WINSFORD councillors have voted to support an increase in the policing element of Council Tax.

Cheshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, David Keane, has launched a consultation seeking residents’ views on whether to increase the police precept.

The consultation gives three options, to increase the precept by two per cent, to increase it by one per cent, or to keep it as it is.

David states that due to Government funding, a two per cent increase in the police precept and less than that would mean cuts.

A one per cent increase would result in cuts of £600,000 and no increase would mean cuts of £1.2 million - the equivalent of losing 26 police officers across Cheshire.

David said: “Recent years have seen severe cuts to public services from successive Governments.

"The result locally has been that we have had to find £52.4 million of savings over the past seven years.

"The Government has said that police budgets will be protected at current levels.

"However it isn’t quite that simple, as the Government commitment does not take into account inflation and is based on local police and crime commissioners increasing the police share of council tax, known as the policing precept, by two per cent.

“I’m clear that maintaining current funding levels through a two per cent increase in the precept would not mean local policing stands still.

"Through careful re-prioritisation and increased efficiency, the people of Cheshire will see investments in areas of policing you told me were important as I developed the Police and Crime Plan.”

Winsford councillors discussed the consultation at the Winsford Town Council monthly meeting on Monday.

Cllr Bev Theron said: “I’m all for this two per cent increase, but as long as it’s for the purpose of putting police on the ground.

"If it enables police to be on the ground then it is of course worth it.”

Councillors were asked to agree on an official Town Council position, and reluctantly voted to support the two per cent increase.

Cllr Mike Kennedy said: “These Government costs are affecting everybody, not least of all the police. I’m not happy with the two per cent increase, but I have to support it because it has to be done.

“This two per cent increase in funding is for the police to stand still, and it is very sad that that is the case but that is the situation.”

The consultation is open to the public until Tuesday, January 24, and members of the public will be able to vote on the three options.

The public can express their opinions online at cheshire-pcc.gov.uk on whether funding for the police service should be maintained. The survey takes two minutes to complete, and the outcome will influence the decision the Commissioner makes about the policing precept.