Local News 
Appropriate source of PCSO funding [July 20th 2005]
Letter from Councillors Peter Hedges and Ernest Butler
At the Elstree and Borehamwood Town Council meeting on Wednesday 20th July, some Conservative Councillors suggested, once again, the idea that Elstree and Borehamwood Town Council should partially fund a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO).
The Town Council completely rejected the idea, but not because it is against PCSOs. On the contrary, the Town Council recognises that PCSOs have become an extremely valuable resource in helping to reduce the levels of crime in this area. The introduction of PCSOs in Elstree and Borehamwood has been a great success. The idea was rejected on the grounds that the Town Council is not the right body to consider long term funding of Community Police Officers.
The PCSOs already working in Elstree and Borehamwood are funded through the County or Borough Council, or directly through Hertfordshire Police. The money that comes from central government for PCSOs goes directly to these authorities and not to Town or Parish Councils.
Elstree and Borehamwood Town Council do not have the experience or resources to fund a PCSO. Whilst it may be true that the Town council has some capital reserves, currently around £475,000, this is dwarfed by the capital reserves of Hertsmere Borough Council, which stands close to £18 million. A PCSO would cost about £13,500 every year and is not something that such a small Town Council could support financially in the long term.
A parallel may have been drawn with Harpenden Town Council. They have successfully funded a 2-year PCSO project with which they are very happy. But what is rarely mentioned is that Harpenden Council is three to four times the size of Elstree and Borehamwood Town Council. They spent £1.2 million last year compared with Elstree and Borehamwood, who spent just over £300,000. Harpenden got £800,000 last year through council tax, Elstree and Borehamwood got just £257,000.
If a specific need for more PCSOs in Elstree and Borehamwood has been identified, a request for funding should really be addressed to the County or Borough Council, or Hertfordshire police.
As many of these Conservative Councillors are, like us, fellow members of the Borough Council, it is likely they are already fully aware of these facts, which makes their proposal even more puzzling.
By any reasonable argument the County Council, Police Authority or the local Borough Councils should be the source of funding according to the local need. These are the only authorities with that level of resources and experience for this task.
share this article with -
|