Councils agree budgets

Hertford's local authorities have agreed budgets for the forthcoming financal year 2025-26.

Hertfordshire County Council will be increasing their part of council tax by 4.99%, whilst East Herts will be raising theirs by 2.98%. Hertford Town Council will be raised their precept by 5%.

On Wednesday (26th February) East Herts Council approved its spending plans to deliver a balanced budget.

At its meeting, the Full Council agreed to allocate a total of £19m to deliver local services, ensuring frontline services remain protected while prioritising key areas for residents, including planning enforcement and funding for Citizens Advice.

In response to ongoing financial pressures - including reductions in government grants, rising service delivery costs, and increased borrowing expenses - some charges will be increased. The annual garden waste subscription fee will increase by £10, from £49 to £59, to help cover operational costs, while short-stay parking tariffs will rise.

We have carefully considered all possible ways to generate income and reduce costs while prioritising the needs of our residents, businesses, and communities in our decisions."

We’ve worked hard to improve efficiency and make the most of our assets, but there is only so much we can achieve through these measures alone. As a result, we have had to make difficult decisions to ensure we can continue delivering the services that local people rely on most.

“Looking ahead, we remain committed to listening to residents and ensuring that every pound we spend delivers real benefits for our communities.

:: Cllr Carl Brittain, Executive Member for Financial Sustainability, East Herts District Council

County Hall agreed their spending plans the previous day (25th February), agreeing a budget of just over £1bn.

Agreed as part of the 2025/26 budget, investment in services includes nearly half a billion pounds supporting 30,000 adults to live well for longer, including £30 million investment to support those providing care. A further £26m of additional investment will be spent on older adults requiring care.

Just over quarter of a billion pounds will be spent on children’s services, whilst £100m will be spent on highways maintenance.

From keeping Hertfordshire moving to helping residents who need the most support, we will be spending over a billion pounds delivering services across Hertfordshire that are focussed on you, our residents and businesses. It seems that the economic outlook for the country deteriorates on daily basis with increasing inflation, near stagnant growth and poor economic and consumer confidence hitting both you and the county council hard. That is why we are bearing down on our own costs and making the organisation fit for the future. Years of prudent financial planning have put us in a good position, but once again we are going to have to access our reserves and make significant savings to balance the budget.

:: Councillor Richard Roberts, Leader of Hertfordshire County Council

It has been a real challenge to present a balanced budget for the coming financial year. Thanks to our prudent financial planning and the expertise of officers, we have been able to outline our commitment to protecting the most vulnerable who need our help, delivering a fair wage for caring staff, investing in schools and continuing to provide additional investment for services to children with special educational needs and disabilities. We'll use the over £1bn of your money to deliver on your priorities, ensuring that Hertfordshire can weather any future storms while remaining a county of opportunity

:: Councillor Bob Deering, Executive Member for Resources & Performance

Hertford Town Council agreed its budget back in January.

Town Council services include: six allotments sites, the cemetery and closed churchyards, the Pinehurst Play Area, taxi marshals, maintenance of the war memorial, planters and CCTV in the town centre, as well as allocating grants to local community groups and charities and offering a wide programme of free community events.