To appoint the vice chairperson of the Council.

Councillor Roger Phillips proposed and Councillor Stef Simmons seconded the nomination of Councillor Kevin Tillett as Vice-Chairperson of the Council.

A vote was taken and Councillor Tillett was appointed Vice-Chairperson of the Council.

RESOLVED: That Councillor Kevin Tillett is appointed Vice-Chairperson of the Council for the remainder of the current municipal year.

Councillor Tillett made the statutory declaration of acceptance of office.

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Bruce Baker, Dan Powell and Rob Williams.

Cllr Phillips declared –

i)               An interest in agenda item no. 10 – 2026/27 Budget Setting - as chairman of the Rural Services Network.

ii)              An interest in agenda items no. 11 – Pay Policy Statement – as the vice chairman of the National Joint Council (NJC) – local government, Chief Executives and Chief Officers.

Cllr David Hitchiner declared a non-registerable  interest in agenda item no.9, 2026/27 Capital Investment Budget and Capital Strategy Update, as a local resident to the proposed southern relief road. Cllr Hitchiner outlined the dispensation he had been granted to speak and take part in all meetings that discuss the matter.

A further declaration of interest was raised, see paragraph 46 below.

To approve and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 5 December 2025.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting 5 December 2025 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.

A copy of the Member questions and written answers, together with supplementary questions asked at the meeting and their answers, is attached to the Minutes at Appendix 2.

To approve the 2026/27 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 2026/27.

The Cabinet Member Finance and Corporate Services proposed the council tax reduction scheme for 2026/27 and introduced the report.

The Leader seconded the council tax reduction scheme for 2026/27 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 (50): Councillors Andrews, Bartlett, Bartrum, Biggs, Boulter, Bramer, Carwardine, Cole, Cornthwaite, Crockett, Clare Davies, Dave Davies, Durkin, Dykes, Engel, Fagan, Foxton, Gandy, Gennard, Hamblin, Harvey, Heathfield, Highfield, Hitchiner, Hurcomb, James, Kenyon, Lester, Mason, 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 (0)

Abstentions (0)

RESOLVED:

That:

a)    The Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2026/27, with the same parameters as the existing scheme be approved.

To approve the revised capital investment budget and capital strategy for 2026/27 onwards.

Council considered a report by the Cabinet Member Finance and Corporate Services to approve the 2026/27 capital investment budget and capital strategy update. Council noted those supplements published following the despatch of the agenda including the Budget Council meeting procedure 2026 and the Section 151 officer’s section 25 statement both published on 6 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 2026/27 capital investment budget and capital strategy update was put to the recorded vote and carried by a simple majority.

FOR (35): Councillors Andrews, Bartrum, Biggs, Boulter, Bramer, Carwardine, Cole, Cornthwaite, Clare Davies, Dave Davies, Durkin, Dykes, Foxton, Gandy, Hamblin, Harvey, Highfield, Hurcomb, James, Kenyon, Lester, Mason, Phillips, Ivan Powell, Price, Spencer, Stoddart, Stone, Swinglehurst, Taylor, Thomas, Tillett, Toynbee, Allan Williams and Woodall.

Against (0):

Abstentions (15): Councillors Bartlett, Crockett, Engel, Fagan, Gennard, Heathfield, Hitchiner, O’Driscoll, Oliver, Owens, Peberdy, Proctor, Simmons, Stark and Tully.

RESOLVED:

That: Council:

a) Approve the revised capital programme for 2026/27 attached at appendix C; b) Approve the capital strategy at appendix D; and

c) Approve the Flexible Use of Capital Receipts of up to £1.0 million in 2026/27, to support transformation to generate ongoing revenue savings and reduce service delivery costs in future years.

There was an adjournment at 11:16 a.m.; the meeting reconvened at 11:30 a.m.

Cllr Fagan declared a registerable interest in agenda item no.9, 2026/27 Capital Investment Budget and Capital Strategy Update, as a trustee of Llanwarne Village Hall which had received grant funding from the council.

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.

To approve the pay policy statement 2026-27 for publication.

Council considered a report by the Chairperson of the Employment Panel to approve the pay policy statement for 2026/27.

The report and recommendation was moved by the Leader (as chairperson of the employment panel) and seconded by Councillor Terry James.

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.