The Cabinet of Worcestershire Council met on Thursday, 23 October 2025, to discuss several key issues, including the restoration of Powick Old Bridge, the future of secondary education provision in Worcester City, and the disposal of County Hall. Decisions were made regarding the restoration of Powick Old Bridge and the disposal of County Hall, while the secondary education provision was subject to extensive debate and further consideration.

Powick Old Bridge Restoration

Cabinet agreed to proceed with the restoration of Powick Old Bridge, a Grade 1 listed scheduled ancient monument. The bridge, which crosses the River Teme and connects Worcester and Powick, has been closed since a partial collapse in 2024. Significant work has already been undertaken to stabilise the structure and recover materials. The council will now move forward with detailed design, seek external funding opportunities, and engage with local stakeholders such as the Worcester Civic Society and the Battle of Worcester Society. The detailed construction work is anticipated to commence in 2027.

Arguments for the restoration highlighted the bridge's historical and national significance, as well as the council's legal duty under the Highways Act 1981 to maintain it. Concerns were raised by Councillor Jenkins regarding the allocation of funds to bridges over education, and by Councillor Wells and Mr. Reggit about the ongoing flood risk to the village and the A449, urging that flood mitigation measures be prioritised. Councillor Perks responded that the flood risk assessment could only be undertaken once the temporary structure was in place and that the repair design would incorporate measures to address future blockages. Councillor Cunt questioned the progress on securing external funding, noting that a previous application to the Heritage Lottery Fund had been unsuccessful due to a lack of detailed costings. Councillor Perks confirmed that the council was now in a position to reapply with full costings. Councillor May expressed concern that the bridge repairs should not proceed without addressing the flood risk first, but Councillor Crisp assured that practical engineering solutions would be incorporated into the design to account for increased flood risk. Councillor Bourke sought clarification on whether funding would be sought from sources beyond heritage organisations, such as the Environment Agency, which Councillor Perks confirmed was part of the consideration. Councillor James raised the importance of considering active travel in the bridge's restoration. Councillor Miller expressed concerns about the contractors' interpretation of survey details and the immediate need for debris removal, suggesting an internal inquiry into how information is disseminated. Councillor Cresswell agreed that reports should be circulated widely.

Worcester City Secondary Education Sufficiency and Place Planning

A lengthy debate took place regarding the provision of secondary school places in Worcester City. The report presented a range of options to address a projected shortfall of 120 places per year group from September 2029. The most expensive option, a new secondary school at Newtown Road, with an estimated cost of £63.3 million, was recommended for cancellation due to its impact on the council's overall capital programme and financial emergency. Instead, the cabinet recommended continuing to investigate expansion options at existing schools across the county, including Bishop Perowne Church of England Academy, Church of England Academy Worcester, and schools in Malvern and Pershore. The feasibility study for using County Hall for educational purposes concluded it was not a viable option.

Councillor Foster, Cabinet Member for Education and Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities, emphasised the council's statutory duty to provide sufficient school places and a balanced budget, stating that the financial reality meant proceeding with the sale of County Hall was necessary. He highlighted the significant borrowing costs associated with the Newtown Road school proposal. Councillor James, Chair of the Corporate and Communities Scrutiny Committee, advocated for waiting for a full educational sufficiency report due in February 2026 before making a final decision, and raised concerns about the impact of long bus journeys on children's well-being and the potential write-off of £4 million if the Newtown Road plan was scrapped. Councillor McVay, Chair of the Children and Families Scrutiny Committee, echoed these concerns, referencing the detrimental impacts of long commutes on social isolation and friendships. Councillor Bell, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, cautioned against the casual use of the term mental health in political discourse, emphasising that travelling with peers could be beneficial for well-being. Councillor May questioned the sufficiency of places if bulge groups were created and expressed concern about increased home-to-school transport costs, urging the cabinet to delay the decision until February 2026 to allow for a more informed decision. Councillor Jenkins argued that County Hall would be a valuable site for a school and suggested demolishing it to increase its value for sale. Councillor Kent questioned the accuracy of costings and contingency figures, advocating for the County Hall site as a potentially more cost-effective option with better outcomes. Councillor Bowen highlighted that the proposed 120 places at County Hall could not be expanded upon and that the costs would be considerably higher than initial estimates. Councillor Wharton, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services, reiterated the need to balance the budget and the financial implications of delaying the sale of County Hall. Councillor Perks addressed concerns about journey times, stating that the Department for Transport's maximum suggested time was 45 minutes, and that the proposed journeys were within this limit. Councillor Miller raised concerns about the expansion of Bishop Perowne and the safety of children crossing roads, as well as issues with discipline on school buses and the impact on families. Councillor Wells challenged cabinet members to experience the school bus journey from Worcester to Malvern. Councillor Foster confirmed that the proposed expansions at existing schools would provide sufficient places and that the Newtown Road school would not be built.

County Hall Update on Site Options and Disposal

Cabinet agreed to proceed with the disposal of the County Hall site, with the exception of land required for car parking during the council's occupation of Wildwood offices. The decision was made following the completion of a feasibility study which concluded that the site was not suitable for educational use. Councillor Wharton, Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services, emphasised the financial imperative to sell the site, which was costing £1.5 million per annum to maintain. Councillor Cunt and Councillor Jenkins suggested commencing demolition immediately to increase the site's value and generate savings, a suggestion Councillor Wharton agreed to consider.

Sixways - Former Park and Ride Site Future Options Appraisal

Cabinet approved the surrender of the existing lease for the Sixways former park and ride site and the negotiation of a new lease to support the Worndon depot site. This decision is intended to facilitate the ambitious plans of the Worcester Warriors rugby club, which has submitted a planning application for development on the site. Councillor Wharton, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, expressed his support for the club's plans, highlighting the positive impact a successful sports team can have on the community. Councillor Bowen, Cabinet Member for Children and Families, also supported the proposal, noting the return of Worcester Warriors to professional rugby. Councillor Burch, the only cabinet member representing Worcester, expressed his gratitude for the decision and pledged to address the Worcester City Council's objection to the planning application. Councillor Amos agreed to provide feedback to Worcester City Council regarding their planning department's decisions. Councillor James, the local member for Bowbrook, described the decision as phenomenal and a boost for Worcestershire.

West Midlands Regional Safe Centre

The meeting moved into an exempt session to discuss the West Midlands Regional Safe Centre, with the public and press excluded due to the likely disclosure of exempt information.