The Council meeting scheduled for 10 September 2026 was set to address significant financial challenges facing Worcestershire County Council, including the findings of an external assurance review and the 2025/26 Treasury Management Annual Report. Discussions were also scheduled on constitutional matters, including the national scheme of delegation for planning decisions and the appointment of committee chairs and vice-chairs, alongside various notices of motion and questions from councillors on a range of local issues.

External Assurance Review

A key item on the agenda was the consideration of the findings from an External Assurance Review, conducted by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA). The review, commissioned by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), assessed the council's financial position and governance arrangements as a condition of receiving Exceptional Financial Support (EFS). The report highlighted severe and escalating financial pressures, primarily driven by demand in adult and children's social care, and the council's increasing reliance on EFS. It detailed 30 key risks and 30 recommendations for improvement across four themes: quality of financial management and processes, financial sustainability and risk, service reform, delivery and transformation, and governance, culture and leadership. The council accepted all risks and recommendations, and a draft action plan was presented for noting. The review also noted that the announcement of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) for Worcestershire introduced additional uncertainties.

2025/26 Treasury Management Annual Report

The Council was scheduled to consider the 2025/26 Treasury Management Annual Report. This report summarises the treasury management performance and position for the year ending 31 March 2026, in accordance with CIPFA's Treasury Management Code of Practice. It detailed the council's underlying need to borrow, total external borrowing, and interest paid on external debt. The report also highlighted the council's cash and cash equivalents, investment income, and the financial risks associated with borrowing and investing substantial sums. Concerns were noted regarding the need to opt for shorter-term borrowing to secure better interest rates, even if it meant slightly exceeding the 25% limit.

Reports of Cabinet

A summary of decisions taken by the Cabinet was to be presented for consideration. This included updates on the recommissioning of Best Start Family Hubs, with a revised commissioning model and a move towards a two-provider model approved. Cabinet also authorised the Strategic Director for Economy and Infrastructure to proceed with the procurement of a development partner for the Shrub Hill development, including agreeing disposal terms and finalising commercial and financial aspects of the preferred bid. Consideration of the Adoption of an Advertising and Sponsorship Policy was deferred to a future meeting.

Constitutional Matters

Several constitutional matters were scheduled for discussion. These included the political balance of the council and its committees, reflecting recent changes in group membership. Adjustments to the allocation of seats on various committees and overview and scrutiny panels were proposed to maintain political balance. Additionally, the appointment of Chairs and Vice-Chairs for committees and panels was to be addressed, with proposed changes to reflect the new political balance and fill existing vacancies, including the Vice-Chair of the Planning and Regulatory Committee and Vice-Chairs for the Economy and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Panels.

Worcestershire Pension Fund - LGPS Central Representative Delegations

The Council was asked to consider updating its Constitution regarding representative delegations for the Worcestershire Pension Fund's pooling company, LGPS Central. This was in response to the new governance framework established under the Pension Schemes Act 2026. The proposed changes aimed to align constitutional delegations with the statutory role of the Senior LGPS Officer and ensure appropriate representation on the LGPS Central Oversight Board and Shareholder Engagement Forum, with interim arrangements pending the appointment of the Senior LGPS Officer.

National Scheme of Delegation of Planning Decisions

The Council was to consider updating its Constitution to align with the Government's new National Scheme of Delegation of Planning Decisions, which comes into effect on 31 October 2026. This mandatory scheme dictates which planning applications can be determined by officers and which must be decided by committee. Amendments to the terms of reference for the Planning and Regulatory Committee, member role descriptions for its Chair and Vice-Chair, and the Officer Scheme of Delegation were proposed to reflect these changes. The report outlined the types of applications that must be determined by officers, those that may be determined by committee or officers, and other functions of the County Planning Authority.

Notices of Motion

Five Notices of Motion were scheduled for consideration. These included proposals to:

• Support Worcestershire's farming communities by prioritising locally sourced food in council catering services.
• Increase the number of Highways Liaison Teams to address backlogs of highway matters.
• Advise the Home Secretary against the radical shrinkage of police forces, citing concerns about local effectiveness.
• Explore the use of the vacant County Hall site for hospital or related NHS usage.
• Produce a plan for traffic improvements in Evesham within three months.

Annual Report of the Chairman of the Audit and Governance Committee 2025/26

The Council was to receive the Annual Report of the Chairman of the Audit and Governance Committee for the 2025/26 municipal year. The report summarised the committee's achievements, including its scrutiny of financial statements, internal and external audit reports, risk management, debt management, and treasury management. The Chairman's foreword highlighted the committee's role in providing independent assurance on governance, risk, and control arrangements, and noted areas for improvement, particularly concerning financial sustainability and debt recovery.

Question Time

A session was scheduled for councillors to ask questions to Cabinet Members and the Leader of the Council. Questions were submitted on a range of topics including:

• MMR vaccine uptake and measles prevention.
• Promotion of libraries as community assets and cooling hubs.
• The A38 BREP scheme in Bromsgrove and the need for an independent review.
• Quality checks for road and pavement repairs.
• Comments made by a councillor on social media.
• Support for farming communities impacted by extreme weather.
• Identified savings for the 2027/28 balanced budget.
• The role of Road Traffic Orders within the Education, SEND and Skills portfolio.
• Proactive inspection and clearance of drains and gullies to prevent flooding.
• Securing funding for a pedestrian crossing on Primsland Way in Droitwich Spa.
• Action being taken to resolve the situation with recycling of fridges and freezers at household recycling centres.
• The commissioning of a feasibility study into converting county buildings into SEND provision.
• Challenging the Government's decision on Local Government Reorganisation.
• The prudent and necessary level of council reserves.
• The duration and start date of the Pershore Bridge closure.
• The fairness, equity, and consistency of the blue no parking signs policy.
• The reasons for temporary traffic lights on Worcester Road in Evesham and an update on the issue.

Reports of Committees

A summary of decisions taken by the Audit and Governance Committee was to be presented. This included noting the draft Annual Statutory Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2026, progress on the External Audit, and an update on the Dedicated School Grant (DSG) deficit and Local SEND reform plan. The committee also noted the 2025/26 Annual Report of the Chairman of the Audit and Governance Committee, the Counter Fraud Annual Summary Report 2025/26, and the Internal Audit Annual Report and Chief Internal Auditor Annual Audit Opinion for 2025/26. Progress on the 2026/27 Internal Audit plan and debt management were also discussed.

The meeting was scheduled to be webcast, and members of the public were informed that their images and speech might be captured.