £100,000 of funding from the police.
When Guildhall officials announced their annual budget plans in December, they included proposals to withdraw funding for three of the town’s Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs).
The council’s leading cabinet last night backed the proposals, despite opposition politicians claiming the reduction, combined with last year’s switch off of half the county’s street lights and new plans to reduce the number of people who monitor the town’s CCTV cameras, would lead to an increase in crime.
Labour opposition councillor at the Guildhall, Councillor Terry Wire (Lab, St James) said: “We’re totally opposed to cutting PCSOs and we know the people of Northampton are up in arms about it.
“But I don’t think the council is listening, that’s why we’ll put forward an alternative budget next week to show how the council could keep on funding PCSOs.”
The leader of the Liberal Democrat group, Councillor Sally Beardsworth (Lib Dem, Kingsthorpe) also criticised the proposed funding cut, pointing out 71 per cent of people who had responded to the council’s budget consultation also opposed the move.
She said: “People I’ve spoken to feel the presence of PCSOs makes the community feel a lot safer and there’s a concern crime will increase if they go.”
But the leader of the authority, Councillor David Mackintosh (Con, Rectory Farm) stood by previous claims that the council should not fund the police.
Pointing out the council’s budget would pay for extra neighbourhood wardens and staff in the council’s licensing department, he said: “We don’t have the money to keep funding PCSOs and do everything else we want to do.
“We have to make some difficult decisions in the budget, but I’ve consistently said that policing should be paid for by the police authority.”
Northamptonshire County Council also plans to pull £500,000 of funding for PCSOs, but it will give the police a further £300,000 to tackle violent crime.
Other proposals in the borough council’s budget include plans to keep council tax at current levels, the removal of four senior managers at the Guildhall and an investment of £430,000 in the town’s Enterprise Zone.
The budget is due to be finally approved by the council next week.
Email to a friend
Print this page- BREAKING NEWS: Tributes paid to Niamh Curry as brave five-year-old loses battle against cancer
- BREAKING NEWS: Pensioner dies after collision at Northampton shopping centre
- Man tied to tree and beaten on Northampton Racecourse
- BREAKING NEWS: Woman’s body found after ‘suicide’ in Northampton hotel room
- BREAKING NEWS: Seven-year-old boy dies following house fire in Northamptonshire
- Northampton binmen at ‘breaking point’
- Staff strike at Northampton school over academy plans forces closure
- Saints’ stadium plans get support as long as traffic issues solved
- Eastern European pupils helping school standards across Northampton
- Exclusive: PM David Cameron says Northamptonshire Police Commissioner role is “a big job for a big local figure”
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Northampton
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
Comments
There are 3 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
jimorourke
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 05:03 PMI'm sure the new Crime and Police Commissioner is going to find it very difficult to "Promote and enablie joined-up working on community safety". Streetlights switched off (NCC) PCSO's cut (NBC) it means there is no "joined up" community safety policy.
Finker
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 11:35 AMIn rather poor taste for the leader to seek publicity in another story about a police crack down on parking outside schools isn't it? Alongside a traffic warden too I think, which is an NCC run team. Take all the credit and none of the blame, now there's leadership.
BQ
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 08:19 AMProof that there is no point taking part in a consultation at NBC or NCC because they will ignnore whatever you say (unless it happens to coincide with the decision they have already made). You can't ignore 71% of those taking part and not expect a backlash, which is why it is thoughtful of the Chron to provide a portrait of "Twee David" to serve as an enduring reminder of the man responsible for wrecking community policing in Northamptonshire.
Page 1 of 1
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.