diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 6fb50b20e..26106df69 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ jobs:
       
       - name: Publish
         run: mvn -T 1.5C -U -B deploy --settings .github/settings.xml -DaltDeploymentRepository=set-github::https://maven.pkg.github.com/${{ github.repository }}
-        if: github.ref == 'refs/heads/main' || startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/heads/release/') || startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/')
+        if: github.ref == 'refs/heads/main' || startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/')
         env:
           GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/create-release-branch.yml b/.github/workflows/create-release-branch.yml
index 139615bcc..fcaf232b7 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/create-release-branch.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/create-release-branch.yml
@@ -7,6 +7,9 @@ on:
       version:
         description: 'Release version. Format: <major>.<minor>'
         required: true
+      next-version:
+        description: 'Next release version. Format <major>.<minor>. Default is next minor version'
+        required: false 
       citag:
         description: 'Optional tag to identify runs via the API. Displayed in run name.'
         required: false
@@ -16,8 +19,10 @@ on:
 jobs:
   release-branch:
     uses: eclipse-set/build/.github/workflows/release-branch.yml@main
+    secrets: inherit
     permissions:
       contents: write
     with:
       version: ${{ inputs.version }}
       target: "java/bundles/org.eclipse.set.releng.target/org.eclipse.set.releng.target.target"
+      development-version: ${{ inputs.next-version }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/create-release-tag.yml b/.github/workflows/create-release-tag.yml
index 5bd629414..7a025b2fb 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/create-release-tag.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/create-release-tag.yml
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ on:
 jobs:
   release-tag:
     uses: eclipse-set/build/.github/workflows/release-tag.yml@main
+    secrets: inherit
     permissions:
       contents: write
     with: