Issue - meetings

There are no outstanding recommendations contained in the minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Board included in this agenda pack.

Members considered the contents of the minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Board meeting held on 6^th January 2026.

It was confirmed that there were no outstanding recommendations contained within the minutes.

However, as a result of discussions held at this meeting regarding the Local Heritage report, Members were keen to understand who made the decision as to what assets appeared on the Local Heritage List. It was noted that there had been engagement with local communities including Parish Councils on this matter where assets to be included were discussed. Cabinet was informed that recruitment was underway for a full time Conservation Officer who would provide support for an increasingly development management workload.

Although there had been no recommendations made by the Board at the Overview and Scrutiny Board meeting held on 10^th February 2026, Members were keen that a regular update be provided to the Board from the Member representative on the West Mercia Police and Crime Panel. It was suggested, however that it would be more appropriate for Chief Inspector Dave King, to provide an in-depth update on these matters. It was confirmed that this would be investigated further and future arrangements made accordingly.

The Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Board explained that just prior to this Cabinet meeting, there had been two meetings of the Finance and Budget Working Group, with Board Members in attendance at one of the meetings. Both meetings had pre-scrutinised the Medium-Term Financial Plan Stage Two Budget Report 2026/2027 to 2028/2029 (including Capital Strategy, Investment Strategy and Treasury Management Strategy) report which was due to be considered at this Cabinet meeting.

It was reported that there were no recommendations made as a result of this pre-scrutiny. Members were largely in agreement with the proposals contained within the Medium-Term Financial Plan Stage Two Budget Report 2026/2027 to 2028/2029 (including Capital Strategy, Investment Strategy and Treasury Management Strategy) report. This included the proposed increase in Council Tax of 2.99 per cent for the 2026/2027 financial year. It was requested, that should Members have any technical queries in respect of the report prior to the Council meeting, that these be sent in writing to the Interim Director of Finance and Section 151 Officer and Cabinet Member for Finance in order to provide as much detail as possible for questions at the Council meeting due to take place on 25^th February 2026.

RESOLVED that subject to the preamble above, the minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Board meeting held on 6^th January 2026 be noted.