The Resources and Performance Cabinet Panel met on Wednesday 28 January 2026 to discuss the council's budget for the upcoming financial year, review financial performance, and consider the future of several council landholdings. The meeting also included a review of library services and performance monitoring reports.

Budget 2026/27 and Medium Term Financial Strategy

The panel was scheduled to consider the council's proposed budget for 2026/27 and its Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS). The report highlighted significant financial pressures facing Hertfordshire, including a loss of £42 million annually in government funding over the next three years, alongside rising demand and costs for services. Despite these challenges, the council proposed investing an additional £108 million in key services such as children's services, SEND support, and adult social care. The budget also included a capital programme of £1.3 billion over four years for areas like expanding SEND school places and improving roads. To balance the budget, the council planned to increase income, deliver efficiencies, and proposed a 2.99% Council Tax increase plus a 2% Adult Social Care precept. The report detailed planned savings of £55 million for the next financial year, rising to £109 million by the end of the MTFS period, and outlined investment priorities across adult care, children's services, growth and environment, and community protection. The panel was invited to comment on these proposals and endorse them to the Cabinet.

Finance Budget Monitor – Quarter 3 2025/26

A report was presented summarising the council's financial position for the third quarter of the 2025/26 financial year. The forecast indicated a small overspend of £1.4 million against a total budget of £1.2 billion, representing an improvement of £4.8 million since the previous quarter. The report noted that social care services (Adults and Children's) continued to face the highest financial pressures due to increasing demand and rising costs. The Schools' High Needs funding block was also under significant pressure, with an expected in-year deficit of around £11 million, contributing to a cumulative deficit of £89 million by the end of the financial year. The capital programme was forecasting an underspend of £16 million for the year, with a request to reprogramme £2.8 million into later years. The report also detailed departmental variances, including pressures in Adult Care Services and Children's Services, and underspends in Growth & Environment and Treasury & Capital Financing.

Future of Land Holdings at Ickleford

The panel was asked to consider proposals for the future of land holdings at Ickleford, which had been allocated for development in the North Hertfordshire Local Plan. The land, previously part of the council's Rural Estate, was appropriated for Planning Purposes in 2019 and allocated for 150 homes. The report recommended that the land be declared surplus to requirements and disposed of for best consideration. A portion of the land was to be retained as a reserve for a future primary school, pending further clarity on local housing growth.

Future of the Former Hexton JMI School

The panel was scheduled to discuss the future of the former Hexton JMI School, which closed in August 2024 due to falling pupil numbers. The property, owned freehold by the County Council, is vacant and no longer required for council services. The report recommended that the site be declared surplus and disposed of for best consideration. Legal implications included the requirement for Secretary of State approval for the disposal, as the site had been used for education within the past eight years.

Future of Heath Barn, Hemel Hempstead

Proposals for the future of Heath Barn on St John's Road, Hemel Hempstead, were to be considered. This Grade II listed property, formerly used as a Music Centre by The Hemel Hempstead School, is vacant and adjacent to the school. A replacement facility within the school grounds had been completed in 2016, with the business case including the potential disposal of Heath Barn. The property had recently secured planning permission for residential redevelopment. The report recommended that Heath Barn be declared surplus to requirements and available for disposal, with a three-month window for a community group, Our Heath Barn, to submit a viable bid, in parallel with openly marketing the site for sale.

Hertfordshire Libraries Motion

The panel considered a response to a motion proposed by Councillor Richard Roberts and seconded by Councillor Alexander Curtis, which had been referred from County Council. The motion celebrated the centenary of Hertfordshire libraries, highlighting their value beyond books as community spaces providing digital access, literacy support, and vital services. It reaffirmed the council's commitment to protecting libraries from closure and supporting ongoing investment. The panel was to consider the response to this motion.

Hertfordshire County Council Performance Monitor – Quarter 1 & 2 2025-26

A report was presented detailing the council's performance for the first and second quarters of the financial year 2025-26. The format of the report had been updated to reflect new priorities in the administration's corporate plan. Members raised concerns about the lack of detail in the report, particularly regarding commentary, metrics, and graphs, which hindered detailed analysis of overall council performance and attributed costs. A cross-party working group was to be established to examine the content and format of these reports.

Hertfordshire County Council Resources Performance Monitor – Quarter 1 2025-26

This report outlined the performance of the Resources Directorate for the first quarter of the financial year 2025-26. Similar to the overall performance monitor, concerns were raised about the level of detail provided. A cross-party working group was also to be established to review the content and format of this report. The report highlighted commendations for the Customer Service Centre and the Health and Safety Team.

Other Part I Business

There was no other Part I (public) business scheduled for discussion.

The meeting also included Part II ('closed') agenda items concerning the future of land holdings at Ickleford, the former Hexton JMI School, and Heath Barn, Hemel Hempstead, which were to be discussed with the press and public excluded due to the likely disclosure of exempt information relating to financial or business affairs.