Nottinghamshire Police Authority - Financial Information

The Budget and the Council Tax

Nottinghamshire Police Authority has a statutory requirement to approve and monitor the annual police budget and to set the police element of the council tax.

In doing this the Authority aims to provide the Chief Constable with the necessary financial and manpower resources to be able to deliver an effective and efficient policing service across Nottinghamshire.

The Authority has a Treasurer, who provides policy and financial advice to members and recommends a budget strategy to the Authority.

The decisions on the budget, the policing precept (the amount of the council tax paid towards policing), and thereby the council tax levels, have to be approved by at least half of the Authority members (9), the majority of which should be elected members (5).

By law, the budget requirement, precept and council tax levels have to be finally determined by the end of February.

The Police Authority balances the needs of the Police Service with the wish to keep Council tax increases as low as possible. To assist in this the Authority also sets challenging efficiency (savings) targets aimed at improving Value for Money without adversely affecting service delivery.

Income from Council Tax finances 25% of the budget with 75% coming from Central Government as Police Grant, redistributed National Non-Domestic Rates and Revenue Support Grant. Of your total local Council Tax bill, approximately 10% relates to financing the Police Service in Nottinghamshire.

The Government Grant is calculated based upon the Home Office funding formula. This formula takes account of local demographics such as population, crime levels, deprivation and unemployment. This funding formula has yet to be implemented fully and therefore currently withholds significant funding from Nottinghamshire.

Members of the public and business communities are consulted on the budget process.

More information about the Police Authority's Finances is available in the following publications.

Council Tax Leaflet

Every year the Authority produces a council tax leaflet to provide council taxpayers with clear information about where their money is going to be spent, as well as explaining why there is any increase or decrease in the council tax.

Council Tax leaflet City

Council Tax leaflet County

Budget book

This is in essence a plan that states the intentions of the Authority, in financial terms for the next and subsequent financial years.

It provides a detailed summary of the income that the Authority expects to receive during the year both from central government, local taxpayers and from other sources, together with a breakdown of the estimated expenditure.

The budget book also reflects a longer-term view of the organisation's finances including a three-year revenue forecast and a three-year capital programme.

Budget Book 2010-11

Statement of Accounts

This is a statutory document produced annually, which provides information about the Police Authority's financial performance and financial position.

It provides the following information about the previous financial year:

An explanatory foreword
A statement of accounting policies
A statement of responsibilities for the statement of accounts
Accounting Statements
Notes to the accounts
Report of the Auditors

Annual Joint Governance Statement
All Local Authorities and Police Authorities are required to follow the same standard format when producing their statutory accounts. This should enable members of the public to compare and contrast the Authority's financial performance over a number of years as well as with other Local Authorities and Police Authorities.

Statement of Accounts

Closure of Audit of Accounts 2011 - 2012

Summary of Accounts

The Annual Statement of Accounts is, by necessity, a very lengthy and technical document.

However, this year we have produced a much shorter, summary set of accounts, which aims to show main financial statements in a clearer, more user-friendly manner.

This is the first time that we have produced summary accounts in this way and would really appreciate your feedback on whether you have found them helpful, interesting and, most importantly of all, easy to understand.

Any suggestion for improvement in future years would be most welcome.

Summary of Accounts

Annual Audit

Nottinghamshire Police Authority is audited by an external auditor appointed by the Audit Commission.

The Auditors have a responsibility to review and comment upon the financial activities of the Authority and to provide an opinion on whether the financial statements presents a fair view of the financial position, and whether they have been prepared in accordance with the appropriate regulations and proper professional practices.

The Auditors write annually to the members of the Police Authority to present their findings and conclusions from their audit and to provide any recommendations for future action.

The notice of Public Inspection of Accounts to March 31st 2012 can be accessed here: 2011-2012 Public Inspection of Accounts

Financial Regulations

This is a statutory document produced annually, which provides information about the Police Authority's financial performance and financial position.

Financial regulations are formal rules written by the Authority to establish overarching financial responsibilities, to confer duties, rights and powers upon the Authority, the Force and its officers, and to provide clarity about the financial accountabilities of groups or individuals. They apply to every member and officer of the service and anyone acting on its behalf.
The document covers the following areas:

Financial Management
Financial Planning
Risk Management and Control of Resources
Financial Systems and Procedures
External Arrangements
Contract Standing Orders

Financial Regulations
Contracts Standing Orders
Contract Authorisation Limits