Council Smallholdings
Once again our Conservative Cabinet of seven Cllrs; Tony Johnson, Patricia Morgan, Philip Price, Jonathon Lester, Harry Bramer, Paul Rone and (to a lesser extent, David Harwood) make hugely important decisions with far reaching consequences without proper advice and consultation. Cllr Roger Phillips started the sell off process in the early 2000s, boasting of the revenue it would bring in and how that revenue would be invested wisely to swell the Council’s coffers. We are now over £200 million in debt and this Cabinet has approved the sale of the remaining farms, primarily we believe, to allow large scale housing development on the outskirts of Hereford City.
This cabinet deliberately withheld an estate report, commissioned by the Council and carried out by Fisher German, when the report recommended keeping the majority of the Council farms. It took the resources and determination of the NFU for the Information Commissioner’s Office to force the Cabinet to release the findings of the report last month.
Other authorities, like Devon and Staffordshire, have kept their council farms for new entrant farmers, made them more efficient and enjoyed their increase in land value, which has bolstered their credit ratings.
We, Herefordshire Council under these Conservatives (alleged businessmen, retired businessmen, farmer’s wives and failed farmers) are a laughing stock. And we would laugh too if it wasn’t so tragic. The treatment of our tenant farmers by millionaire Cllr Harry Bramer has been an absolute disgrace.
Liz Harvey Blog from cabinet 1st Dec 2016
Liz Harvey Blog from Cabinet 1st December 2016
Items on the agenda are: Youth Justice Plan, Annual Adoption Plan, the council’s 2017-18 Capital Investment Plan, Herefordshire’s Economic Development Strategy.
Youth Justice Plan – presented by Cabinet Member for Children – Cllr Lester. This is an annual plan which considers youth justice and offending in the county. Cooperation with partner organisations (police, health, etc.) is required to produce and deliver the plan. Approved.
Annual Adoption Plan – again, introduced by Cllr Lester. 29 children adopted successfully in Herefordshire last year – a record for the county. Officers congratulated on the increase in families coming forward to offer fostering and adoption services. Approved
Capital Plan – increased borrowing is proposed for 17-18 and beyond. Cllr Powers requests for more detail to be provided of the proposed expenditure on infrastructure projects ahead of this plan going to full council on 16th December. This is agreed.. Cabinet approves the plan
Economic Development Plan – Cllr Harlow, Cabinet member for Economic Development, introduces the plan which continues to focus heavily (almost totally) on the city with little planned investment for the market towns. Apparently, he had a bit of a roasting at a meeting with market town representatives last week. He appreciated the ‘feedback’, he says. The plan relies almost entirely on private sector investment being attracted and encouraged by the ‘vision’ presented.
Key project ideas include: Hereford Enterprise Zone, Hereford business quarter, NMITE Hereford University, Hereford Urban Village, Hereford Football Club, Hereford River Quarter, Berrington St regeneration, Hereford Parking. Also more general aspirations to improve the county’s leisure offering, tourism, showcasing food and drink, improvements to parking and facilities at Leominster railway station.
Powers raises concern at the unitary authority’s limited efforts to engage with the market towns. Cllr Harlow responds that work continues and more dialogue with market towns is planned for the New Year……
Plan approved. Meeting closed.
Charles Nicholls
Charles Nicholls has decided to leave It’s Our County for personal reasons. He wishes to continue to serve the residents of Hereford’s Bobblestock Ward as an unattached parish councillor.
On behalf of It’s Our County I want to thank Charles for all his work over the past five years. When I think of IOC, right from its earliest creation, ‘Our Charlie’ has been a stalwart, a common denominator in our success and his dedication to the cause has brought us where we are today, the official opposition on the Unitary authority, a position entirely unique in the political map of the U.K.
I will miss his political nous, advice and friendship. We as a party will endeavour to remain true to the ideals and aims that Charlie and the early founders of IOC envisioned. We wish him the very best for the future.
John Harrington, Deputy Chairman
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