Lib Dems' plea to mayor George Ferguson to save Bristol's PCSOs from budget cuts
Bristol's Liberal Democrats have made a plea to mayor George Ferguson to save the city's Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs).
Mr Ferguson plans to axe all 32 PCSOs who are paid for by the council - another 80 in the city are funded by the police - in his proposed £35 million budget cuts.
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A PCSO helping residents to combat anti-social behaviour
But Lib Dem leader Tim Kent is urging Mr Ferguson to consider a compromise - whereby the council would fund 20 PCSOs and for the city to seek support from Police Commissioner Sue Mountstevens to fund the other 12 posts.
This would mean the council would need to find an extra £300,000 this year to fund the posts.
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The Lib Dems are suggesting a £42,000 saving could be made by reductions in energy use for street lighting, £50,000 could come from a service review within the council's neighbourhoods and communities team and the rest would come from the council's housing revenue account, which uses tenants' rent payments for, among other things, repairs and maintenance.
The reason for using housing funds is to recognise the role which the PCSOs play in the fight against anti-social behaviour on Bristol's estates.
Former police commissioner candidate Pete Levy, who is a Lib Dem ward councillor for Horfield, is taking part in cross-party talks set up by the mayor to examine the issue. These talks will not be completed until the end of next week.
In the meantime, the Lib Dems have submitted an amendment to the proposed budget and have launched an on-line petition protesting against the suggested cuts to PCSOs.
Mr Kent said: "We're not trying to tie anyone's hands about this. There is room for manoeuvre. I just want to make it clear that we want to save as many PCSO posts as we can, but we do recognise the enormous pressures on George Ferguson's budget."
Mr Kent is writing to Mrs Mountstevens, urging her to find the funding to protect PCSO posts.
Mr Kent said: "We in Bristol have been behind the whole PCSO project from the start, backing their introduction and helping to fund them. In hard times, we are urging the police commissioner to help foot the bill."
Mr Levy said: "During the recent Police and Crime Commissioner elections, the issue that people brought up more than any other was the importance of visible police officers and PCSOs on our streets."
He and Councillor Kent are urging the public to sign the online petition (at www.saveourpcsos.com).
When Mr Ferguson first announced his proposed budget cuts, he said that PCSOs were ultimately the responsibility of the police and therefore funding for them should remain with the force.
Councillors will be meeting at 2pm on February 26 to decide next year's civic budget.
6 Comments
by Brizz_Tony
Thursday, January 24 2013, 10:51PM
“There was a time when we didn't have PCSOs, and all was as well as it is now. Now, if 20 PCSOs would cost £300,000, then a PCSO is paid an average of £15,000 pa. That's £4,000 than Bristol Uni are offering for an administrative assistant whose duties include filing, photocopying, and smiling. I'm not criticising PCSOs, who no doubt do a grand job of keeping eyes and ears open around our mean streets, but we won't get the cream of British yoof at those prices.
A compromise would be to find something that a council employee does, and make it part of a PCSO duty. Can't think of anything suitable, but I know nothing.”
by KBillies
Thursday, January 24 2013, 9:30PM
“Tim Kent.
A fearless advocate for the City.”
by davegould23
Thursday, January 24 2013, 8:37PM
“Last I checked, police cost roughly double PCSOs. I'm guessing PCSOs are less bogged down with unnecessary paperwork too.
I'm betting police don't do twice as valuable a job as PCSOs.
The Mayor has agreed with Tim Kent and is asking the Police to find more money from their budget. Presumably, there are some useless senior police who are far too comfortable in their jobs.”
by smoosername
Thursday, January 24 2013, 1:35PM
“@charliecycle - "Isn't the housing revenue account ring fenced"
Spot on. Tim Kent couldn't be playing politics could he?
The Housing Revenue Account (HRA)
Background: The HRA is a ring fenced account. Income is generated from rent charges to
council tenants or from assets owned by the HRA. There is a legal responsibility
to keep this money separate to the General Fund.”
by charliecycle
Thursday, January 24 2013, 1:09PM
“Isn't the housing revenue account ring fenced?”
by robert1bobby
Thursday, January 24 2013, 12:31PM
“we need proper police not someone with no powers. city council especially the libs are all about themselves and pet projects, we already pay for policing through our rates, make the police do the job they are paid for and stop trying to make us pay more for a very inefficient service.”