“The Conservative group acknowledge that the coalition’s cabinet has decided that it wants the council to cancel the bypass,” he said. “However, making a statement like this before the final decision is made does not respect the position of all of the elected councillors who have not yet had a chance to debate the issue. “The debate on Tuesday will result in making one of the most important decisions in the history of the council. “We want Herefordshire to be a prosperous place, where we can attract investment, provide the necessary infrastructure to help grow our economy, provide new homes and make room to ease congestion and introduce alternative travel measures.
More help is on its way for people in Herefordshire facing financial hardship HEREFORDSHIRE Council leaders are proposing to offer more support for people facing financial hardship. Cabinet members agreed to increase the discounts for those eligible for council tax relief during the next financial year. More than 11,000 council taxpayers in Herefordshire currently receive a reduction and more than 6,000 of these claims come from working age householders. Councillors expect this to increase due to the economic impact the coronavirus pandemic is having on people’s livelihoods. Finance and corporate services cabinet member Liz Harvey said it was an extremely difficult and stressful time for local families.
Health and adult wellbeing cabinet member Pauline Crockett said there was no other option but to support the council tax increase. “We are all well aware of our ageing population and the costs to provide care and support for these elderly residents,” she said. Conservative leader Jonathan Lester said his group acknowledged it was a very difficult time to be setting a budget. However, he said members of the public would find it difficult to understand the 4.99% increase while reserves will be “written off to the tune of £11m in cancelling road projects and paying for reviews”. “It’s going to be difficult for members of the public to square those two issues.”
Merton Meadow is among the sites being considered by Herefordshire Council for new affordable houses. HEREFORDSHIRE Council will explore the possibility of building 180 affordable homes in Hereford. Cabinet members agreed today (December 17) to spend up to £68,000 on consultants to work up outline proposals for a net zero carbon affordable housing scheme on four sites off Station Approach. Council leaders have recently committed to delivering 2,500 new affordable homes in the next ten years. Housing, regulatory services, and community safety cabinet member Ange Tyler said Engie Regeneration had recently completed a masterplan review of the council owned sites in the Station Approach area of the city.
TRIBUTES have been paid to a long-serving town councillor who died last month aged 86. Bromyard and Winslow Town Council held a minute s silence in memory of former councillor and mayor David Cave during a meeting on December 7. He received a certificate of long service from the council in July 2019 after stepping down earlier in the year, but died at Highwell House Nursing Home on November 23. Coun Jonathan Lester, who has been on the council for more than 20 years, said the dedication of Coun Cave was incredible . When I started on the town council in 1997, Coun Cave was an older, wiser statesmen then, Coun Lester said.