MERSEYSIDE Police chief constable Jon Murphy today insisted  there was no rift between him and the Merseyside Police Authority, after his request for a  budget increase was rejected.

The Police Authority was left in  turmoil after it failed to set a budget  last week.

It now only has nine days to set a  budget, as under law it has to be done  by the end of the month. The  Labour-controlled authority will meet  again this afternoon in a bid to break  the impasse.

Ahead of the meeting, Chief  Constable Jon Murphy insisted there  was no rift between himself and the  councillors who run the authority.

He wants a 3% rise in the police  element of council tax bills, known as  the precept, to help protect the police  budget after government cuts.

The Government has offered local  authorities a one-off grant to freeze the  precept – which, in the case of the  Police Authority, is £1.86m.

But the grant is a one-off so there  would be a £1.86m gap in the  authority’s budget after next year.

A 3% rise in the police precept would  collect an extra £1.86m and fill that  gap.

Today, Mr Murphy said he  appreciated it was a dilemma for the  police authority.

“The police authority has been very  supportive and in the last six or seven  years have grown the force back to the  level it was in the 1980s.

“I would urge them to take the 3%  increase in the precept. But the  authority has to make the decision.

“This is not me falling out with  the police authority, I am  fighting my corner on behalf  of the force.”

He said for those who live in  Band A homes, the cheapest  council tax rate, the 3% precept  rise equates to 24p a month – or  half a pint of milk. Last week, two  Labour councillors,  Doreen Kerrigan,  from Sefton, and Tony Smith, from  Wirral, were instrumental in stopping  the rise by breaking ranks and voting  against it.

Cllr Kerrigan said: “People are  having a tough time, and I feel that one  more increase goes against the  grain.”

Both councillors are likely to come  under pressure to change their minds.

The two rebel Labour councillors  were supported by the Conservatives  and Liberal Democrats.

Lib-Dem Cllr Jan Clein said: “Prices are going up and a lot of people are working reduced hours. If you are on the breadline £3 or £5 is not nothing.”

Last week’s budget meeting had to  be abandoned after an appropriate majority decision could  not be reached after two votes. Elected councillors and  independent members sit on  the authority but under law a majority  of elected councillors must  vote for any precept rise.

Merseyside Police Authority  is due to be disbanded in  November when scrutiny of the  police force will be taken over  by a new elected police commissioner. The commissioner will be responsible for agreeing a budget.

A scrutiny panel could only reject the commissioner’s budget by a three quarters majority.