The police and crime element of council tax for 2015-16 will go up by £3.06 per year for the average Band D property - an increase of 1.9 per cent.

Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon, Angus Macpherson, set the figure after extensive public consultation

The increase is intended to help reduce the impact of central government grant reductions on policing and crime services in the area.

It means that the rate for the police and crime element of council tax for an average band D property will be £163.98 for 2015-16, up from £160.92 in 2014-15.

The increase was supported by the Police and Crime Panel at a meeting today at County Hall in Trowbridge.

Mr Macpherson said: "As I have been saying at meetings of area boards across Wiltshire and locality meetings in Swindon, this is about the ability to preserve local policing and response.

"People would expect the money they pay for policing through their Council Tax to provide visible and strong local policing.

"My public consultation showed a clear majority in favour of the increase and the feedback from area boards and localities made clear that they support the priority we give to local policing.

"I am pleased that the Police and Crime Panel has endorsed the increase.

"Wiltshire Police has recently been given a good rating by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary. It recognised that the force offers good value for money.

“Ensuring value for money for householders while maintaining high quality services is very important to me.

"That is why we are embracing new ways of working to allow our officers to spend more time away from police stations; developing a strategic alliance with Avon and Somerset Constabulary and working closely with out two councils to share buildings, improve customer service and reduce costs.”

Based on current figures from central government, there will be a £3.2m or 5.1 per cent reduction in central funding in the 2015-16 financial year, compared to the 2014-15 financial year.

An average increase of £3.06 per household per year will provide the Commissioner with an additional £729,000 of local income for 2015-16 to help reduce this funding gap.

Since the start of the austerity period in 2010, savings of more than £14 million have already been made.

Mr Macpherson ran a consultation on the police and crime element of council tax from January 6 to February 4.

This included information and a feedback form on the PCC’s website; the PCC and members of his team giving presentations at Wiltshire Area Boards and Swindon Locality meetings and media publicity.

MPs, members of Wiltshire and Swindon Borough Council and town and parish councils were invited to take part in the consultation. Chambers of commerce were also notified.