The Police and Crime Commissioner, Dafydd Llywelyn, has proposed a 7.75% increase in the police precept, which will be scrutinised by the Dyfed Powys Police and Crime Panel in the next few weeks.

The increase, which equates to a rise of £22.49 per year for a Band D property will raise a total of £72.518 million from residents in across the Dyfed Powys region.

Panel members will meet on January 27 to discuss the precept and challenge Mr Llywelyn on his budget plans for the coming year. The panel, made up of members nominated by the four councils in the force area plus two independent members, has the power to approve or veto the proposed police precept.

Local policing is funded from a Home Office grant, as well as contributions from the public via the Council Tax, known as the police precept.

If the increase is agreed to, and the County Council agree their 5% increase, then the overall Council Tax bill for residents in Newtown will be:

During the meeting Mr Llywelyn will inform the panel of the findings of a recent public consultation on police funding, which had 1,418 responses.

Visit http://www.dppoliceandcrimepanel.wales for more information about the Panel, its membership, forthcoming meeting dates, agendas and webcasting links, as well as submitting questions for the Panel to put to the Commissioner.