Council explains how services are funded in simple new guide

Three out of every four pounds spent by Herefordshire Council goes into improving education and social services, with the rest going on highways repair and transport, environmental services, planning and housing.

The figures are included in a new easy-to-read summary of the council’s financial accounts, which has been issued for the first time to give residents an insight into where the money for local services comes from and where it is spent.

The pocket-sized leaflet can be picked up from council offices, Info shops and libraries across the county.

During the 2005/06 financial year, 22 per cent of the council’s revenue income was provided through council tax and 18 per cent from business rates.

The rest came mainly from government grants with some funds raised from fees and charges. The summary guide uses a Herefordshire apple pie to show how income and expenditure is sliced.

Cllr  Mike Wilson, Cabinet Member (Resources), said: “Herefordshire Council has one of the very lowest council tax rates of any unitary council in the country, and we receive a much lower than average government grant per head of the population.

“This presents significant challenges in terms of making the money spent on services stretch across a large predominantly rural and sparsely populated area.

“However, while many councils are overspending, Herefordshire has managed to come in with a better than expected budget report, under spending by £3.7 million last year”.

Sonia Rees, Director of Resources, added: “The council’s accounts were audited in record time. The external auditors judged the council’s finances to be sound and its arrangements for securing value for money to be good”.

In its last assessment of the council, the public services watchdog the Audit Commission gave it 3 out of a possible 4 stars.

The summary details several areas of recent expenditure, including Leominster’s new £2.5-million swimming pool, improvements to transport and road safety, the completion of the £5.5-million Roman Road in Hereford, the £3.6-million programme to build new flagship children’s centres across the county, further boosts to recycling and the delivery of Whitecross High School, one of the greenest new schools in Europe.