To receive any apologies for absence.

There were apologies from councillors Bramer and Biggs.

To receive declarations of interests in respect of Table A, Table B or Other Interests from members of the committee in respect of items on the agenda.

None.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 30 April 2026. 

Resolved:       That the minutes of the meeting held on 30 April 2026 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairperson.

To receive questions from members of the public.

Questions received and responses given are attached as appendix 1 to the minutes.

To receive questions from councillors.

No questions from councillors were submitted

To receive reports from the Council’s scrutiny committees on any recommendations to the Cabinet arising from recent scrutiny committee meetings.

There were no reports from scrutiny committees for consideration at this meeting.

To approve the council’s new Carbon Management Plan (CMP) which sets out the council’s approach to reducing carbon emissions for the period 2026/27 to 2030/31. 

Councillor Swinglehurst, cabinet member for culture and environment introduced the report.

It was noted that Herefordshire Council began its carbon reduction journey several years prior to the declaration of a climate emergency and ahead of the UK Government’s net zero legislation. Early action focused on pragmatic, cost?effective measures, including the transition to 100% LED street lighting, reducing energy consumption from 4.7m kWh to 1.7m kWh and delivering significant financial savings.

Further progress includes the installation of over 4,000 solar PV panels and the rollout of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. Following the declaration of a climate emergency in 2019, the Council accelerated its net zero target from 2050 to 2030. The fourth Carbon Management Plan (2026/27–2030/31) sets out the pathway to achieving this target and, for the first time, incorporates carbon offsetting.

It was noted that emissions have reduced from 27,498 tCO2e in 2008/09 to 5,357 tCO2e at the start of the current plan, representing a 63.5% reduction. The plan has been developed through a task and finish group and provides a refined scope of greenhouse gas emissions, focusing on areas within the Council’s direct control, aligned with international reporting protocols.

It was emphasised that this is a Council-specific plan and does not cover wider county emissions, which are addressed separately through the Herefordshire Environment Board. The Board will continue to support county-wide initiatives, including farm engagement and carbon reduction programmes.

It was acknowledged that further emissions reductions will become increasingly challenging and will require consideration of carbon impacts across all Council decisions and operations. However, the transition to net zero was highlighted as an opportunity, supporting economic growth, skilled employment, public health, and environmental benefits. The local low carbon sector is currently valued at approximately £495m annually and is forecast to grow significantly.

The plan includes proposals for offsetting residual emissions, including potential investment in biochar (via pyrolysis), which has demonstrated positive results in neighbouring authorities and offers both financial returns and environmental benefits.

In response to consultation feedback, it was confirmed that:

• Waste emissions are excluded as they fall outside direct Council control.
• Pyrolysis technology is considered established and already in use regionally.
• Decarbonisation of heating is being explored, although heat pumps are not suitable for all assets.
• Fleet transition and EV strategy are underway.
• Contracted services include net zero requirements.
• Work is ongoing to improve local data on commuting patterns.
• Efforts will be made to present information in clear, accessible language.

The Cabinet Member thanked contributors to the consultation process and noted the inclusion of a written submission from the Independents for Herefordshire Group. 

Comments from cabinet members:

Members welcomed the alignment of the report with the Council’s core strategic plans. It was noted that the introduction of a new public realm contract, including the use of electric vehicles, is expected to support further emissions reductions in the coming year. The report was supported and fully endorsed.

Members noted homeworking and the plan suggests the council could make better use of the council spaces that are  ...  view the full minutes text for item 94.

To report the provisional financial outturn position for 2025/26 for revenue and capital budgets, subject to external audit.  The results for 2025/26 report a balanced revenue outturn position after the use of reserves and implementation of recovery plan actions.

Councillor Stoddart cabinet member for finance and corporate services introduced the report.

It was noted that Herefordshire Council achieved a balanced revenue outturn for 2025/26 despite a challenging financial environment and initial forecast overspends. This was attributed to strong financial management, effective expenditure controls, prudent use of reserves, and delivery of recovery plan actions.

It was highlighted that previous years’ forecast overspends had also been successfully managed, demonstrating consistent financial discipline. Key achievements included reduced reliance on the Budget Resilience Reserve, early repayment of reserve contributions from the Children & Young People Directorate, and strengthened reserves to manage future risks, including inflation and rising costs.

It was noted ongoing financial pressures arising from demographic and service demand factors, including adult social care, temporary accommodation, and SEND and home-to-school transport costs. Plans to address these pressures included continued demand management, cost control measures, and service transformation within the Community Wellbeing Directorate.

The central budget outturn reported a net underspend, primarily due to higher treasury management income, additional business rate income, and investment returns. It was recommended that a portion of this would be allocated to bad debt provision and reserves, with the remainder offsetting directorate overspends.

It was noted that savings delivery was strong, with £13.2m achieved (84% of target), although some savings would be carried forward. The Dedicated Schools Grant deficit increased but remained subject to a management plan, with anticipated government support expected to significantly reduce the Council’s long-term liability.

The capital programme recorded its highest ever annual expenditure, with £86m delivered. Variances were largely due to project reprofiling and timing differences, with robust monitoring arrangements in place to manage risks including inflation, delivery delays, and grant compliance.

It was further noted that draft accounts would be published ahead of the statutory deadline, with external audit planned for early summer.

Overall, it was highlighted that the outturn demonstrated strong financial stewardship, supporting service delivery and maintaining the Council’s financial resilience.

Comments from cabinet members:

Congratulations and thanks were extended to Cllr Stoddart and the team. 

Thanks, were also extended to Tina Russell for their work in Children’s Services. The positive outcome of the Ofsted inspection was noted, with Children’s Services rated good with outstanding leadership.

It was emphasised that, alongside financial performance, feedback from families through surveys and follow-up activity provided an important measure of service quality and demonstrated clear improvement. It was highlighted that the Council had achieved financial stability while continuing to improve service delivery, which was considered a significant achievement. Appreciation was extended to all officers involved.

The Council’s financial position in the context of neighbouring authorities was noted. It was highlighted that nearby councils, including Worcestershire, were facing significant overspends of approximately £50m, and that this comparison emphasised the strength of Herefordshire’s financial management.

Group Leaders were invited to offer their views:

The representative for Independents for Herefordshire outlined the views of their group and argued that:

It was raised that delivering a balanced budget was a statutory requirement and, while not an achievement in itself,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 95.