Ross-on-Wye Parish Council will not be receiving any of the government grant for 2016/17 which has been given to Herefordshire Council to pass on to parish councils to assist with the loss of council tax support funding.

This was money paid to parish councils to cover the shortfall in the precept for residents on benefits. Herefordshire Council officers found that for five parishes: Bromyard and Winslow Town; Kentchurch; Kington Town; Ledbury Town; and Leominster Town councils, where the impact of withdrawal would result in an increase in the annual council tax charge of 0.4% or more in any one year the withdrawal should be phased over a period of up to three years.

Ross in not included in this list of towns in line for a staged withdrawal of council tax support funding.

A spokesperson for Herefordshire Council explained that, “Phased reductions only apply to parishes where the impact of withdrawal would result in an increase in the council tax charge of 0.4% or more in any one year. For Ross-on-Wye Parish Council, the Band D council tax for 2015/16 (including precepts) is £1,607. The 2016/17 increase for Band D as a result of the removal of the grant will be £6.33, which is 0.39% of the 2015/16 figure.”

The decision was approved by the members of the cabinet collectively.

Ross Town Councillor Chris Bartrum told the Ross Gazette it was an ‘outrageous’ decision. He said the tax payers of Ross will be losing out by £23,000 which will have to be made up by them or taken from reserves.

He said, “According to Herefordshire Council they want to work with the parish councils to support them as they take over more responsibilities. Ross has taken over more assets than any other market town from Herefordshire Council and now they are taking £23,000 from us.”