I READ with interest Councillor Fred Drane’s view of the appointment of the new chief constable and the setting of the budget for the forthcoming financial year (a proposed 1.95 per cent increase for Dorset Police to be added to council tax bills).

I too was at the meeting representing the taxpayers of Bournemouth, along with three of my colleagues from Bournemouth Council.

I agree with his view of the importance appointing the best possible person for this very important position I did, however, dispute the need to pay an extra £10,000 per year on her salary at a time when all other police staff have had a zero pay increase for the past two years (and quite possibly next year as well). Also new constables to be appointed will now be starting on a salary of £3,000 less than has been paid in recent years.

I believe a new leader should set an example and would query if this increase does just that.

Here in Bournemouth we have recently appointed several new senior staff all at current pay structures and did not feel the need to offer increased salaries.

Bournemouth councillors were also of the opinion that an increase in the precept of 1.95 per cent was not necessary and believe it should be possible to find efficiencies within existing resources.

Families all across our conurbation are having to live on less and less and we as a council feel that public bodies should not add to that burden by increasing rates.

We therefore voted against the proposed increases.

As a result of the increases now imposed by the new police commissioner we in Bournemouth have decided to actually reduce council tax for 2012/2013 by a similar amount to the increase imposed by the police and fire service.

This means that the council tax-payer of Bournemouth will not see any net increase in their actual council tax bill for the forthcoming financial year.

COUNCILLOR DAVID SMITH, Bournemouth Council