Mixed bag for transport settlement

Highways bosses at Herefordshire Council have received mixed news from central government over its spending plans for the next five years.

Whitehall has granted the Council more than £53 million for the period 2006/07 – 2010/11 to implement new transport initiatives and maintain existing highways.
 
This includes a £127,000 bonus for 2006/07 because it scored so highly on all of the six key performance indicators for the work carried out last year – meaning that the Council delivers good transport services.

In all of the areas inspected by the Government, the Council received either a ‘very promising’ or ‘promising’ grade and scored an overall 83 per cent grade.

But the £53 million settlement is £3 million less than that received over the past five years.

Cllr Brian Wilcox, Cabinet Member (Highways and Transportation) said: “On the one hand its great to have a five-year spending programme because we can plan ahead in a stable way.

“It’s also very helpful to pick up an extra £127,000 because if you’re serious about tackling highways issues you need all the resources you can get.

“Clearly this extra money also recognises that we are delivering good public transport services, which is an important message to get out.

“But on the other hand we are severely disadvantaged as a result of the £3 million shortfall. That figure doesn’t even take into account the rate of inflation

“Clearly opportunities will be lost as a result of this funding. As usual rural counties such as Herefordshire are losing out because of the funding formula used by Whitehall which favours metropolitan areas.”