This funding was provided by the Government to compensate Parish Councils for the reduction in their Council Tax base, which resulted from the abolition of the national Council Tax Benefit scheme.  Herefordshire Council quite properly passed on this money to Herefordshire Parish Councils for 2013/14, 2014/15 and 2015/16.  However, at their meeting on the 3rd December 2015, the Herefordshire County Council Cabinet decided to recommend to the County Council that this grant be taken away entirely for every Parish Council in the County.  The grant reduction will only be phased in for Bromyard (losing £26,199), Kentchurch (losing £891), Kington (losing £11,730), Ledbury (losing £25,220) and Leominster (losing £40,477).  Hereford City (losing £92,169) and Ross (losing £23,386) will lose their money immediately.

63% of those responding to Herefordshire Council's Budget Consultation exercise thought that the County should continue to fund Parish Councils.  The County is therefore going against the results of their own consultation exercise.  This is not their money !

Please contact your County Councillor, as the will be voting on the County's 2016/17 Budget on the 5th February, which will include this provision.