Agenda and draft minutes

The Leader welcomed everyone to the last Cabinet meeting of the current administration.

The Leader took the opportunity to thank Cabinet members for the hard work and passion shown, alongside officers, for the benefit of those living and working in Warwickshire.  Councillor Seccombe recognised that three portfolio holders, Councillor Peter Butlin, Councillor Kam Kaur and Councillor Heather Timms had chosen not to stand for election this time.  She highlighted their lengths of service and the different roles they had held during their time as elected members and thanked all of them for all they had done for the Council.

Councillor Peter Butlin addressed the meeting and thanked Councillor Seccombe for her leadership.  He spoke about when he was first elected in 2009 and the reorganisation and restructuring that had taken place since, leaving the Council as a lean organisation, fit to deliver services into the future which he was proud of.

Councillor Heather Timms, Portfolio Holder for Climate and Cultural Services, thanked the Leader for giving her the opportunity to work within such an enjoyable portfolio, stating that she felt luck to have taken part with colleagues.  She also thanked all the staff who had supported her along the way.

Councillor Kam Kaur, Portfolio Holder for Education, was grateful to have been able to work in two portfolio areas, the first being Customer and Transformation.  She thanked Rob Powell and his team, as well as the education team for supporting her in what had been a steep learning curve.

Councillor Margaret Bell, Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care and Health, thanked her fellow cabinet members, as well as Becky Hale and her team of officers.  She referred to the excellent partnership working throughout Warwickshire, including the ICB, Primary Care, out of hospital service and the joint officers she had worked alongside.

The Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, Councillor Jerry Roodhouse, expressed his, and the group’s thanks for all the work the Portfolio Holders had done.  He recognised the number of hours they had put in, in what was often a difficult job and wished them well in the next chapters of their lives.

There were none.

There were none.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 6 March 2025.

The minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held on 6 March 2025 were agreed as an accurate record.

To note any requests to speak on any items that are on the agenda in accordance with the Council’s Public Speaking Scheme (see footnote to this agenda).

There was none.

Following the Budget setting meeting in February 2025, this report outlines how each Service plans to use resources allocated in 2025/26 to meet the ambitions of the Council Plan.

Cabinet Portfolio Holder – Councillor Peter Butlin

Councillor Peter Butlin introduced the report, explaining that this followed on from the Budget setting meeting on 6 February 2025.  The report sought agreement as to how each Service planned to use the resources allocated in 2025/26 to meet the ambitions of the Council Plan.

Councillor Butlin highlighted the importance of continual monitoring of financial pressures which included social care, home to school transport and the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) High Needs funding.  One positive was the higher income from business rates than originally estimated which had enabled the removal of library savings, as detailed in section 3.4 of the report.

In relation to the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG), the report highlighted that the statutory override was scheduled to end at the close of the financial year, putting local authorities under a considerable amount of pressure.  The most recent forecast for the 2024/25 in year deficit was £48.245million, an increase of £3.028m since quarter three.  Councillor Butlin explained that by the end of March 2026, the deficit would reach £151m and it was, therefore. urgent that this be addressed.

The report detailed that the capital spend for the year was £272m, which was set to deliver roads and schools across the County.  A lot of the funding would be obtained from S106 payments and S278 agreements.

Councillor Butlin directed Members to the chart on page 22 which showed that 64% of the Council’s planned expenditure was commissioned from third parties. 

Councillor Butlin expressed his disappointment at Government’s decision to pull funding for the infrastructure upgrade works on the A5, which would have a detrimental impact on the north of the County and the planned developments for that area.  In addition, the decisions to cut Personal Independent Payments and Disability Benefits would impact on the delivery of Adult Social Care & Health services which would also need to be a future consideration.

Councillor John Holland addressed the meeting, stating that he had been promised a written reply following a question he had raised at Council about the future of the Barrack Street Offices but had not yet received anything.  He referred to a plan agreed in 2013, and the amount of money being lost each year to cover the upkeep of the empty building.

Councillor Roodhouse expressed concern about DSG funding and proposed that the Council write to government requesting urgent action.  He highlighted that this issue did not just affect Warwickshire and would result in a number of authorities reaching a financial cliff edge.  The Leader agreed, stating that it was reasonable to ask MPs to address this and she proposed an additional recommendation.

Councillor Marian Humphreys added her concerns in relation to the A5 works, reiterating the impact this would have on new build developments and the lack of infrastructure to deliver future plans.  The Portfolio Holder for Economy, Councillor Martin Watson, agreed, stating that it was a significant blow and put the area’s Local Plan at risk.  He felt strongly that the government should rethink their decision.

Councillor Andy  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

A report proposing the allocation of resources in the Education (Schools) Capital Programme to deliver specialist resourced provision and capital works at six schools across Warwickshire.

Cabinet Portfolio Holders – Councillors Peter Butlin and Kam Kaur

Portfolio Holder for Education, Councillor Kam Kaur introduced the report which outlined proposals for the allocation of resources in the Education Capital Programme to a number of specific projects.

The projects included:

·       Establishment of specialist resourced provision at Glendale Infant School, Nuneaton;

·       Establishment of specialist resourced provision at Nursery Hill Primary School, Nuneaton;

·       Capital works at Nicholas Chamberlaine School, Bedworth;

·       A scheme at Bilton Church of England Junior School, Rugby;

·       A scheme at Temple Herdewyke Primary School, Temple Herdewyke; and

·       Funds to continue to deliver a scheme at Warton Nethersole Church of England Primary School, Warton.

Councillor Kaur advised that the proposals totalled £2.322 million with three of the schemes establishing specialist resourced provision in Nuneaton and Bedworth.  In addition, two of the schemes would provide additional teaching capacity using developer funding along with an expansion project at Warton Nethersole Primary School.

Councillor Kaur highlighted the funding cuts from government over the past ten years, whilst the Council had created 10,000 new school places.  She felt that the Council had demonstrated need and could not understand why the Department for Education would pull the funding, when areas were continuing to develop.  Councillor Kaur reiterated the difficult times for authorities over the next two years who had a statutory duty to provide school places for young people and the financial risk was a major concern.

Councillor Sarah Boad expressed her concern at the removal of funding, which contradicted the Government’s ambition to continue to build extra housing.  She asked if the decision to remove funding could be appealed.

In response, the Leader confirmed that the decision was being challenged and highlighted that the Council would need to review the capital programme as a consequence.  She reiterated the importance of being able to educate children in their local area.

Councillor Marian Humphreys agreed that children expected to be educated where they live and listed the transport challenges, particularly in rural areas.

Councillor Kaur responded to the comments made, agreeing that funding was desperately needed and made a huge impact in schools.  She supported the comments made and asked for approval of the recommendations as detailed on page 67. 

Resolved

That Cabinet

1)    Approves the establishment of specialist resourced provision at Glendale Infant School, Nuneaton and approves the addition to the capital programme of £0.050 million, funded from the High Needs Provision Capital Allocation, to deliver the prescribed alterations;

2)    Approves the establishment of specialist resourced provision at Nursery Hill Primary School, Nuneaton and approves the addition to the capital programme of £0.096 million, funded from the High Needs Provision Capital Allocation, to deliver the prescribed alterations;

3)    Approves the addition to the capital programme of £0.127 million to deliver the capital works at Nicholas Chamberlaine School, Bedworth funded from the High Needs Provision Capital Allocation;

4)    Approves the addition of £1.105 million to the capital programme to deliver the scheme at Bilton CofE Junior School, Rugby. This will be funded by developer contributions;

5)    Approves the addition of £0.253 million to the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

A report outlining amendments to the Council’s Contract Standing Orders following the introduction of The Procurement Act 2023 and the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023.

Cabinet Portfolio Holder – Councillor Yousef Dahmash

The Portfolio Holder for Customer and Transformation, Councillor Yousef Dahmash, introduced the report which outlined amendments to the Council’s Contract Standing Orders following the introduction of The Procurement Act 2023 and the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023.

The proposed changes had been considered and endorsed by the Audit and Standards Committee on 20 March 2025 subject to the amendment of a few minor errors.  Subject to approval by Cabinet, the amendments would require the approval of full Council in May 2025. 

Councillor Dahmash signposted Members to the summary of changes at section 1.3 along with the main changes listed at paragraph 4.1 of the report. He also noted further amendments made in respect of the processes that should be followed when the Council was acting as a supplier. 

Having received no questions on the report, Councillor Dahmash proposed the recommendation as detailed on page 95.

Resolved

That Cabinet endorses the changes to the Contract Standing Orders that form part of the Council’s Constitution as set out at Appendix 1 to this Report and recommends them to Council for approval.

To consider passing the following resolution:

‘That members of the public be excluded from the meeting for the items mentioned below on the grounds that their presence would involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of Part 1 of the Local Government Act 1972’.

Resolved:

That members of the public be excluded from the meeting for the items mentioned below on the grounds that their presence would involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of Part 1 of the Local Government Act 1972.

To consider the exempt minutes of the 6 March 2025 meeting of Cabinet.

The exempt minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 6 March 2025 were agreed as an accurate record.

An exempt report considering a site specific business case for approval, as per the governance arrangements for the Warwickshire Property & Development Group.

Cabinet Portfolio Holder – Councillor Peter Butlin

Councillor Peter Butlin, Portfolio Holder for Finance and Property, introduced this item and summarised the exempt report.

Resolved

That the recommendations be agreed as per the exempt report.