The Cabinet of Worcestershire Council met on Thursday, 22 October 2026, to discuss proposals for charging developers for the long-term maintenance of non-standard highway assets and the reprovision of the internal Appointees and Deputies Service. The meeting considered the principle of charging commuted sums for non-standard highway assets and the closure of the in-house Appointees and Deputies Service, with a view to transferring existing cases to external providers.

Charging Commuted Sums for Non-Standard Highway Assets

The Cabinet considered the principle of implementing a formal charging strategy for commuted sums for non-standard highway assets. This proposal aims to protect the council's highway maintenance budget from increased costs associated with maintaining developer-led enhancements. Councillor Tom Wells, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Highways and Transport, explained that this policy would ensure that developers cover the long-term maintenance costs of assets that are more expensive to maintain than standard specifications, such as bespoke paving or specialist street lighting.

The proposed policy, which will be subject to technical stakeholder engagement, will draw on national guidance from the Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning & Transport (ADEPT). The commuted sum will be calculated based on the whole-life cost of the asset, with a 60-year period for most assets and 120 years for bridges. Councillor Wells stated, The council that is struggling financially to make ends meet, any additional funding is well welcome, and it won't be in our general reserves. It will be a separate budget head in its own right with commuted sums that can only be spent on these matters. The decision would delegate authority to the Strategic Director for Economy and Infrastructure, in consultation with Councillor Wells, to finalise the policy and oversee its implementation.

Reprovision of Internal Appointees and Deputies Service

The Cabinet considered the permanent closure of the in-house Appointees and Deputies Service to new referrals and consultation on options for transferring existing cases to external providers. Councillor Adam Kent, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Finance, Corporate Services and Business, presented the report, highlighting that the service currently supports 144 vulnerable adults who lack the mental capacity to manage their own finances.

Councillor Kent explained that the service is discretionary and has never fully recovered its costs, resulting in an annual net cost to taxpayers of approximately £175,000. He emphasised that the decision was not about whether these individuals deserve support, but rather who is best placed to provide it. We cannot, unfortunately, keep doing everything we have always done. And we must protect the services that only the council can provide and look honestly at those that others already provide well, he stated. The report noted that an established external market already supports around 2,700 Worcestershire residents in similar roles, regulated by the Office of the Public Guardian and the DWP.

The proposed closure to new referrals has been in place since June 2024, with all new referrals successfully signposted to external providers. The consultation will involve affected staff, service users, their families and carers, external providers, and relevant regulatory bodies. The final decision on the transition programme would be made by Councillor Kent following consideration of the consultation outcomes. The move is expected to generate a full-year net revenue saving of approximately £0.175 million per annum. Councillor Dan Boatright-Greene, Liberal Democrat Group Leader and Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Education, SEND and Skills, who seconded the proposal, expressed reassurance that no one would be left without support, stating, it's also really important to reassure everyone and to understand that, you know, there is going to be no reduction in this service.

Councillor Mug raised a question regarding the specific number of affected individuals residing within Redditch Borough and his division, Redditch East. Councillor Wells committed to finding out this information, while reiterating that no one would be disadvantaged by the change. Phil Rook, Chief Financial Officer, provided assurance that the council would ensure vulnerable adults receive an adequate and equal service during the transition. Councillor Wells further clarified that the council retains legal responsibility until responsibility is lawfully transferred, and all moves will comply with the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and other relevant regulations.