MP says Herefordshire Council is "running out of options" over its cashflow woes

3:00pm Wednesday 27th February 2013 in News

Bill Wiggin Bill Wiggin

HEREFORDSHIRE Council’s cashflow woes have been put before parliament with MP Bill Wiggin saying the authority is “running out of options.”

Moving a Commons adjournment debate on local government finance in Herefordshire, the member for North Herefordshire Wiggin criticised the council for putting council tax up by just short of the two per cent that would trigger a referendum.

Herefordshire and South Herefordshire MP Jesse Norman joined the debate to tell the Commons that - compared to other authorities - the county had suffered a cumulative underfunding of £174m between 2005-10 alone, which amounted to around £35m a year.

Mr Wiggin told the Commons that the council feared freezing council tax again when faced with the risk of falling “further and further behind” over time when its formula grant funding was already 13 per cent below the national average of £358 per capita.

Mr Wiggin said he supported a council tax freeze but couldn’t back an increase given its “real impact” on already stretched household budgets.

The council, the Commons heard, had secured some £21m of efficiency savings since 2011, with a further £9.1 million due to be delivered this year.

“Once the fat has been trimmed the pickings are lean. Factor in a below-average level of council tax, alongside a relatively low base, and it is clear that Herefordshire is running out of options,” said Mr Wiggin.

The debate heard confirmation of £531,374 coming the county’s way in sparse areas grant as “efficiency support” for services, over 2013-14 only.

“A one-off grant cannot be budgeted for in rising to the challenges that rural authorities face when delivering services in geographically sprawling areas. Those are permanent challenges that can, and will, never be completely overcome. It is time to give serious thought to our long-term future,” said Mr Wiggin.

“I am not calling for more spending, only a fairer allocation,” he said.

Comments(25)

silentbull says...
3:36pm Wed 27 Feb 13

Its ok everyone
Bill Wiggin is now on the case, their is now a light at the end of this very long tunnel that we seem to had been in for years!!!!
WE'RE SAVED!!!!








And if you believe that you'll believe anything :-(

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Mrslawrence66 says...
4:11pm Wed 27 Feb 13

This city is rubbish, roll on the day I leave!!

"Here you can" live a life of boredom !

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Major disaster says...
4:22pm Wed 27 Feb 13

To Mrs Lawrence: GOOD RIDDANCE. If you need a hand to move I am sure that many Herefordians would give you a helping hand - just over the border you understand so you can decide which other city you wish to insult. GOOD BYE!

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Major disaster says...
4:24pm Wed 27 Feb 13

Mrs Lawrence, I agree completely - roll on the day you leave.......

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Major disaster says...
4:24pm Wed 27 Feb 13

Mrs Lawrence, I agree completely - roll on the day you leave.......

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Mrslawrence66 says...
4:50pm Wed 27 Feb 13

Thanks that's very kind of you I probably will need a hand to be honest !!

I speak for everyone who is my age and younger.

Pleased to hear some are happy here, the limited numbers that is, it's the younger generation views that are never heard. Majority of people who are my age left Hereford after college and never returned, wonder why hmmmm!

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littlewhitebull says...
4:55pm Wed 27 Feb 13

Perhaps Bill and Jesse can now help get us a better allocation?

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Werintrouble says...
5:04pm Wed 27 Feb 13

Major disaster, why do you and others have to be so rude and unkind.
Isn't it enough that our City is in such a mess. Why be so horrible.
Our site is turning into a place to insult and throw hurtful comments at each other.
Comment on the news rather than your anger at others.

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Major disaster says...
5:07pm Wed 27 Feb 13

Mrs Lawrence, I hate it when people say 'I speak for everyone'. I am sure you do not. However if you wish to challenge people like Bill Wiggin. The sooner you leave the better, I am free tomorrow.

Am I right in thinking as you comment about your age you are forced to leave Hereford with your parents to go to another school?

A number of years ago I did leave Hereford due to work and let me tell you the grass is not greener (hope you are old enough to understand)!

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Major disaster says...
5:11pm Wed 27 Feb 13

weareintrouble, I am not insulting anyone I have just offered to help a person who is clearly distressed. If you write on a public forum expect to be attacked and critiqued on occasions otherwise don't write.

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Werintrouble says...
5:27pm Wed 27 Feb 13

No, Major disaster, it's Posters like you who are bringing this site down.
You are not interested in the news just to attack and hurt another's feelings.
That's what you do and I can't stop you.
Mrs Laurence simply said her view and you ripped at her for fun.

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Mrslawrence66 says...
5:42pm Wed 27 Feb 13

Ha old enough to understand really? Are you not old enough to understand that my posting name is mrs Lawrence but of a give away if you ask me, silly you! You must be one of the narrow minded ones we have floating about Hereford, surprise surprise.

I can handle insults maybe major disaster can't.

The grass may not be greener crime wise but seriously live in this city, where they all object to change its ridiculous its what this city is crying out for. Refreshing to visit other cities getting it right.

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Mrslawrence66 says...
5:42pm Wed 27 Feb 13

Ha old enough to understand really? Are you not old enough to understand that my posting name is mrs Lawrence but of a give away if you ask me, silly you! You must be one of the narrow minded ones we have floating about Hereford, surprise surprise.

I can handle insults maybe major disaster can't.

The grass may not be greener crime wise but seriously live in this city, where they all object to change its ridiculous its what this city is crying out for. Refreshing to visit other cities getting it right.

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Themightyboosh says...
6:35pm Wed 27 Feb 13

Heres a novel idea HEREford council

STOP WASTING VAST
SUMS OF MONEY

and you might find you can make ends meet

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Major disaster says...
8:26pm Wed 27 Feb 13

Mrs Lawrence, my apologies for not linking the Mrs and your age however I may not be a Major! I do agree with you about narrow minded people objecting to the new retail area. I am not one of these as I again agree that this will be good for Hereford and I welcome the development. I do think that the the idea is 20 years to late though. If the council ever listen to young enterprising people Hereford could be made into a City that would attract visitors. The City centre could be developed into a cafe/restaurant area with shopping within easy reach. Cities like Cardiff come to mind. Sadly with a Council that appears bankrupt run by people who believe they know everything, even their own importance Hereford stands no chance.
Anyway the offer of help still remains!

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ad47uk says...
10:04pm Wed 27 Feb 13

I am in my mid 40's and born and bred here, but to be honest i am getting to the stage of thinking there must be somewhere better.

As for younger people, I don't blame them for moving out, there is nothing here for them.

Hereford have been going downhill for years and just been going down faster over the last 5.

Hereford a place for people to retire to and that is it.

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mizza21 says...
10:13pm Wed 27 Feb 13

OOOOooohh just kiss and make up Major disaster and Mrs Lawrence.

I was born and brought up in Birmingham. I left when I was 19 and went to London for 12 years, then Brighton for 5.

Hereford ain't exciting, but it is safe and clean and beautiful, which at my age, (early forties) with lots of bin lids it is absolutely perfect.

The council is dreadful, but then they all are as a rule.

The MPs are slimy but then they are politicians.
Just look at Wiggins horrible mug. I wouldn't trust him with my dinner money.

I still love it here though.

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ArmadilloSackRace says...
9:06am Thu 28 Feb 13

If you moved here from elsewhere then you did it because you're happy with what Hereford has to offer. Many people who grew up here are faced with a choice of putting up with having nothing to do or move away. Unfortunately for Hereford, many youngsters choose the latter. We need to give them reasons to want to stay here, other than just low crime levels. That sort of thing might be very important to elderly people or those raising a family, but it's not number one priority to most in their teens or early twenties, who are more interested in socialising and enjoying life

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fordshire77 says...
9:37am Thu 28 Feb 13

Bill and Jesse....sound like a couple of cowboys!
well if the cap fits!!!

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mizza21 says...
10:00am Thu 28 Feb 13

You have a point Aramdillo.
There ain't a lot for the bin lids to do once they get past 16 or so.
I would say that when I was that age there wasn't a lot do either.
I amused myself and satisfied my need for excitement and rebellion in ways which I wouldn't approve of my kids doing.
We adults don't owe them anything though. I didn't exactly pull myself up by my bootstraps, but I did eventually realise it was me who was responsible for my destiny and nobody else.
Kids these days have it easy really.
Not as easy as when I was a kid in the 80s, but easy compared to most of the world.

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ArmadilloSackRace says...
11:15am Thu 28 Feb 13

They do, but in a society where youngsters are condemned more than ever in the media and by their elders we should be given them legal, safe ways of entertaining themselves and socialising, rather than just hanging round on street corners and other things that they get criticised for.

Other towns and cities provide much more, therefore the urge to up sticks at the first opportunity isn't as prevalent as it is in Hereford. With the way society is these days family life is nothing like it was 20-30-40 years ago. These days people will move away when they're old enough, and when their parents get older they do not have their offspring around to assist them when things become difficult. That's when they become more reliant on the services that are having many cuts made to their funding right now. If we don't drive so many younger people away then these people will have their families around to help with the assistance that they need. In my opinion people need to look at a far bigger picture than most currently do.

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mizza21 says...
11:50am Thu 28 Feb 13

good points.
Particularly care of the elderly and extended families.

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KNIGHTROOK says...
7:48pm Thu 28 Feb 13

Under Conservative control did we really expect the city to prosper. The only people benefiting from our city's demise is would you believe it Conservative MP's...what tosh I hear you say...A conservative led council giving the Multi Million Pound contracts to develop The city to Lord McAlpine (Conservative)...or is that just my short sightedness. What other goings on in this Consrvative led council have lined Honourable members of the Councils pockets during the run up to and the completion of the developments in Hereford?

Hereford not only looks like it has just started to recover from an Earthquake Magnitude 7 but the City center now looks like a Charity haven. The new pedestrianization is designed to trip you up and the whole shopping experience in Hereford is now mundane and thwart with potential structural dangers. What a vast waste of resources this council has wasted our hard earnt cash and needs to be taken to task...rise up people of Hereford and revolt...we pay for this mismanagement we are therefore their employers...sack them all the ignorance is jaw dropping.

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KNIGHTROOK says...
8:02pm Thu 28 Feb 13

One of the biggest expenses this council has is the contract with Amey. That is after the multi million pound payouts for the expensive provision of elderly care in the county...another scandal in the making.

Its laughable when you see 8 men using Grass Strimmers to cut the grass around the Ayelstone Hill / Roman road Roundabout. When it would take 2 men and two ride on lawnmowers a eighth of the time to complete.

When you watch 5 men stood looking at a pothole in the road thumbs on chins shaking their heads and nodding at each other. Only to pass them later in the day to see the same team looking at the same hole in the same state of disrepair but this time one man is mixing bitumen and the other 4 are sat in the van drinking tea.

What a farce...and Amey owes how many multi millions of pounds in debt...there's the next bomb shell for Hereford the major employer shedding and cost cutting...would this of only happened under Labour . Not likely they encouraged self procuration for councils but it does happen and will happen under Conservative led Hereford.

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dunstun says...
9:23pm Mon 4 Mar 13

Hereford council have spent money like water- freely as it drops into the coffers. Leominster's Grange Court at least 2 million overspend, move of the cattle market at millions when soon sales will be held online as in other countries, and of course the absolutely crazy idiotic addition of the unwanted and unneeded Edgar st Grid. These are the big ones, a 2 million wasted IT program etc etc. we have elected idiots, and the top cabinet in a structured dictatorship with salaries that should embarrass a banker.

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