The Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel met on Wednesday 4 February 2026 to scrutinise the proposed Police and Fire Precepts for 2026/27. The Panel reviewed the proposed increases to council tax for policing and fire services, considering the financial implications for residents and the operational needs of both services. They also discussed the Panel's work programme and agreed on future meeting dates.

Police Precept for 2026/27

The Panel reviewed the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner's (PFCC) proposed Police Precept for 2026/27. The proposal included an increase of £15 per annum for a Band D property, raising the precept to £335.04. This increase is intended to support the maintenance of 1,511 police officers, ensure an adequate level of reserves, and fund the 'Safe and Sound' Public Safety Plan. The PFCC highlighted that Northamptonshire is not adequately funded by the current grant formula, meaning local residents contribute more than those in other counties. Despite the proposed increase, a significant savings requirement remains for the organisation to balance its budgets over the medium term. The Panel was presented with detailed financial information, including the provisional police grant settlement, which indicated an increase in total funding but also highlighted that a substantial portion of this increase would come from local precept contributions. The report also detailed the budget breakdown for the Chief Constable, including allocations for police officers, staff, PCSOs, and enabling services, as well as the PFCC's office budget and commissioning activities. The capital programme and reserves strategy were also outlined, showing planned investments in estates, ICT, and vehicles. The Section 151 Chief Finance Officer provided a statement on the robustness of the budget and the adequacy of reserves, noting that while the budget is balanced for 2026/27, future years present greater challenges.

Fire Precept for 2026/27

The Panel also scrutinised the PFCC's proposed Fire Precept for 2026/27. The preferred proposal, dependent on government flexibility, is an increase of £12 per annum for a Band D property, bringing the precept to £92.39. This would fund the 'Safe and Sound' Public Safety Plan and the Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP), supporting firefighter numbers, structural improvements, and investment in transformational projects like 'Your Future Service'. A less favourable scenario, if the £12 flexibility is not granted, involves a £5 per annum increase to £85.39. The report highlighted that Northamptonshire remains one of the lowest-funded Fire and Rescue Authorities in the country, even with the proposed increases. Detailed financial information was provided, including the provisional local government finance settlement, which confirmed a £5 precept flexibility for Fire and Rescue Authorities. The report outlined the projected funding and precept income for both the £5 and £12 increase scenarios, detailing the significant savings requirements in each case. The Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP) was presented, showing expenditure and funding projections under both precept scenarios, with the £12 increase leading to a more manageable savings requirement and fewer future deficits. The capital programme, including plans for new fire stations at Moulton and Kettering, was also detailed. The Section 151 Chief Finance Officer's report on the robustness of the budget and adequacy of reserves concluded that the budget is balanced for 2026/27, but future years present challenges, and the general and earmarked reserves are considered adequate.

Panel Work Programme and Meeting Dates

The Panel reviewed its outline work programme for 2026/27, which includes statutory business such as the scrutiny of precepts and annual reports, as well as discretionary scrutiny topics. New topics identified for future consideration include the impact of street drug dealing, protection of vulnerable adults, the role of citizens in community safety, the OPFCC's complaints and customer service functions, and the implementation and impact of Police Governance Reform proposals. The Panel also agreed on the proposed meeting dates for the 2026/27 civic year, with meetings scheduled to start at 2:00 pm, a change from the previous 12:30 pm start time, to allow for greater flexibility in attendees' schedules. A reserve meeting date was also set for February 2027 to accommodate any potential need to scrutinise revised precepts. An update on actions taken in response to previous Panel resolutions was also presented, confirming that the terms of reference for an independent review into the Chief Constable's contempt of court finding had been circulated and commented upon, and that a report on the outcomes of a conference on violence against women and girls had been provided. The Panel also noted that the identified future scrutiny topics had been added to the work programme.