Each year the council agrees a budget for capital expenditure, which sets out a programme of investment for the coming financial year and beyond. The capital investment plan agreed in February 2023 has been reviewed during the year to take account of the availability of grant funding, progress on projects and changing priorities.

A number of proposed changes are set to be discussed at a meeting of the council’s cabinet on 5 October. The agreed proposed changes will then be considered by full council at its meeting on 13 October.

All proposed changes must be within the capital funding available (that is within the borrowing limits set out in the medium term financial strategy, within the available capital receipts reserve, or subject to grant funding being available).

Within the revised programme, projects proposed to be added to the capital investment plan include:

• Additional investment in resurfacing the road network
• Investment in employment land in the county
• Improvements to Shirehall to allow the building to become operational
• Initial work towards the development of a Southern Link Road

Any new projects will still be subject to approval through normal governance routes and following consultation.

Councillor Jonathan Lester, Leader of Herefordshire Council said: “The new administration has reviewed the current capital programme and has identified a number of areas where it feels capital investment should be prioritised.

Cllr Lester added: “Where projects have been removed due to lack of grant funding to date, we will review these should the funding become available.”

The full proposals can be found in the cabinet report on the council’s website.