Council’s Multi-Million Pound Spending Plans Face Delay
Written by HFM News on 7th July 2026
Plans for more than £2.8 million of additional council spending have been put on hold after concerns were raised by opposition councillors over the detail behind some plans.
The funding package proposed by the ruling Conservative administration includes a £1 million heritage grant scheme, a £500,000 rural grant fund, and investment in street cleansing, economic development and environmental services.
Councillors considered the additional funding at a meeting last night and agreed that several proposals would benefit from further examination, with questions raised over business cases, grant criteria and how some projects would be delivered.
Councillors considered the additional funding at a meeting last night
The additional investment plans, which would be funded from council reserves, have been put forward following the Conservatives taking control of the council, after the authority’s budget for the forthcoming year had already been approved.
They also include support for rural communities and the transfer of council assets to town and parish councils.
The proposals will now be reviewed by the council’s Corporate and Performance Scrutiny Committee on 23 July, with recommendations then presented to an Extraordinary Meeting of Full Council on 27 July.
Councillors will make a final decision on whether to approve the additional funding at that meeting.
No changes will be made to the council’s approved budget until then.
