Agenda item

The Interim Director of Finance and Section 151 (s151) officer took the opportunity to briefly introduce herself in her new role and in attending her first meeting of the Board.

The Interim Director of Finance and Section 151 officer commented that she was aware that Members of the Board were kept well informed of Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS) budgets by their own authorities s151 senior officers.

The WRS detailed revenue monitoring quarter 3 report provided Members with the projected outturn 2025/2026 of £8k surplus. Which was an estimation to the year-end based on the assumptions as detailed on page 21 of the main agenda pack.

The Interim Director of Finance and Section 151 officer stated that the revenue monitoring was looking good and that she had been pleasantly surprised by the income generated by WRS. The income generation team should be pleased. It was noted that any additional costs had been offset by additional income.

The question of the service being seen as ‘Value for Money’ was raised by Councillor K. Taylor, Bromsgrove District Council (BDC).

In responding the Director, WRS acknowledged that such questions had only arisen since WRS had taken over Planning Enforcement for  BDC and that this had led to questions regarding the wider value for money of the shared service. Members were reassured that the Director, WRS reviewed expenditure for the six Districts in comparison with each Council’s nearest Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) nearest neighbour group. These were Councils which CIPFA felt were similar, not necessarily geographically close together. The Director, WRS further stated that he was willing to share this information after the meeting with Board Members should they so wish.

Councillor M. Dormer, Redditch Borough Council (RBC) commented that it was very early days and there was very little activity prior to the take-over for WRS to make a comparison. Councillor M. Dormer stated that he was very happy with Planning Enforcement being taken on by WRS and that he had every confidence.

The Director, WRS further added that the Technical Services Manager’s team worked very closely with the relevant planning officers for both BDC / RBC and had had to pick up some very long outstanding cases.

Some Members commented that this may be a perception, and that the information as detailed in the Activity and Performance Data, Quarter 3, 2025/2026, as shown on page 110 of the main agenda pack, showed that BDC was making the very most of WRS for Planning Enforcement and Environmental Crime.

RESOLVED that the Board

1.1  Note the final financial position for the period April – December 2025

1.2  That partner Councils be informed of their liabilities for April – December 2025 in  relation to Bereavements, as follows

1.3  That partner Councils be informed of their liabilities for 2025-26 in relation to Pest control, as follows

1.4  That partner Councils be informed of their liabilities for 2025-26 in relation to additional Technical Officers, as follows

With the agreement of the Chairman, Councillor M. Goode, Wychavon District Council took the opportunity to express his since thanks to WRS officers for the way in which they had handled one of the public burials involving someone he had known. Councillor M. Goode stated that it was carried out extremely well and was very professionally managed, and that it showed how good the service was at ensuring someone was there to give the deceased a dignified send-off.