This new agreement, which has already been adopted by Herefordshire Council and other parish councils, is designed to enhance partnership working, improve service delivery and empower communities across the county.

Launched at the Parish Council Summit (Tuesday 7 October), the Charter is the result of nearly two years of consultation and co-production between councils of both tiers. It sets out a shared vision for stronger, more transparent and more effective local governance.

The Charter outlines:

• Strategic aims to strengthen partnership working and enable community action.
• Principles of partnership including mutual respect, clear communication, transparency and strengths-based collaboration.
• Service standards such as timely responses to correspondence and consultations and prompt payments for devolved services.
• Frameworks for joint working in key areas like planning, highways, drainage, public rights of way and neighbourhood development planning.
• Benefits for residents who can expect more responsive and joined-up services, clearer communication from their councils, greater opportunities to engage in local decision-making and improved transparency and accountability across both levels of local government.

It also includes a resolution process for addressing issues between councils, starting with direct dialogue and escalating to senior leadership if needed. Success will be measured by how well councils share best practices, remove barriers to collaboration and deliver improved outcomes for residents.

Progress against the Charter will be reported to Parish Summits, while quarterly meetings between Herefordshire Council’s Leader and Chief Executive and the Charter Reference Group – made up of representatives from across both tiers – will drive developments and improvements.

Charter Working Group

Councillor Jonathan Lester, Leader of Herefordshire Council, said:

“This Charter is more than a document – it’s a commitment to action and a recognition of the vital role that every council plays in shaping the future of Herefordshire. Parish councils are the closest tier of government to our communities. They know their areas, understand local priorities, and are often the first point of contact for residents. By signing this Charter, we’re acknowledging that effective local governance depends on mutual respect, open communication, and shared responsibility. I’m proud of the collaborative spirit that shaped this Charter, and I’m confident it will help us build a stronger, more responsive, and more joined-up local government for Herefordshire. This is about working together to deliver real improvements that people can see and feel in their everyday lives.”

Councillor Simon Hairsnape, Chair of the Charter Reference Group, added:

“The Charter is a genuine partnership agreement, shaped by councils across Herefordshire and designed to evolve with us. It’s not a top-down directive – it’s a co-produced framework that reflects the voices and experiences of town and parish councils, who are essential to the democratic fabric of our county. The Reference Group will act as both developer and guardian of the Charter, ensuring it remains relevant, effective, and accountable. We’ve built in mechanisms for review, performance monitoring, and resolution – this is about real change, not just good intentions. I would encourage every council to engage with the Charter, not just as a policy document, but as a practical tool for improving how we work together. It’s taken time and effort to get here, and now we have a shared foundation to build on.”

You can view the new Charter on the council website.

Flooding has caused widespread disruption in recent years, with over 400 properties impacted and many roads closed in 2024 alone.

The funding will support a comprehensive Flood Response Programme, delivered over 2025/26 and 2026/27, designed to reduce both the likelihood and impact of future flood events.

Work has been underway over the summer to complete formal flood investigations and identify opportunities for schemes which will provide long-term protection in areas previously affected by flooding.

The funding will deliver a mix of engineered and nature-based schemes to improve flood resilience across the county. The programme will also help communities by providing signage and monitoring technology, improving our response to flooding. In addition, specialist software will be procured to help the council plan for and manage flood events more effectively.

The investment will also be used to unlock further national grants where partnership contributions are required to access central government support. By allocating council funds, Herefordshire can demonstrate local commitment and leverage significantly larger sums from national sources.

Cabinet Member for Local Engagement and Community Resilience, Councillor Dan Hurcomb, said:

“This investment is about protecting what matters most, our homes, our livelihoods, and our communities.

“By prioritising the areas hit hardest, we’re making sure this funding delivers real, lasting benefits for the people of Herefordshire.”

In addition to the work supported by this funding, the council is actively progressing several other flood initiatives. These include offering drainage grants to parish and town councils, providing community flood equipment to 38 parish and town councils, and supporting them in developing their own flood plans.

This will potentially affect services and support for residents and communities.

Herefordshire Council will face significant challenges in balancing its budget in 2026/27 and beyond if planned changes in the way government distributes funding to local authorities go ahead. The Council has found millions of pounds worth of savings for council tax-payers, while improving key services for residents. However, proposed changes could bring about real impact on communities.

Independent modelling based on the new Fair Funding Review points to a potential funding gap in 2026/27 of around £27.3 million, 11% of the council’s net budget. This will see Herefordshire’s share of national funding dropping below the average for unitary councils in England.

Despite sound financial management and controls around expenditure, the council will need to take decisive action to balance the budget in order to stay on track to deliver on its ambitious plans for Herefordshire.

Councillor Peter Stoddart, Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services, said:

On behalf of our residents, businesses and communities, Herefordshire Council is deeply disappointed by the government’s proposed funding allocation model. We hope that the representations made through the consultation process will have a positive impact on the council’s funding allocation for 2026/27.

The council has a proven track record of financial discipline, delivering savings of over £40 million over the past five years while protecting frontline services and making improvements. These efforts were most recently recognised in the Local Government Association’s Corporate Peer Challenge. The potential £27 million funding shortfall will now require savings and efficiencies over twice those of previous years. And, due to the expected multi-year nature of the settlement in the autumn, this pressure could become more intense over the next three years.

To respond to these challenges, we will look to close any funding gap with combination of further savings, targeted income generation and strategic investments designed to reduce long-term costs, while improving our infrastructure, roads and opportunities for investment and skills – to help attract growth for Herefordshire – all while prioritising services that protect the most vulnerable and deliver the greatest value for money.

Without changes to the proposed formula, our estimates indicate that Herefordshire will receive a disproportionately low share of national funding, despite facing service demands as complex – if not more so – than those of other councils.

Rising demand for adult social care, SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) services and temporary accommodation, combined with the inherent disadvantages of the funding system, creates an unsustainable gap between funding and expenditure. Unlike some councils that receive government support despite financial failings, Herefordshire could be penalised for its sound stewardship of public resources.

The permanent loss of the £7 million Rural Services Delivery Grant severely exacerbates these pressures, removing a vital funding stream that supported the higher costs of delivering services across Herefordshire’s dispersed rural communities. Without this grant and with no replacement funding, the council faces an even steeper challenge to balance its budget.”

Herefordshire is disadvantaged by the way the formula considers the relative needs of its residents and how services are funded. This methodology does not take into account the additional costs of delivering services across a sparsely populated, rural county. It also relies on councils raising more income locally, particularly through council tax.

However, this approach does not reflect the reality for rural counties like Herefordshire. Property prices and the overall number of households in the county are both lower than national averages, limiting additional council tax income.

The government’s formula is also based on the average level of council tax income in England – for a band D property, which is around £2,200 – whereas households in Herefordshire pay an average of £1,969. It also assumes local authorities will increase council tax annually by 4.99%, the maximum permitted without a local referendum.

Councillor Stoddart continued:

Without reform to the funding system, rural councils like ours will continue to face systemic inequities beyond our control. However, in spite of these challenges, we are committed to delivering the best for Herefordshire in everything we do.

The change comes after the previous provider, NRS Healthcare, informed the council that it would be unable to continue operating beyond the end of July. Therefore, from 1 August 2025, two new council-commissioned providers will take responsibility, delivering these services to approximately 12,000 residents.

Hoople Ltd will now deliver the Integrated Community Equipment Service (ICES), which provides items such as shower chairs, toilet frames, commodes, hoists, pressure care mattresses and medical beds, along with specialist equipment for children with disabilities.

Careium UK Limited will take over the Technology Enabled Care Service (TECS), which includes lifeline units, pendants, falls detectors, smoke alarms and GPS devices, alongside the 24/7/365 emergency call monitoring.

The council is working closely with both organisations to ensure local staff are supported and the two services continue to be able to meet residents’ needs.

Residents and service-users do not need to take any action or make any changes to their normal routines or use of equipment. However, we would advise them to make a note of the new contact details, as shown below.

Hilary Hall, Corporate Director Community Wellbeing at Herefordshire Council, said:

As soon as we became aware of concerns regarding the future viability of NRS Healthcare, we worked quickly to explore alternative providers so that services can be maintained and residents who are most in need are protected. I am pleased that we have found new suppliers who can pick up these services immediately with minimum disruption to residents.

Councillor Carole Gandy, Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing, said:

We recognise how critical community equipment and technology enabled care is for people leaving hospital or for maintaining their independence at home. My message to them all is that we are working tirelessly to protect and serve our residents and have moved swiftly to find good alternative suppliers. Therefore, residents should experience minimum disruption as we transition to the new suppliers.

If you need to contact the Integrated Community Equipment Service, please contact Hoople Ltd on 01432 261818 or email CommunityEquipmentService@hoopleltd.co.uk.

For the Technology Enabled Care Service, please contact Careium UK Limited on 01323 690796 or email herefordshire@careium.com