To approve the 2026/27 revenue budget, Medium Term Financial Strategy and the Treasury Management Strategy. 

Council considered a report from the Leader to set the 2026/27 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 Stef Simmons, 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 2026/27 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, Bartlett, Bartrum, Biggs, Boulter, Bramer, Carwardine, Cole, Cornthwaite, Crockett, Clare Davies, Dave Davies, Durkin, Dykes, Engel, Fagan, Foxton, Gandy, Hamblin, Harvey, Heathfield, Highfield, Hitchiner, Hurcomb, James, Kenyon, Lester, O’Driscoll, Oliver, Owens, Peberdy, Phillips, Ivan Powell, Price, Proctor, Simmons, Spencer, Stark, Stoddart, Stone, Swinglehurst, Taylor, Thomas, Tillett, Toynbee, Tully, Allan Williams and Woodall.

Against (1): Councillor Gennard

Abstentions (1): Councillor Mason

RESOLVED:

That Council approves:

a)    the council tax base of 74,315.25 Band D equivalents in 2026/27;

b)    an increase in core council tax for 2026/27 of 2.99%;

c)    an additional precept in respect of adult social care costs of 2% applied to council tax in 2026/27 resulting in a total council tax increase of 4.99%, increasing the Band D charge from £1,969.36 to £2,067.63 for Herefordshire Council in 2026/27;

d)    the balanced 2026/27 revenue budget proposal totalling £234.1 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) 2026/27 to 2029/30 at appendix A be approved;

g)    the Treasury Management Strategy at appendix D be approved;

h)    that any further additional funding above that assumed in this revenue budget and received in the Final Local Government Finance Settlement for 2026/27, is applied to fund the revenue budget with a corresponding reduction in the reserve funding assumed from the Business Rates Risk Reserve.