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Police authority agrees council tax rise
Residents in Lancashire will pay £4.19 extra next year towards the county's police force.
Members of Lancashire Police Authority approved a 2.95% increase in the council tax precept in a budget meeting held at County Hall in Preston.
The extra cash will go towards policing the county as Lancashire Constabulary faces challenging economic times and potential cuts.
Members debated whether to increase the precept by 2.9% or 3% but settled on 2.95% – around 8p more a week for an average household.
Member Frances Hendrix said: "I am speaking as a member of the authority and as a resident of Lancashire.
"What else can I get for 8p a week – not even a paper tissue.Do I feel safe in Lancashire? Yes I do. Do I see police officers on the street? Yes I do."
Another authority member, George Wilkins, said his constituents needed to be sold on the idea and that they had "no stomach" for a tax increase as many lived in Band G and H properties and paid around 2,500 a year in council tax already.
But he added he was reassured by the Chief Constable's commitment to frontline services.
Chief Constable Steve Finnigan said: "If members were to take a decision at this level I'm confident that, even though over the next couple of years we may have to take resources out of the Constabulary, that will not inevitably mean a reduction on the quality of service we deliver."
It is understood to be the lowest precept increase in Lancashire for seven years.
The cash will support the existing savings made by the force to help protect frontline officers, and to make sure important crime measures in the county, such as a planned " ring of steel" of ANPR cameras on the county's road network, can still go ahead, as well as the maintenance of buildings.
People living in a band D property will pay 146.27 towards the police share of the council tax – an extra 4.19.
The authority believes it will have to save 25m between 2011/12 and 2014/15.
>> Budget cuts could cost police jobs
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Weather for Preston
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -6 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South east
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Sunny
Temperature: -2 C to 2 C
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