Penyard Ward Report – February 2024
My reports of the last few months have also focused on the Council’s Revenue Budget and the proposals contained within it. As you may be aware the minority Conservative administration (of which I am part) took charge of the Council in May 2023.
Unfortunately significant overspends and unrealistic budgets in previous years had left the Council finances in a precarious state with little room to manoeuvre. Our challenge was to address a predicted annual deficit of some £28.8 million and we have done this by finding over £19.5 million in savings and efficiencies in conjunction with a 2% rise in the Adult Social Care Precept and a 2.99% rise in Core Council Tax. Whilst the increase in Council Tax is regrettable, a failure to do this now would have seen us on a very dangerous path indeed.
You only need look across to Birmingham, where a 10% rise in Council Tax is being suggested, to see what happens where a Council fails to keep control of their finances. This budget also addresses the black hole in the Council’s medium term financial forecast and will hopefully put us on the path to lower Council Tax rises in future years – something I am sure we can all agree is overdue. The challenge will now be delivering this budget without overspends and to help with this we have introduced new spending controls including a ban on all spending over £500 without senior sign off.
After the draft budget was published in December, Herefordshire Council received news of additional funding from the Government and we have allocated this to (Strategic Housing (£1 Million), Leominster HSAZ (£300k) and Support to the Voluntary Sector (£200k) amongst other things. A number of us also raised the vital role that Parish Council’s and local communities play and I am pleased to say we won the argument for more funding to be spent in this area. This will see the appointment of a Funding/Grants Officer to support Town and Parish Councils (£56k), an increase in the Lengthsman Scheme (£250k), the creation of a new Public Rights of Way Scheme (£250k) and the creation of a new Drainage Grant Scheme (£450k). On a personal level I am delighted that this money will be spent at a local level and not with Balfour Beatty or other Council contractors – I made clear during the election that I wanted to see more funding put in the hands of Parishes and I am delighted progress is being made to facilitate this.
Alongside the Revenue Budget we passed minor amendments to the Capital Budget which thanks to a re-scoping of priorities in December will see additional funding to establish new employment land across the county helping to attract inward private investment and create better paid jobs to the county alongside £10 million for resurfacing our road network. The actions taken over the last few months have moved this Council on to a much firmer financial footing by refocusing its attention away from the much lamented schemes of the last four years and to getting back to delivering on residents priorities.
Finally for this Council round up, there are two items on the horizon at Herefordshire which I think will be of particular interest to Councillors. Firstly the Roads / Bypass strategy which will be discussed by the Cabinet in the coming weeks and secondly the end of a tender process for a new highways maintenance framework. Whilst the latter may sounds dull it is one of the most significant changes we have made as it will allow us to spend the additional highways funding outside of our Balfour Beatty contract as many of you have been clamouring for over a number of months/years.
As ever – I am always contactable on 07900 918384 or by email on harry.bramer2 @herefordshire.gov.uk – if you feel that I might be able to help on any council related issue – please do contact me
Cllr Harry Bramer
Herefordshire Council – Cabinet Member – Community Services and Assets