COUNCIL tax payers across Gwent will face a rise of 6.99 per cent in their police precepts from April to help fund 40 new police officers.

Councillors on Gwent's Police and Crime Panel narrowly voted to approve the rise, with six in favour and five against, despite concerns raised in a heated debate on Friday.

Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Gwent, Jeff Cuthbert, said the rise would equate to an extra £1.39 per month and would help bolster front line policing across the region.

Money will also go statutory pay awards and 'unavoidable' inflationary pressures.

Mr Cuthbert said anything less than the proposed rise would 'jeopardise' the force's ability to protect and reassure the community.

But concerns were voiced by the panel about the impact on the council tax payer.

Councillors also questioned the need to include £1million in the budget towards policing potential protests against the proposed M4 relief road - despite no decision having been made on the controversial project.

"We may never see the M4 relief road so is that £1million up for grabs?" questioned Cllr Peter Clarke.

"If we get an announcement from the Welsh Government next week that they are not going ahead with the relief road that money becomes surplus I presume."

But chief finance officer, Darren Garwood-Pask, said it would be 'remiss' not to include the money, which is just one third of the estimated £3.5million per year it will cost to police protests.

Cllr Colin Mann said the panel had to consider the impact of the proposed precept rise on residents.

"I feel like a tightrope walker," he said.

"We all want good services but we've got to consider the impact on the council tax payer."

And Peter Nuttall, a co-opted member of the panel, said the public perception is residents are paying more but getting less in return.

"The response of the police seen by the public is not good," he said.

Mr Cuthbert said the rise is the lowest in Wales and would mean vital work can continue, such as tackling rising cases of domestic abuse and modern slavery operations.

South Wales Argus:

Amid continued UK government austerity, the PCC said that unless there are significant changes council tax payers would be paying for more than half of the policing budget by 2022/23.

"Some police forces are there already," he added.

"We are not, but we are rapidly getting in that direction."

Cllr John Guy, who proposed accepting the precept rise, said the decision was "very difficult and had taken "a lot of sweat and tears."

However the panel called for a review of the need for £1million to police M4 protests, and the PCC said the request would be considered.