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This page provides you with information on the latest council tax summary and spending on Policing and PCC agreed budgets.
It is the responsibility of the Durham Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) to secure an efficient and effective police force for the area. This includes setting the budget for the police force.
The Government sets a cap on the level of precept increase. The Government announced the provisional funding settlement for 2025/26 on the 17th of December 2024. From this, the Force and PCC Office has been making the calculations in relation to the effect of the settlement on the overall budget, along with the priorities for its use.
The PCC is responsible for setting the level of the precept each year, after consulting with residents. Like the rest of Council Tax, how much residents pay depends upon the value of their home.
The PCC launched an on-line survey on 15th November 2024 and closed on Friday 17th January 2025. It was publicised using social media, releases to local media outlets, at engagements with the public and the PCC website, along with some meetings with AAP/ councillors. The AAP meetings were supportive of the £14 increase.
The PCC and her office had already received views from the public during the summer engagement events/fetes etc on the level of precept the public were willing to pay.
The survey asks respondents about how much they would accept to pay extra for the provision of its policing service. The survey and the results are provided in the presentation. In addition to questions relating to precept tax levels, the survey also asks respondents for their views on priorities within the Police and Crime Plan.
Before formalising the precept, the PCC presented it to the Police and Crime Panel.
The Police and Crime Panel gave overall support for an increase with the clear need to support Policing beyond the constraints of Uplift funding. The Panel recommended the increase in precept of £14 per household per year for Band D properties.
The following table summarises what the Council Tax increase will mean for households in County Durham and Darlington.
*55% of households in County Durham and Darlington are classed as Band A.
** Nationally, a typical property is classed as Band D.
