Ross-on-Wye Town Council agreed its budget for the next financial year at the meeting of Full Council on February 11th.

The Council voted by a majority to accept the budget recommendations put forward by each of the committees, which included not only day to day running costs of the Council’s assets and services but also capital funding for special projects. The Council made a renewed commitment to maintain its assets and amenities to provide a clean and vibrant environment for residents, visitors and workers.

The Council accepted the increase in the budget as it reflects the need to grow, as a direct result of the additional responsibilities that have come from the assets that have been taken over, such as the open spaces along the riverside, the markets, public toilets, Homs Road car park, the Old Chapel and the Market House amongst them.

At the time these assets were being considered for take over, the annual running costs for the Market House were £50,000, between £7 and £10,000 for the Old Chapel, Wye Street and Red Meadow toilets cost £31,000 and the Rope Walk, Blake Garden and Caroline Symonds Gardens cost £37,000. Crossfields, Homs Road and Wilton Road Car parks gave Herefordshire Council a net profit of £6,000.

At the time the Town Councillors felt that it was important to protect assets like the Market House or the Old Chapel for the town, rather than them ending up in private hands. They said: “We think that the people of Ross can make a much better job of protecting and running these buildings, services and open spaces.”

There were hopes that community interest groups (CICs) would take on the running of the public toilets or open spaces which would lead to a reduction on the burden for the Town Council.

As well as taking on the costs the Councillors anticipated additional costs in the first year such as legal fees, administration of the transfer, repairs to the Old Chapel and other setting up costs. The Town Council anticipated that it would meet some of these costs from its reserves and some from an increase in Council Tax.

However the budget set for the coming year reveals that these early plans and hopes have not materialised.

Further costs, including those associated with staffing, the toilet in Red Meadow car park, CCTV and events in the town are detailed in this week’s newspaper.See the full story in this week’s edition of the Ross Gazette, or subscribe to our online edition here