Badly-needed county council funding goes unspent

Improvements for local transport and special educational needs in Hertfordshire have been delayed by county council incompetence - with £17 million of vital funds going unspent this year. 

Conservative leaders of the authority have failed to make any progress on a range of important schemes which have already been funded. 

The poor outcomes have been highlighted by Liberal Democrat opposition councillors. 

Hertfordshire County Council had put aside £5.2 million for a new special school and £3.9 million for extra SEND provision in other schools. 

Both projects have already been long delayed. But none of the total £12 million pot of cash will be spent this financial year. 

Meanwhile, £5 million of this year’s capital budget of £8.3 million for upgrading bus services will also go unused, even though the government's giving Hertfordshire a further £11 million for buses next year. 

Cllr Steve Jarvis, Lib Dem group leader on Hertfordshire County Council, said: 

“With money generally very tight, it's extraordinary that when funding does become available, Conservative council leaders don't spend it. 

"That's especially the case with special educational needs, where Hertfordshire has a real crisis and Ofsted found 'wide and systemic failings' 

“And while many residents say our county's bus services badly need improving, most of the cash provided for this is not being used nearly as soon as it should. 

“It frankly makes no sense, but the blame lies with the incompetence, lethargy and disorganisation of the Conservatives who run Hertfordshire. 

“Residents are losing out, including children who most need support, while vital funds lay idle in bank accounts".