Hertfordshire being robbed by government

2.21.00pm GMT Tue 8th Jan 2008

County councillors were shocked today, as it emerged that far from getting a below-inflation, but still positive amount of extra money from the government for 2008-9, they will actually get less.

In reply to a question from Liberal Democrat county councillor Malcolm Cowan, a finance chief agreed that the £3.2m extra grant will be more than wiped out by an extra £3,6m extra to be paid back in landfill tax. Not only that, but an allowance for road maintenance worth around £4m will also be wiped out.

Malcolm said after the meeting 'Not only will council tax payers have to meet the entire additional costs of inflation, increases in the elderly population and making plans to cope with a massive population increase from the East of England plan, they will be putting extra money into Gordon Brown's pocket'.

'And even worse is the knowledge that places further from London - the north, midlands and south-west, where the cost of services is less, will be getting up to 10% extra money. Labour clearly think everyone in Hertfordshire is rich and can afford this redistribution of our money. We aren't'.