Council Tax breakdown across the council
Case reference FOI2026/00883
Received 9 April 2026
Published 2 July 2026
Request
I am formally requesting full disclosure of the following:
Section 1: Full Expenditure Breakdown
1a) A complete, itemised breakdown of all Council Tax expenditure for the most recent complete financial year, including departmental allocations and all spending categories.
Section 2: Specific Areas of Concern
Detailed figures relating to:
2a) All expenditure on council buildings, including headquarters, refurbishments, and capital projects, with total costs and justifications for the last 5 financial years. If we are unable to do this then for the last financial year.
2b) Total spending on external recruitment consultants and agencies, with a breakdown by contract or supplier where possible for the last 5 financial years. If we are unable to do this then for the last financial year.
2c) The number of employees earning £100,000 or more, their job titles, and the total salary cost of these roles to the public purse for the last 5 financial years. If we are unable to do this then for the last financial year.
2d) All expenditure on events, hospitality, catering, food, drink, and provisions for councillors and officers, itemised by occasion or category for the last 5 financial years. If we are unable to do this then for the last financial year.
Section 3: Core Public Service Expenditure
A clear breakdown of spending on services that directly affect residents:
3a) Road maintenance and pothole repair, including the number of reported defects versus repairs completed for the last 5 financial years. If we are unable to do this then for the last financial year.
3b) Waste collection, including any changes to collection frequency in the past two financial years and any associated cost savings.
3c) Maintenance, investment in, or closure of public parks and play areas for the last 5 financial years. If we are unable to do this then for the last financial year.
3d) Recycling centre operations, including any reductions in opening hours or accessibility for the last 5 financial years. If we are unable to do this then for the last financial year.
Section 4: Cost-Saving Measures
4a) Full details of any cost-saving measures implemented by the council in the two financial years prior to the decision to increase Council Tax, including what savings were achieved and how they were reinvested into front-line services.
Section 5: Justification for the Proposed Increase
5a) Copies of, or direct access to, any internal reports, financial assessments, impact analyses, or documented justifications used to support the proposed Council Tax increase, including projected outcomes for residents and any performance metrics or service improvement targets attached to this increase for the last 5 financial years. If we are unable to do this then for the last financial year.
Response
I am formally requesting full disclosure of the following:
Section 1: Full Expenditure Breakdown
1a) A complete, itemised breakdown of all Council Tax expenditure for the most recent complete financial year, including departmental allocations and all spending categories.
Answer: Please see the attached spreadsheet for the most recent complete financial year titled FOI2026 00883 - Q1 - Expenditure Breakdown 24-25.
Please be advised, this is the most recent complete financial year available because the accounts for 2025/26 haven’t been approved by the auditors yet.
Section 2: Specific Areas of Concern
Detailed figures relating to:
2a) All expenditure on council buildings, including headquarters, refurbishments, and capital projects, with total costs and justifications for the last 5 financial years. If we are unable to do this then for the last financial year.
Answer: Please see the attached spreadsheet for the most recent complete financial year only titled FOI2026 00883 - Q2a - Total Spend 2025-26.
2b) Total spending on external recruitment consultants and agencies, with a breakdown by contract or supplier where possible for the last 5 financial years. If we are unable to do this then for the last financial year.
Answer: Please see the attached spreadsheet for the most recent complete financial year only titled FOI2026 00883 - Q2b - Summary of Costs 24-25
Please be advised, this is the most recent complete financial year available because the accounts for 2025/26 haven’t been approved by the auditors yet.
2c) The number of employees earning £100,000 or more, their job titles, and the total salary cost of these roles to the public purse for the last 5 financial years. If we are unable to do this then for the last financial year.
Answer: The pay policy of the Council sets out this information and is publically available on our council website and can be viewed via the following links for the last 5 financial years:
As such we consider this information to be exempt under Section 21 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 because it is reasonably accessible to you via other means. Please take this letter as a refusal notice under S17 of the Act.
2d) All expenditure on events, hospitality, catering, food, drink, and provisions for councillors and officers, itemised by occasion or category for the last 5 financial years. If we are unable to do this then for the last financial year.
Answer: Please see the attached spreadsheet for the most recent complete financial year only titled FOI2026 00883 – Q2d - Summary of Costs 24-25
Please be advised, this is the most recent complete financial year available because the accounts for 2025/26 haven’t been approved by the auditors yet.
Section 3: Core Public Service Expenditure
A clear breakdown of spending on services that directly affect residents:
3a) Road maintenance and pothole repair, including the number of reported defects versus repairs completed for the last 5 financial years. If we are unable to do this then for the last financial year.
Answer: Please see the table below for the last 5 financial years:
|
All Enquiries from April 2021 - March 2026 |
115,192 |
|
All Jobs raised April 2021 - March 2026 |
263,745 |
|
All Playground Jobs April 2021 - March 2026 |
1,384 |
3b) Waste collection, including any changes to collection frequency in the past two financial years and any associated cost savings.
Answer: The Waste Management Service have advised the following:
2024/25 = £4,665,956.78
2025/26 = £5,168,095.50 (Please note, this cost does not include payment for services for Jan-Mar 2026 as these costs are yet to be confirmed and audited before payment to the collection contractor.)
The only change in collection frequency in the last two years was to increase the recycling collection for shops above flats from fortnightly to weekly.
There has been an increase in the items collected for recycling including Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), batteries and vapes, and the roll out of glass recycling boxes for about 5,000 flats and other properties who use plastic sacks for their recycling collection.
3c) Maintenance, investment in, or closure of public parks and play areas for the last 5 financial years. If we are unable to do this then for the last financial year.
Answer: Please see the table below for the information we hold:
|
2026/27 |
£88,597.03 |
|
2025/26 |
£77,811.30 |
|
2024/25 |
£34,673.11 |
|
2023/24 |
£32,223.00 |
3d) Recycling centre operations, including any reductions in opening hours or accessibility for the last 5 financial years. If we are unable to do this then for the last financial year.
Answer: The Waste Management Service have advised the following:
Recycling centre operation is part of our waste disposal PFI contract however we are unable to disaggregate the specific costs of service for.
There have been no reduction in opening hours or accessibility for the past 5 financial years.
Section 4: Cost-Saving Measures
4a) Full details of any cost-saving measures implemented by the council in the two financial years prior to the decision to increase Council Tax, including what savings were achieved and how they were reinvested into front-line services.
Answer: The Service Area have advised the Council approves its savings plans as part of the medium term financial strategy. There is also narrative within the report that demonstrates performance against existing savings plans. The appropriate reports, minutes and meeting recordings are publicly available on our council website via the following links:
2024/25 Budget Setting (item 46): https://councillors.herefordshire.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=291&MId=8970&Ver=4
2025/26 Budget MTFS & Treasury Management (item 50): https://councillors.herefordshire.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=291&MId=9429&Ver=4
As such we consider this information to be exempt under Section 21 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 because it is reasonably accessible to you via other means. Please take this letter as a refusal notice under S17 of the Act.
Section 5: Justification for the Proposed Increase
5a) Copies of, or direct access to, any internal reports, financial assessments, impact analyses, or documented justifications used to support the proposed Council Tax increase, including projected outcomes for residents and any performance metrics or service improvement targets attached to this increase for the last 5 financial years. If we are unable to do this then for the last financial year.
Answer: The Service Area have advised full council approves the council tax base and the increase in council tax at the annual budget meeting held in February each year in advance of the new financial year starting 1 April.
Documents including the assessments undertaken to determine impact are publically available on our council website and can be viewed via the following links:
2026/27 Full Council Budget meeting agenda: 2026/27 REVENUE BUDGET, MEDIUM TERM FINANCIAL STRATEGY AND TREASURY MANAGEMENT STRATEGY
https://councillors.herefordshire.gov.uk/ieIssueDetails.aspx?IId=50054133&PlanId=0&Opt=3#AI71953
2025/26 Full Council Budget meeting agenda: 2025/26 Budget, Medium Term Financial and Treasury Management Strategy
https://councillors.herefordshire.gov.uk/mgIssueHistoryHome.aspx?IId=50050493
2024/25 Full Council Budget meeting agenda: 2024/25 Budget Setting
https://councillors.herefordshire.gov.uk/mgIssueHistoryHome.aspx?IId=50047695
2023/24 Full Council Budget meeting agenda: 2023/24 Budget Setting
https://councillors.herefordshire.gov.uk/mgIssueHistoryHome.aspx?IId=50044227
2022/23 Full Council Budget meeting agenda: 2022/23 Budget setting
https://councillors.herefordshire.gov.uk/mgIssueHistoryHome.aspx?IId=50039814
An annual budget consultation is held prior to approval of the budget through which residents are able to provide feedback on proposed increases to council tax. This survey outlines the potential impact of a range of increases per council tax dwelling banding and collects information on the characteristics of respondents.
The 2026/27 consultation is publicly available via the following link:
As such we consider this information to be exempt under Section 21 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 because it is reasonably accessible to you via other means. Please take this letter as a refusal notice under S17 of the Act.
A separate meeting is held following the annual budget meeting where Council set the council tax and precept. This take place in March each year.
A Council Tax Reduction Scheme is in place to support residents most in need and this scheme is also subject to annual approval by Full Council. In addition, the Council continues to offer support to residents through award of Discretionary Housing Payments, administration and allocation of the Household Support Fund, support services provided by Talk Community and by providing housing solutions for individuals who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
Documents
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