A record number of people attended the annual town meeting which was held on Wednesday, April 21st at the Larruperz Centre.

The Ross Town Plan was unveiled at the meeting by the chairman, Rob Brain, and copies of it handed out.

The Mayor, Councillor John Edwards opened the meeting by saying it was an opportunity for the people of Ross to ask questions of their councillors and have their say about the issues that affect them. The prime purpose of Annual Town Meetings, which are a statutory requirement for towns and parishes, is to give residents chance to air their views or complaints on whatever subject they choose, including the performance of the Town Council over the past l2 months.

To emphasise the point that this year the meeting was not a council meeting, the town councillors, were seated in the audience.

Councillor David Ravenscroft chairman of the amenities committee reported that the allotments, Dean Hill Park, the Bandstand and the Skate Park were all popular and well used. The weather station had been vandalised but has been renovated and the Christmas lights were new and improved.

Councillor Chris Bartrum chairman of the finance committee told the meeting that the finance committee is responsible for recommending the budget – in the next year the precept will remain at £200,000, it also monitors the council's spending and making grants (up to £1,000) to community groups for the benefit of the town – the grant policy is currently being reviewed. He said that the council had given out lots of grants and he also reassured people that councillors took no expenses or allowances.

Councillor Jane Roberts representing the planning committee reminded the meeting that whilst the council listened to planning applications they were unable to take or make decisions but could give recommendations to Herefordshire planning committee.

During the year the committee had looked at very many applications and takes an overview unless there is evidence of public concern.

The committee had drafted a response to Herefordshire Council's Shaping our Future consultation

Chairman of the Policy and Management Committee, Councillor John Edwards, explained that the committee was concerned with the administration of the council. Communication with residents is a priority and a quarterly newsletter is delivered to homes with a free newspaper. The website also provides much information about the work of the council.

Next, the chairman Mr Rob Brain introduced the recently completed Ross Town Plan to the meeting. He was keen to make it clear that the plan is not political in nature and he urged the Council to look at it and adopt it as a business plan for the future.

Mr Brain stressed that it was a community led plan.

Jesse Norman, who was in the audience, stated that he found the energy of the Ross people and their commitment to the town quite humbling and wished other people in Herefordshire would take so much interest in their town.

Some local residents then took the opportunity to ask about issues such as the Modal Farm Development or to praise the work of RowTop.