County Hall, Hertford

THE county council’s portion of council tax will be frozen for the third year running.

The announcement was made by Cllr David Lloyd, at today’s (Tuesday) budget-setting meeting at County Hall, Hertford.

Cllr Lloyd said despite testing times “Hertfordshire’s economy has proved remarkably resilient.”

On health, against a backdrop where operational responsibility over referrals, reviews, service and housing solutions has been handed over to Serco in a move to save £1.56m annually, Cllr Lloyd said: “Health and adult care is an area that continues to give us some of our greatest financial challenges.

“We continue to see an increase in both numbers and need.”

On law and order he said Pcso funding would continue until 2013, until national funding would take over.

In bad news for Hatfield resident Cllr Lloyd backed moves for an incinerator in Hertfordshire “as soon as possible” to combat the impact of rising landfill taxes.

On the controversial subject of street lighting he said provocatively: “the part night lighting project continues its successful roll-out across the county”.

He said switching off the lights provided savings and “the ability to see the stars”.

And on education and skills he said the council would invest £136m to 2030 on schools expansion. He also said there would be continued investment in high-speed broadband and councillors’ locality budgets.

Responding Liberal Democrat group leader Chris White criticised the council’s lack of action on potholed roads and salting during snow.

In an amendment to the budget the Lib Dems called on the ruling Tories to borrow a further £10m in each of the next three years to combat problems with roads and pavements.

They also challenged the Tories’ commitment to “localism” by calling for local members being allowed to have discretion over whether to keep streetlights on at night.

And as well as the Labour group they called for an expansion of apprenticeship schemes.

According to the amendment, changes could be funded through improved procurement, axing publicity and staff, reducing management posts and abolishing free lunches for councillors.

On management positions he said: “There’s still more cutting that can and should be done.”

Labour’s Cllr Sharon Taylor called for greater transparency in the presentation of the budget and produced what she called a “five-point plan” for the future of the county.

The plan included 100 new apprenticeships, free transport for young workers, a scheme to help young people get homes, a business growth scheme and further investment in broadband.