Esther McVey MP has claimed Cheshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner is incapable of managing a budget after wasting £200,000 on “vanity projects” - while forcing residents to pay more for local policing.
Government has granted Cheshire Police special permission to increase the police element of the council tax above the capped level from April, after Labour PCC Dan Price claimed it was necessary given “significant pressures facing policing".
Ms McVey said he must stop wasting taxpayers’ money.
Freedom of Information requests submitted by Ms McVey has revealed £93,990 was paid to consultancy firm Think Insights and Strategy by the Labour PCC to host a citizen’s assembly in Crewe and Nantwich at the end of 2024. A further FOI shows the cost for subsequent events in Runcorn and Widnes cost £106,605.
According to Mr Price’s website, he wants to hold nine of these citizen assemblies across the county. A fourth event in Macclesfield has already been held.
Ms McVey said: “It beggars’ belief how anyone can have the audacity to ask residents to pay more when money is being wasted on exercises run by expensive consultancy firms.
“These events told us nothing the PCC, police or public wouldn’t already know. The “research” concluded people want police to be accessible and responsive, investment in long term solutions to challenges, and a cultural shift within policing, including greater empathy to victims. What a complete waste of money that was.
“What my constituents want is for money to be spent on policing and keeping our streets safe. That should be the priority.”
Ms McVey added: “It is complete profligacy. As budgets are tightened, Cheshire’s PCC has wasted the equivalent of eight PCSO salaries hosting these three events. If costs for the subsequent six events are similar it could be another £400,000 of taxpayers’ money being wasted - £600,000 in total or 26 PCSOs based on a starting salary of £23,000.”
The events were both in person and online with 55 people recruited for the Crewe and Nantwich event, 33 people for both Runcorn and Widnes and 35 for Macclesfield.
Information provided to Ms McVey in the FOI said the costs for the events included the recruitment, incentives (for taking part), venues, materials, reports, and facilitators associated with the projects.
Late last year Cheshire Police launched an internal consultation to save £13million over the next four years through reducing PCSOs and redistributing warranted police officers into neighbourhood policing teams.
