Elmbridge councillors begrudgingly approved measures to reduce the council tax bill last week, after the decision by the Government to cap the Surrey Police Authority (SPA) for raising its share of the council tax bill over the recommended 5 per cent for the second year running.
Residents will be rebilled after the Government told the SPA, which controls Surrey Police, to return £1.6m of the money it has raised via council taxes.
This means the overall council tax bill will be £3.24 less for a band D property.
It will cost the SPA £1.2m to carry out the rebilling process, which the organisation said will mean 50 frontline officer and members of staff will lose their jobs.
The force has already been forced to axe the position of crime reduction officer in Elmbridge, as well as the River Thames officer.
Although the council’s hands were tied in agreeing to the rebilling, two Tory councillors decided to put forward a motion to express their outrage the Government was punishing the police.
The motion proposed by councillors Simon Dodsworth and Rowan Cole, which was passed at the meeting on Wednesday, July 22, stated: "The council believes the current Government formula is demonstrably unreasonable and inadequate when consideration is given to the Surrey Police services required for the protection of Surrey residents."
It went on to suggest that, in future, Surrey residents should decide through a referendum whether they were willing to pay higher council taxes for the police service.
Coun Cole said by passing the motion, Elmbridge Council was sending a message to the Government that their approach had been "ridiculous".
He said: "Surrey Police, despite having one of the best records in the country, are one of the most poorly funded, because it is seen as a ‘rural’ police force.
"This is despite it having to support the Metropolitan Police and having two airport on its borders.
"The rebilling will cost millions and result in the loss of more officers. The Government is acting irresponsibly and not in the best interests of Surrey residents.
"The Government is taking a tough approach [towards the SPA], but you can’t do this when it effects people’s security."
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