Agenda and decisions

A webcast of the meeting can be viewed here

Mr. D. Harrison CC, Mr. P. Harrison CC, Mr. C. Pugsley CC, Mr. M. Squires CC, Mr. A. Tilbury CC - other registrable interest as local members.

a)    That the comments of the Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee be noted;

b)    That the draft Leicestershire and Rutland Safeguarding Children Partnership Yearly Report for 2025-26 be noted.

REASONS FOR DECISION:

Leicestershire County Council is one of the statutory Safeguarding Partners which have a shared and equal statutory duty with the local Integrated Care Board, Leicestershire Police, and Rutland County Council to agree and make arrangements to work together to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children in Leicestershire and Rutland.

It is a statutory requirement, as set out in “Working Together” 2026 (statutory guidance) that the Safeguarding Partners publish a report at least once every twelve months on the arrangements and their effectiveness.  In Leicestershire and Rutland, the Yearly Report has traditionally been presented to the Cabinet and the Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Presenting the Yearly Report enables the Cabinet to comment on the document and consider whether it identifies matters that it wishes to address in relation to the effectiveness of safeguarding within the work of the Authority.

a)    That the comments of the Adults and Cultural Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee be noted;

b)    That the Leicestershire and Rutland Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report for 2025-2026 be noted.

REASONS FOR DECISION:

The LRSAB is a statutory body, and the Local Authority is the host organisation for the SAB and also has a duty to ensure that the Board is enabled to operate effectively.

It is a requirement of the Care Act 2014 that the LRSAB Annual Report be reported to the Leader of the Council together with the Chief Executive of the Local Authority, the Chairman of the Health and Wellbeing Board, the Police and Crime Commissioner, and local Healthwatch.  In Leicestershire and Rutland, the Annual Report has traditionally, as a way of discharging these responsibilities, also been presented to the Cabinet and the Adults and Communities (now the Adults and Cultural Services) Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

a)    That the comments of the Scrutiny Commission be noted;

b)    That the significant financial challenges faced by the County Council be noted;

c)    That the Period 4 monitoring position for the current financial year be noted;

d)    That the proposed approach outlined in the report to updating the Medium Term Financial Strategy be approved;

e)    That the revised Capital Programme for 2026/27 to 2029/30 as set out in Appendix C to the report be approved.

(KEY DECISION)

REASONS FOR DECISION:

To note the revenue monitoring position for the current year, as at the end of Period 4, the end of July 2026.

The revised capital programme for 2026-30 requires amendment as a result of the latest forecast position.

To agree the approach to the development of plans to update the MTFS for 2027 to 2031 as work on this will take place during the autumn.

a)    That the letter dated 7 September 2026 from the Minister for Local Government, Devolution and Regional Growth confirming that the Government is undertaking a review of the Local Government Reorganisation programme, that the review will include the 14 decisions made in July 2026, and that councils and their partners have been asked to cease work on implementing those decisions until the review has concluded be noted;

b)    That the Government’s review and the Minister’s request that implementation work should cease represent a material change of circumstances since publication of the supplementary report be noted;

c)    That consideration of the recommendations contained in the supplementary report relating to the preparation and sending of a letter to the Secretary of State under the Pre-Action Protocol for Judicial Review be deferred;

d)    That the proposed pre-action protocol letter should not be sent at this stage, pending receipt of the written confirmation referred to in paragraph (e) below and consideration of further legal advice;

e)    That the Chief Legal Officer and Monitoring Officer, following consultation with the Chief Executive and the Leader of the Council, be authorised to write to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government seeking written confirmation that:

i)      the existing decision affecting local government reorganisation in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland will be treated as having no effect; and

ii)     any decision concerning local government reorganisation in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland will be made afresh following completion of the Government’s review;

f)      That the Ministry’s response should be considered in the light of further legal advice and that, if satisfactory confirmation is received on those matters and that advice does not indicate otherwise, there would be no present need to challenge the existing decision; and

g)    That, if the Ministry has not provided a response to the urgent queries referred to in paragraph 4 e) above within seven days of the letter being sent, or if any response received does not provide satisfactory confirmation of the position, the Chief Executive, following consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Chief Legal Officer and Monitoring Officer, and having regard to up-to-date legal advice, be authorised to finalise and send a letter to the Secretary of State under the Pre-Action Protocol for Judicial Review on behalf of the Council, noting that this authority does not extend to the commencement of judicial review proceedings, which would require a separate decision under the Council’s constitutional arrangements.

(KEY DECISION)

REASONS FOR DECISION:

The supplementary report was prepared before receipt of the Minister’s letter dated 7 September 2026 confirming that the Government’s review will include the 14 local government reorganisation decisions made in July 2026 and asking councils and their partners to cease work on implementing those decisions until the review has concluded.

The proposed pre-action protocol letter was intended to raise the Council’s concerns about the Government’s decision-making process and to seek further information and clarification about the reasoning, evidence and process underlying the decision.

The Minister’s confirmation that the July 2026 decisions will be reviewed and that implementation work should cease until the review has concluded materially changes the circumstances in which the Cabinet is being asked to consider sending the proposed pre-action protocol letter.

The Minister’s letter confirms that the July 2026 decision affecting Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland will be included in the review and that implementation work should cease. It does not, however, confirm that the existing decision will be treated as having no effect or that any decision following the review will be made afresh. Nor does it provide a timetable for completion of the review.

Work on the  ...  view the full decision text for item 7.

a)    That the comments of the Scrutiny Commission be noted;

b)    That the performance of the Investing in Leicestershire Programme for the period April 2025 to March 2026 as set out in the Annual Report, be noted.

REASONS FOR DECISION:

The report fulfils the requirement to report annually on the performance of the portfolio to both the Cabinet and the Scrutiny Commission, to demonstrate that the Programme is being managed professionally and prudently and in line with the Strategy approved by Council.

a)    That the comments of the Scrutiny Commission be noted;

b)    That the Corporate Asset Management Plan 2022-2026 Annual Performance and Strategy update report 2025-2026 be noted;

c)    That the implementation of the updated Action Plan be supported.

REASONS FOR DECISION:

To enable the Cabinet to consider performance against the Corporate Asset Management Plan 2022-26 during 2025/26, note the changes in the Council’s property portfolio and asset management priorities, and state its support for the continued implementation of the updated Action Plan.

a)    That the comments of the Scrutiny Commission be noted;

b)    That the Corporate Complaints and Compliments Annual Report 2025-2026 be noted.

REASONS FOR DECISION:

To ensure good governance and oversight of complaint handling performance and responsiveness

a)    That the outcome of the consultation on proposed Leicestershire term dates for the academic years 2027/28 to 2031/32 be noted;

b)    That the recommended term date model as set out in paragraphs 47 to 55 of the report (dates given in Appendix A) be approved for implementation.

(KEY DECISION)

REASONS FOR DECISION:

To note the feedback received from the public consultation exercise on two potential term date models which has informed the model.

The model is based on the option preferred by the highest number of respondents to the public consultation for a one-week October half term, with the October half term holiday moved one week earlier in response to consultation feedback.

The Education Act 2002 places a statutory obligation on the County Council to determine the number of school days that schools under its control must open. The County Council is required to determine a pattern that ensures at least 380 sessions (190 days) during each school year.

a)    That the national SEND Reform policy direction and the submission of the Local [Leicestershire] SEND Reform Plan to the DfE be approved in principle;

b)    That the delivery approach to the Local SEND Reform Plan - via the Experts at Hand and SEND Sufficiency and Inclusion Bases - be supported;

c)    That it be noted that the final SEND Reform Plan will be submitted to the Cabinet later in 2026 for approval.

REASONS FOR DECISION:

The SEND Reform Plan is the primary local mechanism for implementing national SEND Reforms in Leicestershire and for strengthening early support, mainstream inclusion, local specialist provision and financial sustainability.

Approval of the Local SEND Reform Plan by the Department for Education, is a pre-condition for access to High Needs Stability Grant funding, covering up to 90% of historic dedicated schools grant deficits accrued to March 2026.

The draft Plan sets out a three-year programme to create a more inclusive, confident and financially sustainable 0-25 SEND system where children and young people receive the right support, at the right time, as close to home as possible.

The proposed workforce model has been developed through partnership governance and is funded through ringfenced grant funding to 31 March 2029.

a)    That the comments of the Adults and Cultural Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee be noted;

b)    That the feedback from the consultation exercise be noted;

c)    That the Leicestershire Carers Strategy 2026-2030 be approved.

REASONS FOR DECISION:

Following Cabinet’s approval to eight-week public consultation, carers, people who use the service, professionals and other interested parties have provided their feedback on the priorities of the new Leicestershire Carers Strategy 2026-2030.  The Strategy has been further developed and updated to reflect the consultation feedback and its priorities demonstrate the Council’s commitment to supporting carers.

That the action taken by the Chief Executive following consultation with the Leader of the Council to approve the procurement of contracts relating to Extra Care Services be noted.

REASONS FOR DECISION:

The County Council’s Contract Procedure Rules (Part 4G of the Constitution) require that where a procurement under the Rules involves a Key Decision then prior to the commencement of the procurement it must be taken to the Executive (the Cabinet) for approval. The Council’s Constitution (Part 3, Responsibility for Functions) provides that the Chief Executive, following consultation with the Leader of the Council, may take action in between the Cabinet meetings which they consider is urgent subject to the detail of such action being reported for information to the next appropriate meeting of the body concerned.

In order to avoid delay and so services could be commissioned safely and to allow time for a compliant procurement to be completed, the Chief Executive approved the procurement request. Due to the proximity of the meeting date and the limited timescales available, there was insufficient opportunity to prepare and submit a Cabinet report through the required governance process.

a)    That the use of the direct award process C for the procurement of the drug and alcohol treatment and recovery service, in line with funding requirements of the Public Health Grant and national guidance be approved;

b)    The Director of Public Health, Communities, Law and Governance be authorised to enter into any contractual arrangements necessary to bring into effect the new substance use contract with effect no later than 1 April 2028.

(KEY DECISION)

REASONS FOR DECISION:

The Director of Public Health is required to spend a designated amount of the Public Health Grant on drug and alcohol treatment and recovery provision each year. As the Public Health Grant is already ring fenced, this effectively creates a ring fence within the ring fence. This is a commissioned service, currently with delivery via a specialist substance use provider.

Local access data shows an ongoing requirement for the service with 3,554 people entering treatment for drug and alcohol use in Leicestershire in 2025/26.

Three applicable procurement routes exist under the Health Care Services (Provider Select Regime) Regulations 2023; Direct Award is recommended as it offers the most efficient way to secure ongoing engagement of a high performing provider and ensures no disruption to existing provision with a current provider that operates across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (so creating an easier route for any disaggregation resulting from Local Government Reorganisation).

This has been balanced against the option to test value for money via a competitive process. With evidence of existing value for money in the current service offer, a competitive process is not recommended.

a)    That the proposed timetable for the progression of the North West Leicestershire District Council (NWLDC) Local Plan be noted;

b)    The County Council’s formal response to NWLDC’s Local Plan Regulation 19 consultation, set out in paragraphs 35 to 69 and the Appendix to the report be approved, noting in particular that the County Council:

i)      Recognises the significant challenges and pressures that Plan Making Authorities, such as NWLDC, are facing.

ii)     Does not raise any fundamental issue with the Plan’s spatial strategy, subject to continued delivery of committed infrastructure, a suitable future delivery and contributions strategy, and consideration of viability implications over the plan period being set out with necessary modifications to plan policies.

iii)   Will work with NWLDC to ensure that the Local Plan clearly demonstrates a response to the transport evidence produced, and that it will proactively consider and embed Community Infrastructure Levy within the Local Plan to build on the existing approach with the District;

c)    That the Director of Growth, Environment and Transport, following consultation with the relevant Cabinet Lead Members, be authorised to make amendments to the detailed Regulation 19 response, noting that:

i)    Amendments will take into account officer views of the published Whole Plan Viability Assessment and Infrastructure Delivery Plan;

ii)   The formal response (comprising the Cabinet report and updated Appendix) will be submitted to NWLDC ahead of the consultation period closing on 11 September 2026.

REASONS FOR DECISION:

The Local Plan process is the main opportunity available to planning authorities and statutory consultees to influence places on a strategic level and ensure the cumulative impacts of growth are planned for.

The County Council is therefore seeking to influence the content of the North West Leicestershire Local Plan in the interests of local communities. Authorisation to the Director to make amendments to the detailed Regulation 19 response will allow for officer views on additional Local Plan evidence to be submitted ahead of the consultation period closing. This will ensure that the Local Plan provides an as robust as possible policy platform for securing the provision of the infrastructure and services that are required to supports its successful delivery.

On 25 March 2026, new regulations came into force, which meant that the Duty to Co-operate would no longer apply to new, or emerging Local Plans. Notwithstanding this change, the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) (December 2024) under which this Plan is expected to be examined against, still requires “maintaining effective co-operation” across administrative boundaries (paragraphs 26-29 of the NPPF). Inspectors are expected to continue to examine plans in line with these policies.

a)    That the proposed timetable for the progression of the Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council (H&BBC) Local Plan be noted;

b)    That the County Council’s formal response to H&BBC’s Local Plan Regulation 19 consultation, set out in paragraphs 46 to 79 and the Appendix to the report be approved, noting in particular that the County Council:

i)        Recognises the significant challenges and pressures that Plan Making Authorities, such as H&BBC, are facing.

ii)      Does not raise any fundamental issue with the Plan’s spatial strategy, subject to a suitable delivery and contributions strategy, and consideration of viability implications over the plan period being set out with necessary modifications to plan policies.

iii)     Will work with H&BBC to ensure that the Local Plan clearly demonstrates a response to the transport evidence produced, and that it will proactively consider and embed Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) within the Local Plan and seek to bring forward a CIL charging schedule at pace alongside the adoption of the Local Plan.

c)    The Director of Growth, Environment and Transport, following consultation with the relevant Cabinet Lead Members, be authorised to make amendments to the detailed Regulation 19 response, noting that:

i)      Amendments will take into account officer views of the published Whole Plan Viability Assessment and Infrastructure Delivery Plan.

ii)     The formal response (comprising the Cabinet report and updated Appendix) will be submitted to H&BBC ahead of the consultation period closing on 21 September 2026;

d)   That officers give consideration to the addition of representations to the Regulation 19 response to address issues raised by Mr. Crook CC (in summary: to tie the County Council’s position to the need for improvement to the Fieldhead and Flying Horse roundabouts and for education to be given a standalone policy). 

REASONS FOR DECISION:

The Local Plan process is the main opportunity available to planning authorities and statutory consultees to influence places on a strategic level and ensure the cumulative impacts of growth are planned for.

The County Council is therefore seeking to influence the content of the Hinckley and Bosworth Local Plan in the interests of local communities. Authorisation to the Director to make amendments to the detailed Regulation 19 response will allow for officer views on additional Local Plan evidence to be submitted ahead of the consultation period closing. This will ensure that the Local Plan provides an as robust as possible policy platform for securing the provision of the infrastructure and services that are required to supports its successful delivery.

On 25 March 2026, new regulations came into force, which meant that the Duty to Co-operate would no longer apply to new, or emerging Local Plans. Notwithstanding this change, the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) (December 2024) under which this Plan is expected to be examined against still requires “maintaining effective co-operation” across administrative boundaries (paragraphs 26–29 of the NPPF). Inspectors are expected to continue to examine plans in line with these policies.

The press and public are likely to be excluded during the following item of business in accordance with Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972:

A511 Growth Corridor - Scheme Update and Business Case Submission

(Exempt under Paragraphs 3 and 10.)

a)    That the revised forecast outturn cost of the A511 MRN Growth Corridor Scheme at £84m (previously £70m) be noted;

b)    That it be noted that further work is continuing with the contractor to refine costs, identify value engineering opportunities and mitigate risks currently costed into the forecast outturn;

c)    That submission of the Full Business Case (FBC) to the Department for Transport based on the current estimated scheme costs and funding assumptions be approved;

d)    That the Director of Growth, Environment and Transport, following consultation with the Director of Corporate Resources and the Cabinet Lead Member for Highways and Transport, be authorised to finalise and submit the FBC;

e)    That it be noted that, whilst submission of the FBC requires the S151 Officer’s confirmation that funding can be made available for the scheme, this step does not commit the County Council to delivery of the scheme via the current contract and that the additional funding is not yet provided for in the Capital Programme;

f)      That it be noted that a further report will be presented to the Cabinet (currently planned for December 2026) setting out the final cost position and seeking a decision on whether to proceed to Stage 2 construction in light of additional cost pressures or to pause and consider alternative delivery approaches;

g)    That it be noted that depending on the decision at e) above, additional funding will need to be incorporated into the proposed Capital Programme in December 2026 and that this is likely to have a wider impact on the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy;

h)    That the Director of Growth, Environment and Transport be authorised to undertake actions as set out in paragraphs 20 to 21 of the report to maintain the possibility of delivery of the scheme as consulted on, approved in planning, and approved at Public Inquiry as set out in the FBC until a decision is made on whether to proceed to construction. 

(KEY DECISION)

REASONS FOR DECISION:

The A511 MRN Growth Corridor Scheme remains a strategically important project supporting housing and employment growth, improved journey time reliability, congestion relief and enhanced road safety across North West Leicestershire. The latest transport economic assessment continues to indicate a benefit cost ratio in excess of 2 and it therefore demonstrates strong value for money.

Submission of the FBC is necessary to maintain eligibility for the Government's provisional MRN funding allocation of £41.7m. Failure to submit the FBC would place that funding at risk and significantly reduce the Council's future options for progressing the scheme.

The additional funding required to deliver the scheme as planned is significant and would have implications for the Capital Programme, including reducing other priority activity or increasing borrowing requirements. It is therefore important that the options are properly explored and considered ahead of a final decision to proceed or pursue alternative options.

Pausing work on the scheme between now and the decision point would mean that key assumptions underpinning the target price will not be completed. This will result in higher cost, additional risks and further delays to the programme, Delays to the programme will also add to the overall cost of delivery.