The Cabinet of Hertfordshire Council met on Wednesday 11 February 2026 to approve the council's budget for 2026/27 and its Medium Term Financial Strategy, which included a decision to increase council tax. The meeting also addressed various service reviews, school admissions, and the future of council-owned properties.

Budget and Council Tax Approved

The Cabinet recommended to the Council the adoption of the Budget and Medium Term Financial Strategy for 2026/27 - 2029/30. This includes a revenue budget of £1,207.5m and a Council Tax Requirement of £877.3m. A key decision was the approval of a Band D Council Tax of £1,545.69, plus a £312.50 Social Care precept, resulting in a total Band D Council Tax of £1,858.19 for 2026/27. This represents an increase from the previous year's Band D Council Tax of £1,769.87. The Council Tax requirement will be collected from district and borough councils, with St Albans District Council contributing the largest precept amount at £120,722,330.46.

The Cabinet also approved a capital programme totalling £1,309.1m for the period 2026/27 to 2029/30, including a reallocation of £350k from a capital contingency to the Sustainable Hertfordshire programme. The Capital Strategy, Investment Strategy, Minimum Revenue Provision policy, and Treasury Management Strategy were also approved.

During the budget discussions, the Overview & Scrutiny Committee provided recommendations across various service areas. These included calls for improved transparency in care leaver funding, continued monitoring of foster care sufficiency, and a strong focus on staff recruitment and retention. For Education, SEND & Inclusion, recommendations covered providing an overview of the impact of the government's SEND white paper on the budget and exploring savings through the council's internal fleet for home-to-school transport. The Highways committee requested further clarification on New Roads and Street Works Act income.

The Environment, Transport and Growth committee recommended a report on the revised Speed Management Strategy, exploring community-led education initiatives for Active Travel, strengthening forward planning for waste pressures, and surveying residents for demand-led Herts Lynx services. Adult Care Services requested robust monitoring of their Accommodation Strategy, close monitoring of care sector turnover, and plans for quarterly reporting on the Connect and Prevent programme. Public Health & Community Safety highlighted concerns about the public health grant and suggested seeking capital contributions for the Longfield project. Resources & Performance called for clarity on new service levels following staffing reductions and an urgent review of the capital programme.

The Cabinet noted the Finance Budget Monitor for Quarter 3 2025/26, which indicated a forecasted small overspend of £1.4m on a total budget of £1.2 billion, an improvement of £4.8m from the previous quarter. However, social care services and Schools' High Needs funding continue to face significant financial pressures. The capital programme is forecasting a £16m underspend, with a request to reprogram £2.8m into later years.

School Admissions and Closures

The Cabinet agreed to amend Hertfordshire's admissions arrangements for 2027/28. This includes reducing the Published Admission Number (PAN) at Kimpton Primary School from 30 to 15 and at Little Green Junior School from 90 to 60. Conversely, the PANs at Widford and Hunsdon Primary Schools will increase, and Reed First School's PAN will rise from 12 to 14.

Decisions were also made regarding school closures. The Cabinet authorised the Director of Children's Services to publish a statutory notice for the closure of Albury Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School and St Nicholas Elstree Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, both effective from 31 August 2026. These decisions were made despite majority opposition from public consultation respondents, balancing views with evidence of educational sustainability and financial viability.

Corporate Parenting Strategy and Service Changes

The Cabinet approved the implementation of the Corporate Parenting Strategy 2026-2031, which outlines the council's priorities for improving outcomes for children in care and care leavers.

Changes to the Recycling Centre service were agreed, including the introduction of an e-pass system for all site users, a charging scheme for excess DIY waste, and reciprocal arrangements with neighbouring local authorities.

Property Disposals and Service Delegations

Several council-owned properties and land holdings were declared surplus to requirements and available for disposal. These include the Former Hexton JMI School, Heath Barn in Hemel Hempstead, and land holdings at Ickleford. For Heath Barn, a two-month pause before marketing was agreed to allow Our Heath Barn CIC to develop a business case and seek grant funding.

Authority was delegated to the Executive Director of Adult Care Services to make decisions regarding the closure, reprovision, or change of use of residential establishments within Phase 1 and 2 of the Supported Living Programme 2025-30.

Strategy Approvals

The revised Sustainable Hertfordshire Strategy, including its guiding principles, was approved. This strategy builds upon the council's declaration of a climate emergency in 2019 and focuses on achieving carbon neutrality, enhancing biodiversity, and improving air quality.

The Cabinet also approved new and revised processes for the Highway Locality Budget (HLB) scheme from 2026/27 onwards, aiming to improve efficiency and clarity for members. The 2026/27 Integrated Works Programme and associated capital budgets for Highways & Transport were also approved, including a street lighting programme of £5.961m.