Penyard Ward report Jan 2025
Budget – Council Tax
The Councils Cabinet have recommended a County budget to Full Council. The Council meeting will consider adopting it in February.
Prior to the 18th Dec we were working on the principle of growth, maintaining the Childrens 3 year program to contain costs from the investment this year, a 20 % mark up in adults wellbeing within a proposed rise of Council tax of 3.99% (2 % additional adult wellbeing and 1.99% for inflation)
The Council received a preliminary settlement on 18th Dec that had taken away the support grant and separate Rural service grant to the tune of £7.1million. The Council finance team and Cabinet reviewed the budget over the Christmas and New year period and by 3rd Jan we were almost balanced. With further review we have put forward a balanced budget with an increase of Council tax by 4.99%.
To put in context. Total Council tax for 2025/26 would be £146 million. Adult wellbeing directorate require £91million and Childrens service £59 million. You will note that the Total Wellbeing budget is more than the Council tax raised. Business rates and charges within the County such as car parking, Planning services etc add to the Government settlement to cover expected expenditure.
The total budget for next year is £232 million.
These are sobering figures.
Devolution Impacts
In essence the Government want to deal with less organisations in dispensing funding for services and Infrastructure. So are suggesting Unitary authorities of 500k people or a Mayoral authority of 1.5 million. Herefordshire population is approx.190k. This is being worked on across the Country as to its feasibility. At some point the Government will consult with us and you, And Herefordshire Council are having to consider how this might look in years to come.
Public Realm Contract Tender process is ongoing for new contractor to start 1st June 26
The Council in conjunction with transport partners including Network Rail, Transport for Wales and the train operators are working on an outline business case for Golden Valley Parkway at Pontrilas. I will report on this once this is completed.
The Western Bypass is back in the press with funding allocated internally for stage 1 and full review being undertaken of both phases.
The plan for a new transport hub at the Railway station is now out for Tender with expected completion by Next Christmas.
If you are travelling by train, check before you travel as the Hereford to Worcester line will be closed for 6 days at the end of January due to Maintenance, but, Coach travel will be laid on.
The Local plan to update the Core strategy for the Council was at Regulation 18 ready for adoption last autumn. The plan included housing growth for 16,100 houses across the County by 2041, however the new government have said that part of their plan for 1.5 million homes to be built in England, Herefordshires share of this growth is to be 27,200 an increase of over 11,000.
It is currently proposed that a Housing and Growth Corridor around the city for 10k houses and 300 acres employment land be considered to meet this mandatory target.
Delivery of this level of housing, requires a growth target for Employment and a vast amount of Infrastructure investment whether its Roads, Bridges, Hospital beds and staffing, the list is long.
Hereford Hospital met Critical status two weeks ago with shortage of beds because of many Patients with flu and unable to be discharged. The crisis has lessened over the last week but it proves that without those additional facilities and the increase in Funding for the Wellbeing of all our adults and children, there will be more periods where staff can’t cope.
Finally – at the time of writing this report I am told that Lugg Valley Motors, who has several contracts of service with School runs and local services is not able to operate those service with immediate effect as of Midnight on 21st Jan.
Mostly in the north of the County this has put a lot of stress in sourcing new providers at very short notice
As usual I can be contacted on 07900 918384
or by email on harry.bramer2@herefordshire.gov.uk
and please remember that should any Parish Council require me to attend a Parish Council meeting for any reason – I should always be delighted to attend if asked
Regards
Cllr Harry Bramer
Penyard ward
Cabinet member for Community Services and Assets
