Decision details

a)    That the update on the Spending Review be noted;

b)   That the update on the Fair Funding consultation be noted, and approval be given for the Director of Corporate Resources, following consultation with the Lead Member for Resources, to submit a response to the consultation;

c)   That the ongoing uncertainty be noted around the impact that recommendations a and b above will have on the Council’s position and that Leicestershire’s Members of Parliament be engaged to lobby on the Council’s behalf;

d)   That the commencement of a procurement process to commission a Council-wide savings review be approved, with a report being brought back to the Cabinet prior to any award being made.

REASONS FOR DECISION:

To inform the Cabinet of the key announcements arising from the Spending Review and Fair Funding consultation and, where possible, give indications of the likely impact on the County Council’s financial position.

The Council needs to continue to make progress in closing the current MTFS gap to allow a balanced budget position to be presented to the County Council for approval in February 2026.