Herefordshire Council agrees a budget to protect the vulnerable

Herefordshire Council has agreed a 4.4 per cent increase in council tax for the 2008-09 financial year - and a budget designed to boost spend on services that protect the most vulnerable members of the community.

The new Band D council tax figure of £1,131.13 (excluding parish, police and fire precepts) keeps the level well below the average for county councils in the West Midlands.

"This well balanced budget enables the council to pump extra resources into services to serve the most vulnerable", announced Councillor Harry Bramer, cabinet member for resources, "and we've earmarked £4.5 million as a reserve to protect the county against contingencies like serious flooding".

He added that the council's approach to financial planning had been commended by public services watchdog the Audit Commission.

The council tax increase - which is the council's second lowest in its history - allows the council's stretched finances to continue providing social care services that are under pressure from the increase in Herefordshire's older population. The budget includes an extra £871,000 for adult social care. Money has been found by making further efficiency savings in many non-critical areas.

"Despite the county receiving nearly 20 per cent less per person from government than the national average, we've put together a well thought out and balanced budget," said Councillor Roger Phillips, leader of the council.

Like all other local authorities, the council is using prudential borrowing to fund priorities for communities. The level of borrowing is well within the parameters of affordability, said finance officers, and projects supported include: match funding a sustainable walking and cycling route bridging the river south of Hereford; remedial works to prevent more flooding of Holmer School; a scheme to bring empty properties back into use to tackle homelessness; and help for people with mental health and learning disabilities to purchase their own homes.

The council tax level and budget was agreed by council on Friday (7 March 2008).