Councillor County Mohammed Iqbal MBE

...approved the appointment of Gary Fielding as the Corporate Director of Finance (Section 151 Officer) and John Betts as the interim Section 151 Officer until Gary Fielding starts.

...approved the 2026/27 budget, including setting the Council Tax at an overall increase of 3.80%.

...to note the minor and/or corrective changes to the County Council's Constitution that had been approved by the Director of Law and Governance since the Annual General Meeting in 2025.

...to replace County Councillor Ella Worthington, they approved the appointment of County Councillor Alice Jones as the new Deputy Chair of the Environment, Economic Growth and Transport Scrutiny Committee for the remainder of the 2025/26 municipal year.

...to note the report of the Employment Committee, thereby approving its recommendations regarding the recruitment of a Director of Finance, coroner salaries and fees, and the employment of the Executive Director of Adult Services.