The Council meeting scheduled for Thursday, 15 January 2026, was set to cover a range of significant topics, including the Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Authority's annual report and the crucial 2026/27 draft budget and medium-term financial plan. Additionally, the meeting agenda included reports from the Cabinet, notices of motion, and updates from various committees such as Audit and Governance, Pensions, and Standards and Ethics.

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Authority Annual Report

The meeting was scheduled to consider the annual report of the Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Authority, presented by Councillor Hannah Robson, Vice-Chairman. The report detailed the Authority's activities and performance over the past year. It highlighted the Authority's core delivery strategies: Response, Protection, and Prevention, and their alignment with the Community Risk Management Plan 2025-2030. The report noted a 3% increase in total incidents attended, with a significant rise in outdoor fires during the spring and summer of 2025, particularly in the Wyre Forest area. Operational changes, such as the reallocation of funding from the removal of underused fire engines, were discussed as having delivered efficiencies and reinvested savings into frontline firefighters. The report also covered the Protection (Fire Safety) strategy, noting positive feedback from HMICFRS inspections, and the Prevention strategy, which focuses on road safety, home fire safety visits, and community resilience to flooding. Updates were provided on the strategic alliance with Shropshire Fire Authority for a new Command and Fire Control mobilising system, the adoption of National Operational Guidance, and the Digital & Data Strategy. Recruitment and welfare initiatives for on-call firefighters were also detailed, alongside cultural improvements and asset updates, including the new joint Fire and Police facility in Redditch. Despite significant financial challenges, the report concluded that the Service was in a healthy and productive state, validated by independent reports.

2026/27 Draft Budget and Medium-Term Financial Plan 2027-2029

A substantial portion of the meeting was dedicated to the consideration of the 2026/27 draft budget and the Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP) for 2027-2029. The report outlined significant financial challenges, including relentless demand and cost pressures in Children's and Adult Social Care, experienced by many county councils. The provisional local government finance settlement indicated a net increase in grants for 2026/27, but this was £7.1 million less than anticipated. The draft budget proposals aimed to address a net recurrent financial pressure of £23.965 million from 2025/26, with further projections for 2026/27 indicating additional investment and pressures totalling £36.123 million. This brought the total pressures to be funded to £108.728 million. The report detailed the significant budget gap of £71.937 million for 2026/27, even after proposed savings of £9.1 million and an assumed 4.99% Council Tax increase. Due to these challenges, the Chief Financial Officer had written to the government requesting Exceptional Financial Support (EFS) in the form of a capitalisation direction and permission to increase Council Tax above the 5% referendum limit. The report also detailed variations to the Capital Programme, including reductions in expenditure funded by borrowing for schemes such as Improve Accessibility for SEND in Mainstream Schools and Post 16 Additional Specialist Provision, as well as changes to the funding for Redditch Railway Station. The MTFP projections indicated a continuing shortfall in future years, with significant pressures in adult and children's social care, home to school transport, and the escalating Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) deficit, which was forecast to reach £321.7 million by the end of 2026/27. The report also outlined the outcome of the budget consultation undertaken in October 2025, which indicated public support for a Council Tax increase of 5% or above.

Reports of Cabinet

The meeting was scheduled to consider reports from the Cabinet, including matters requiring a decision by the Council. This encompassed variations to the Capital Programme, with recommendations for approval of a revised programme totalling £495.8 million and a specific £2 million variation for works on Isaac Maddox House. The Cabinet also presented a summary of decisions taken, including the Worcestershire Adults Safeguarding Board Annual Report 2024-25, the Adult Social Care Local Account 2024/2025, and the approval of the One Worcestershire proposal for Local Government Reorganisation. Updates on budget monitoring for 2025/26, including significant overspends in Adults and Children's Social Care and the escalating DSG deficit, were also presented. Cabinet noted the Treasury Management Mid-year Update and the Worcestershire Safeguarding Children Partnership Yearly Report.

Notices of Motion

Four Notices of Motion were scheduled for consideration:

• Protecting Residents from Outdated Planning Laws and Development Harms Across Worcestershire: This motion highlighted concerns about dust pollution, air quality issues, vibration, noise, and loss of amenity affecting residents near large-scale housing developments. It called for urgent national reform of environmental health and statutory nuisance law and proposed actions such as strengthening health monitoring, improving transparency, and making environmental and air-quality monitoring data publicly available.
• Protecting Single-Sex Spaces for Women: This motion aimed to confirm that Worcestershire County Council is compliant with the Equality Act 2010 regarding access to single-sex facilities and services for women, referencing a Supreme Court ruling on the interpretation of man, woman, and sex in the Act.
• Expanding Access to Libraries for Key Stage 3 Students: This motion proposed launching an automatic library card enrolment scheme for all Key Stage 3 students in participating Worcestershire schools, providing them with physical cards, access to e-reading platforms, and information on library services.
• Road Works and Utility Maintenance Outside School Premises: This motion addressed concerns about road works and utility maintenance occurring outside school premises during term times, particularly impacting school access and child safety. It proposed a review of the Highway Maintenance system to avoid such planning during term times, except for emergency works.

Question Time

A series of questions were scheduled to be asked of the Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Highways and Transport, covering issues such as graffiti on a bus shelter in Upton Upon Severn, road safety in Bromsgrove Central, the Bromsgrove Route Enhancement Programme (BREP), and safety assessments for Stakenbridge Lane in Kidderminster. Questions were also directed to the Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services regarding Hampton Bridge, and to the Cabinet Member for Environment concerning the Severn Stoke Bund project and the Council's Net Zero policy. An additional question was posed regarding the effectiveness and accessibility of the Worcestershire on-demand bus app.

Reports of Committees

Updates were provided from the Audit and Governance Committee, including the outcome of the 2024/25 external audit, noting significant financial sustainability concerns and a statutory recommendation to address the escalating Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) deficit. An update on internal audit progress indicated an improving corporate governance picture. The Pensions Committee reported on its valuation update, business plan, risk register, and governance and compliance activities, including a cyber security review. The Standards and Ethics Committee provided an update on the government's response to strengthening the standards and conduct framework for local authorities and an update on arrangements for dealing with Councillor complaints.