The Economy Overview and Scrutiny Panel of Worcestershire Council met on Friday, 13 March 2026, to discuss the Worcestershire Growth Hub, the Worcester Six Business Park, and the council's performance and budget monitoring for the 2025/26 financial year. The panel also reviewed and proposed updates to its scrutiny work programme for the upcoming 2026/27 year.

Worcestershire Growth Hub

The panel was scheduled to receive an overview of the Worcestershire Growth Hub (WGH). This initiative, which transferred to Worcestershire County Council in April 2024, aims to support businesses and entrepreneurs by providing access to tailored advice, online resources, and funding routes. The WGH operates within the national framework of Growth Hubs, designed to address regional economic barriers and simplify business support for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). The report pack detailed the hub's achievements over the past three years, including significant engagement with businesses, job creation, and the delivery of various support programmes. It also highlighted the funding challenges faced by the WGH, particularly the cessation of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) income stream at the end of March 2026, and outlined future plans contingent on securing further investment.

Worcester Six Business Park

A report was scheduled to provide an overview of the Worcester Six Business Park, a significant commercial development located near junction 6 of the M5 motorway. This 72-hectare site, developed through a partnership including the Spetchley Estate, Stoford, and various local authorities, has seen substantial infrastructure development since 2015 and is home to numerous businesses. The report was expected to detail the park's history, its current occupiers, and the governance and marketing strategies employed. It was also set to highlight key success stories, such as major investment, job creation, and the attraction of national and international companies, alongside lessons learned from the project's development. Future plans for the remaining development land and potential Phase 3 expansion were also to be discussed.

Performance and 2025/26 In-Year Budget Monitoring

The panel was scheduled to be updated on the performance and financial information relevant to the Economy Overview and Scrutiny Panel's remit for the third quarter (October to December 2025) of the 2025/26 financial year. This included a review of performance indicators presented in a dashboard and a Power BI report. Additionally, the panel was to receive in-year budget monitoring information, including a summary of reserves. The report pack provided detailed data on various economic indicators, such as business survival rates, employment figures, broadband coverage, and rail passenger journeys, across different districts within Worcestershire. It also included financial forecasts for the Economy and Infrastructure (E&I) directorate, highlighting projected underspends in areas like Waste Management and Road Lighting, while noting pressures in Highways Operations. The report also detailed the overall corporate financial position, including projected overspends in Adult and Children's Social Care, and outlined the council's capital programme.

Refresh of the Scrutiny Work Programme 2026/27

The panel was asked to consider suggestions for its 2026/27 Work Programme. This process involves reviewing potential topics for future scrutiny, guided by feasibility criteria such as the issue's priority for the council and local residents, and the likelihood of achieving practical outcomes. The remit of the Economy Overview and Scrutiny Panel covers areas such as the economy, workforce skills, strategic infrastructure, and broadband and communications. The panel was to prioritise these suggested topics before the programme is submitted to the Overview and Scrutiny Performance Board and subsequently to the full Council for approval. The report pack included the current 2025/26 Work Programme and a list of suggested future items for consideration.