Issue - meetings

Authorised the Chairman, after consultation with the Chief Executive to submit representations to the Home Office for the retention of Cambridgeshire Police Authority as an individual police force.

(The Chairman announced that he proposed to admit the following item in accordance with Section 100 (4) (b) of the Local Government Act 1972 given the need for the Council to respond to a proposal on the future restructuring of police forces in England and Wales by 5th December 2005.)

Further to Minute No. 05/99 and following receipt of a letter from the Chairman and Acting Chief Constable of the Cambridgeshire Police Authority (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book), the Chairman updated Members on possible options for the future restructuring of police forces in England and Wales and in particular East Anglia.

Members expressed concern over the potential impact of a larger force comprising either three or six county constabularies both in terms of the level of service provided and loss of local accountability.  It was suggested that any savings from the reorganisation would be minimal and it was therefore

RESOLVED

  that the Chief Executive, after consultation with the Chairman, be authorised to reaffirm the District Council's representations for the retention of the Cambridgeshire Constabulary as a stand-alone force.