The Staffordshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel met on Monday 02 February 2026 to discuss the proposed police precept and budget for the upcoming financial year. The panel ultimately voted to accept the Commissioner's request for a precept increase, despite concerns raised by some members about the impact on residents and the reduction in funding for community safety partnerships. The panel also received an update on the management of police and fire complaints and discussed the implications of proposed national police reforms.

Police Precept and Budget

The primary focus of the meeting was the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner's¹ proposal to increase the police precept, which forms part of the council tax, by 5.22% for a Band D property. This increase, equating to £15 per household, is intended to help balance the budget in the face of rising costs and a reduced national funding settlement.

Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Ben Adams explained that the proposed increase was a difficult but necessary decision to maintain service levels and invest in Staffordshire Police. He highlighted that the force receives one of the lowest levels of funding per head in the country and faces increasing demand. The Commissioner expressed disappointment at having to ask residents to pay more but stressed his commitment to keeping Staffordshire safe. He also noted that the budget includes investment in technology, infrastructure, and an increase of 79 police officers, many of whom will be in neighbourhood roles.

John Bloomer, the Section 151 officer², provided a detailed breakdown of the financial challenges. He explained that the government's three-year spending review had translated into a one-year settlement for policing, with less funding passed on to forces than anticipated. He detailed pressures from unfunded pay increases, new burdens such as legislation on bullying and fire investigation standards, and the cost of IT. Mr. Bloomer also highlighted that Staffordshire receives the joint fifth lowest percentage grant increase in the country, meaning an additional £0.9 million would have been received with an average grant increase.

Several panel members raised concerns about the precept increase. Councillor Chris Elliott, an independent member, questioned the achievability of savings targets, particularly those related to enabling services, and asked about future estate rationalisation plans. Councillor Anthony Screen questioned the precise breakdown of how the precept increase would fund transformation projects and requested confirmation of independent verification for public assurance. Councillor Carol Dean and Councillor David Williams expressed significant concern over the drastic reduction in funding for community safety partnerships (CSPs) across Staffordshire, with allocations for areas like Tamworth and Cannock Chase being cut by over 80%. They argued that this was a choice to protect officer numbers at the expense of vital prevention work.

Commissioner Adams defended the decisions, stating that savings were realised as and when they became available and that the proposed precept increase was necessary to avoid further cuts to frontline services. He acknowledged the difficult choices but emphasised the need to support operational demand. He also explained that while CSP funding was being reduced, a new £100,000 fund would be available for local areas to bid into, and he committed to retaining funding for local community safety partnerships for the next two years.

Despite the concerns, the panel ultimately voted to accept the Commissioner's proposed precept and budget, with Councillor Atkins proposing and Councillor Merrick seconding the motion. The vote was carried with one against.

Police, Fire and Misconduct Complaints Report

The panel received the annual report on police and fire misconduct and complaints. Commissioner Adams highlighted that complaints are a crucial aspect of service improvement and that Staffordshire Police is performing below the national average in the time taken to address reviews. He noted a reduction in the number of reviews but an increase in the percentage upheld, indicating areas for learning and improvement. The panel agreed to note the report and receive future annual updates.

National Conference of Police, Fire and Crime Panels

The panel noted the feedback from the annual conference of Police, Fire and Crime Panels and Commissioners. Commissioner Adams expressed frustration with the online format, highlighting the loss of valuable networking opportunities. He also commented on the proposed national police reforms, including the potential reduction in the number of police forces and a shift in funding mechanisms. He expressed concerns about the potential for confusion, inertia, and a politicisation of policing if central government directives become mandatory rather than advisory.

Other Matters

The panel formally accepted the resignation of independent member Mr. Adrian Bowen, who had moved out of Staffordshire. They also discussed the work programme for the coming year, which includes further scrutiny of the Commissioner's proposals for the fire and rescue budget, a review of the panel's policy, and training for new members. Councillor Chris Elliott proposed adding a review of efficiency savings and the risks associated with digital data and technology investments, particularly ERP implementations, to the work programme, which was agreed.

The meeting concluded with a discussion on the selection criteria for publicising offenders in the media, with Councillor Atkins raising a concern about cases involving individuals with significant mental health issues. Commissioner Adams stated that police communications work to strict criteria based on public interest and promised to investigate the specific case raised.