ELEVEN councillors ducked out of the biggest decision Herefordshire Council has had to take, as members backed a cuts plan that savages services affecting every aspect of daily life in the county.
But the biggest name among the abstainers at Monday’s full council meeting defended his stand saying the plan that, on paper, pitched cuts to cover a £10m shortfall on the 2013/14 budget alone, simply did not offer enough information for members to make an informed decision.
Speaking after the meeting, Councillor Alan Seldon, chairman of overview and scrutiny, said the plan put officers in an “impossible” position when there was doubt as to whether or not the proposed savings could actually be delivered.
See the front page of this week's Hereford Times for more on this story...
