The Green Group were a voice for prudence and transparency in the capital budget vote for Herefordshire Council’s coming year. Plans include a loan for over £30m towards a southern link road in Hereford, which as yet has no detailed business case.
Jenny Bartlett Leominster East, highlighted the millstone that this will be for two future generations of council tax payers. “I can’t support the amount of borrowing for the residents I represent in Leominster and the north of the county.” Helen Heathfield, Hope End, agreed – “the residents I represent want financial prudence and the capital budget does not provide the detail needed to take on such a huge debt.”
Stef Simmons noted that Ledbury town previously had a bypass – now just an access road for new housing. She and other group members were imagining the possibilities that a well invested £30m could bring – travel initiatives for roads across the county, housing that local people need and want, and more. Helen added “This decision shows a lack of imagination about what infrastructure investment is needed to build 27,000 homes in the county.
The group praised the many difficult decisions that the whole council team have needed to make in the revenue budget, with councils being obliged to take more responsibility while funds shrink for nearly 15 years now. We are proud that our MP for North Herefordshire, who was thanked by Peter Stoddart, cabinet member for finance in the budget meeting, is standing up for our rural county in the Commons!
Green Group Leader Diana Toynbee echoed many others, noting the difficult choices and welcoming funding for play equipment and flood defences. “Greens don’t oppose just for the sake of it. When we agree with decisions it’s not despite our politics, it’s because of our politics.”
Peter Stoddart, cabinet member for finance noted that including something in the capital budget “is not approval to proceed”. Greens will keep pushing for the business case for huge loans, for full transparency, and for investment in measures that WILL get Herefordshire moving. So many Herefordshire residents agree, including all those who provided thoughtful questions to the meeting.
Please keep contributing, asking questions and speaking sense! The Green Group appreciate it!