Ross-on-Wye Town Councillors are concerned that a new scheme which could get work carried out more quickly by Balfour Beatty by paying for it upfront is a ’rip-off scheme’.

Ross Town Council considered a new community commissioning model operated by highways contractor Balfour Beatty Living Places on behalf of Herefordshire Council at their meeting on Monday, July 8th.

Councillor Louis Stark told the Councillors that this is a way a local council could speed up the process to get work carried but it does mean putting the funding on the table in advance.

Deputy Mayor Daniel Lister said: "This is a rip-off scheme for our residents. We have to pay up front and this is like paying a finder’s fee for doing work they should be doing already.

Councillor Phil Cutter said he was sceptical after years of experience working with highways contractors.

Councillor Bev Pope said: “Paying the money first may be the wrong way round and if we were in India this would be called a bribe.”

Councillor Paul Symonds said this would have to be considered on a scheme by scheme judgement call.

The Mayor added that this is something which could be discussed in more detail at a special day organised for Councillors and staff at Ross Town Council to set their priorities for the next four years.A Herefordshire Council spokesperson said: “The Community Commissioning process provides Parish Councils and other community groups with an opportunity to purchase a range of materials or services to deliver local priorities for local communities. These works are additional to the priorities agreed for delivery by Herefordshire Council each year from its budget.“We are currently assisting parishes and other groups with 41 schemes across Herefordshire, including additional tourism signage, memorial benches, street name plates, minor highway improvements and speed reduction measures. A total of nine schemes have already been completed this year. We also assist parishes with Speed Indicator Devices through a similar process.“Parish Councils and community groups can do the work themselves, or employ other contractors, but as Herefordshire Council remains responsible for checking that any work on a road or in a public space is delivered safely by competent and qualified people, with the correct consents and permissions, we still need to approve the works through the commissioning process. Any work must be compliant with all safety, street work, construction and design legislation”“Parish Councils and community groups decide which local priorities to deliver and how the work is done, within this necessary inspection and approval.”See the full story in this week’s edition of the Ross Gazette, or subscribe to our online edition here