To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Pauline Crockett, Mark Dykes, Charlotte Taylor and John Stone.

Cllr Roger Phillips declared:

i)    An interest in agenda item no. 9 – 2025/26 Budget, Medium Term Financial Strategy and Treasury Management Strategy – Revenue – as chairman of the Rural Services Network.

ii)   An interest in agenda items no. 10 – Pay Policy Statement – as the vice chairman of the National Joint Council (NJC) – local government, Chief Executives and Chief Officers.

Cllr David Hitchiner declared an interest in agenda item no. 8, 2025/26 Capital Investment Budget and Capital Strategy Update, as a local resident to the proposed Southern Link Road. He explained the dispensation he had received from the monitoring officer.

To approve and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 6 December 2024.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 6 December 2024 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive the Chairman and Chief Executive’s announcements.

Council noted the Chairman’s and Chief Executive’s announcements as printed in the agenda papers.

To receive questions from members of the public.

A copy of the public questions and written answers, together with supplementary questions asked at the meeting and their answers, is attached to the Minutes at Appendix 1.

To receive any written questions from members of the Council.

There were no questions from members of the Council.

To approve the 2025/26 local Council Tax Reduction (CTR) scheme. 

Council considered a report by the Cabinet Member Finance and Corporate Services to agree the council tax reduction scheme for 2025/26.

The Cabinet Member Finance and Corporate Services proposed the council tax reduction scheme for 2025/26 and introduced the report.

The Leader seconded the council tax reduction scheme for 2025/26 for approval.

Council debated the report.

A named vote was held to agree the council tax reduction scheme set out in the report. The scheme was carried unanimously.

FOR (49): Councillors Andrews, Baker, Bartlett, Bartrum, Biggs, Boulter, Bramer, Carwardine, Cole, Cornthwaite, Clare Davies, Dave Davies, Durkin, Engel, Fagan, Foxton, Gandy, Gennard, Hamblin, Harvey, Heathfield, Highfield, Hitchiner, Hurcomb, James, Kenyon, Lester, Mason, O’Driscoll, Oliver, Owens, Peberdy, Phillips, Dan Powell, Ivan Powell, Price, Proctor, Simmons, Spencer, Stark, Stoddart, Swinglehurst, Thomas, Tillett, Toynbee, Tully, Allan Williams, Robert Williams, and Woodall.

Against (0)

Abstentions (0)

RESOLVED:

That:

a)    The Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2025/26, with the same parameters as the existing scheme (as set out in Appendix 1), be approved.

To approve the revised capital investment budget and capital strategy for 2025/26 onwards.

Council considered a report by the Cabinet Member Finance and Corporate Services to approve the 2025/26 capital investment budget and capital strategy update. Council noted those supplements published following the despatch of the agenda including the Budget Council meeting procedure 2025 and the Section 151 officer’s section 25 statement both published on 3 February.

The Cabinet Member Finance and, Corporate Services moved the report and proposed the recommendations.

The Leader seconded the report and the recommendations.

Council debated the report.

The 2025/26 capital investment budget and capital strategy update was put to the recorded vote and carried by a simple majority.

FOR (34): Councillors Andrews, Baker, Bartrum, Biggs, Bramer, Carwardine, Cole, Cornthwaite, Clare Davies, Dave Davies, Durkin, Gandy, Hamblin, Highfield, Hurcomb, James, Kenyon, Lester, Mason, O’Driscoll, Oliver, Owens, Phillips, Dan Powell, Ivan Powell, Price, Proctor, Stark, Stoddart, Swinglehurst, Thomas, Tillett, Allan Williams and Robert Williams.

Against (5): Councillors Foxton, Gennard, Heathfield, Hitchiner and Peberdy.

Abstentions (10): Councillors Bartlett, Boulter, Engel, Fagan, Harvey, Simmons, Spencer, Toynbee, Tully and Woodall.

RESOLVED:

That: Council:

a)    Approve the revised capital programme for 2025/26 attached at appendix C;

b)    Approve the capital strategy at appendix D; and

c)    Approve the Flexible Use of Capital Receipts of up to £0.6million in 2024/25 and £0.6million in 2025/26, to support transformation to generate ongoing revenue savings and reduce service delivery costs in future years.

To approve the 2025/26 revenue budget, Medium Term Financial Strategy and the Treasury Management Strategy.

Council considered a report from the Leader to set the 2025/26 budget.

The Cabinet Member Finance and Corporate Services introduced the report and moved the budget.

The Leader seconded the report and the budget.

Councillor Terry James, as Group Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group spoke on the budget.

Councillor Diana Toynbee, as Group Leader of The Green Party Group spoke on the budget.

Councillor Liz Harvey, as Group Leader of the Independents for Herefordshire Group spoke on the budget.

Councillor Clare Davies, as Group Leader of the True Independents Group spoke on the budget.

Council debated the budget recommended by the Cabinet.

The Cabinet Member Finance and Corporate Services closed the debate.

The 2025/26 budget, medium term financial strategy and treasury management strategy was put to the recorded vote and was carried by a simple majority.

FOR (48): Councillors Andrews, Baker, Bartlett, Bartrum, Biggs, Boulter Bramer, Carwardine, Cole, Cornthwaite, Clare Davies, Dave Davies, Durkin, Engel, Fagan, Foxton, Gandy, Hamblin, Harvey, Heathfield, Highfield, Hitchiner, Hurcomb, James, Kenyon, Lester, Mason, O’Driscoll, Oliver, Owens, Peberdy, Phillips, Dan Powell, Ivan Powell, Price, Proctor, Simmons, Spencer, Stark, Stoddart, Swinglehurst, Thomas, Tillett, Toynbee, Tully, Allan Williams, Robert Williams and Woodall.

Against (1): Councillor Gennard.

Abstentions (0)

RESOLVED:

That Council approves:

a)    the council tax base of £ 72,816.74 Band D equivalents in 2025/26;

b)    an increase in core council tax for 2025/26 of 2.99%;

c)    an additional precept in respect of adult social care costs of 2% applied to council tax in 2025/26 resulting in a total council tax increase of 4.99%, increasing the band D charge from £1,875.76 to £1,969.36 for Herefordshire Council in 2025/26;

d)    the balanced 2025/26 revenue budget proposal totalling £231.5 million, subject to any amendments approved at the meeting, specifically the net spending limits for each directorate as at appendix C;

e)    delegates to the section 151 officer the power to make necessary changes to the budget arising from any variations in central government funding allocations via general reserves;

f)      the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) 2025/26 to 2028/29 at appendix A;

g)    the Treasury Management Strategy at appendix D; and

h)    that any further additional funding above that assumed in this revenue budget and received in the Final Local Government Finance Settlement, is allocated:

a.     firstly to make provision to support the development of the Local Plan and;

b.    secondly, to be transferred to the Financial Resilience Reserve to mitigate the potential unfavourable outcome of the Fair Funding Review planned in 2025.

To approve the pay policy statement 2025-26 for publication.

Council considered a report by the Chairperson of the Employment Panel to approve the pay policy statement for 2025 – 2026.

The report and recommendation was moved by the Leader (as chairperson of the employment panel) and seconded by Councillor Diana Toynbee (as vice-chairperson of the employment panel).

The pay policy statement was put to the vote and carried unanimously.

RESOLVED – That:

(a)   the pay policy statement at appendix A is approved for publication.

The next meeting is the ordinary meeting of Council on 7 March 2025 at 10.00 a.m.

Council is asked to approve the schedule of full Council meeting dates in 2025/26 as below:

23 May 2025 – 10:30 a.m.

25 July 2025 – 10:00 a.m.

10 October 2025 – 10:00 a.m.

5 December 2025 – 10:00 a.m.

6 February 2026 – 10:00 a.m.

6 March 2026 – 10:00 a.m.

22 May 2026 – 10:30 a.m.

Council considered and agreed the following meeting dates of Council in the 2025/26 municipal year:

23 May 2025 – 10:30 a.m.

25 July 2025 – 10:00 a.m.

10 October 2025 – 10:00 a.m.

5 December 2025 – 10:00 a.m.

6 February 2026 – 10:00 a.m.

6 March 2026 – 10:00 a.m.

22 May 2026 – 10:30 a.m.