THE council's cabinet agreed to continue paying an annual membership fee of £25,000 to ensure it was part of a larger West Midlands authority.

Herefordshire Council applied to be a non-constituent member of the West Midlands Combined Authority in August 2016.

The cabinet discussed last week if they should continue with this application, which would give the council limited voting rights on matters such as allowing them to vote on issues to do with economic development.

However, the council will not be admitted as a non-constituent member in the next four years but can sit at the WMCA board as an observer and is expected to pay an annual membership of £25,000.

Coun Roger Phillips told the cabinet meeting: "Time has moved on in some respect. Fundamentally the issues remain the same. Herefordshire has to be careful of isolation policy. We are part of the West Midlands region whether we like it or not."

He said that although £25,000 may seem a lot of money, it is better to be part of it to be able to gain access to funding.

He added: "A considerable sum of money is going into the West Midlands and we have to make sure we have access and availability to it."

Leader of the council Tony Johnson backed up Coun Phillips and said being part of the group will be the only way to get government grants in the future.

Opposition councillor Jenny Bartlett said there was a lot of opportunity to work with Wales too.

But Coun Phillips disagreed and added: "All we get is stone wagons through our villages. What else would we get?"

But Coun Bartlett retorted: "I don't agree. A lot of the county's potential is along the border but not all of it. It is about not having all your ducks in one basket, or even your eggs."

The council is working to get the £25,000 reduced while they are observers, instead of non-constituent members.

All the cabinet voted in favour to continue with the application and being part of the larger authority.