Money matters

Greater Manchester Police Authority (GMPA) logo

People are being reminded there’s still time to get involved in important money matters in Greater Manchester.

Earlier this week, the Government announced its spending plans for the country but in Greater Manchester, the 2011/2012 budget for policing is not set until February 2011.

Greater Manchester Police Authority (GMPA) is in charge of the police purse strings and an online tool has been launched to let local people get involved in its spending decisions.

GMPA Chairman Councillor Paul Murphy said: “We know local people have a genuine interest in policing and as an organisation which makes important decisions about policing on people’s behalf, it is vital people can tell us what they think.

“Our Budget Simulator does just that. Those who use it will see that managing the finances isn’t an easy job. There are some tough choices to be made.

“The great thing about the Simulator is that it enables us to make those choices knowing what the people we represent think.”

The budget simulator can be found at www.budgetsimulator.com/GMPA
It can be accessed until 1 December 2010. It shows how much money is available in the police budget and how it was allocated last year.

Website visitors click their desired options – more or less cash in a particular area – to decide next year’s allocations. Once they have made their choices, the consequences of their decisions are shown.

After reading the consequences, users can return to their budget and change their choices as many times as they like before submitting their final budget.

The feedback people give will be considered by GMPA Members when they decide the 2011/2012 police budget in February 2011.

Before then, GMPA will also consult councils throughout Greater Manchester along with partner agencies to ensure any budget decisions made reflect the needs of Greater Manchester communities.

Every person who completes the Simulator questions will receive a feedback newsletter which will be issued post budget setting.