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Cabinet - Thursday, 10 September 2026 - 6.30 pm
September 10, 2026 at 6:30 pm Cabinet View on council website Watch video of meeting Read transcript (Professional subscription required)Summary
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The Cabinet of Bath and North East Somerset Council met on Thursday 10 September 2026, approving the Pre-Submission Draft Local Plan 2025-2043 for public consultation, adopting an ambitious Clean Air Strategy with new local targets, and endorsing a Case for Change
programme to fundamentally rethink council operations. The Cabinet also approved the Treasury Management Performance Report for the first quarter of 2026/27, noting positive returns and adherence to prudential indicators.
Pre-Submission Draft Local Plan Approved for Consultation
The Cabinet approved the Pre-Submission Draft Local Plan 2025-2043 for a six-week public consultation period commencing on 14th September 2026. This plan sets out the council's proposed spatial strategy, site allocations, and development management policies to guide growth and decision-making on planning applications across the district until 2043. Councillor Matt McCabe, Cabinet Member for Built Environment, Housing and Sustainable Development, moved the proposal, highlighting the government's increased housing targets and the council's limited ability to control them. He stressed that having a local plan, even a flawed one, is crucial to manage the tidal wave of development
coming to the area, allowing the council to influence where homes are built and demand infrastructure contributions. Councillor Sarah Warren, Deputy Council Leader, seconded the motion, emphasizing the need for the right homes in the right places, supported by infrastructure and community facilities. She noted that without a plan, the council loses control over development and has no leverage with developers. Councillor Alison Born, Cabinet Member for Adult Services, supported the plan, stating that while the numbers were government-imposed, the local plan allows for more influence over location and infrastructure provision. Councillor Paul May, Cabinet Member for Children's Services, expressed concern about the proposed allocations for Whitchurch Village, which would see it grow threefold, but supported the consultation to assess cumulative impacts and secure infrastructure contributions. Councillor Paul Roper, Cabinet Member for Economic and Cultural Sustainable Development, highlighted the plan's focus on creating employment space to minimise stress on the transport network and tackle inequalities. Councillor Joel Hurst, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Transport Strategy, supported the plan despite its compromises, emphasizing the urgent need for transport infrastructure investment. Councillor Mark Elliott, Deputy Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Resources, acknowledged the plan was not ideal but defensible, stating that the alternative was no plan at all, leaving the council unable to prevent development or secure necessary infrastructure. The decision was carried unanimously.
Ambitious Clean Air Strategy Adopted
The Cabinet adopted an ambitious Clean Air Strategy aiming to prioritise long-term public health protection over simple regulatory compliance. Councillor Sarah Warren, Deputy Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Sustainable Bath and North East Somerset, presented the strategy, highlighting recent scientific understanding of air pollution's impact on nearly every organ system, including brain health. She noted that the council aims to align with World Health Organization guidelines for nitrogen dioxide and particulates by 2035, going beyond current UK targets. Councillor Alison Born, Cabinet Member for Adult Services, seconded the motion, emphasizing that there is no safe level of air pollution and that the strategy provides a roadmap to improve residents' health and reduce health inequalities. Councillor Paul May, Cabinet Member for Children's Services, spoke in support, highlighting the particular vulnerability of children to air pollution and the importance of the Health and Wellbeing Board's unanimous support for the strategy. The strategy was adopted unanimously.
Case for Change
Programme Approved
The Cabinet approved the Case for Change
programme, a radical rethink of how the council operates to become fit for the 21st century. Councillor Mark Elliott, Deputy Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Resources, presented the paper, outlining the significant financial challenge of reducing revenue spend by £28 million per annum over the next three years, exacerbated by the government's Fair Funding Review. He stressed that incremental changes would not suffice and that the council must work differently to remain ambitious for the local economy and communities. Councillor Joel Hurst, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Transport Strategy, seconded the paper, highlighting the administration's commitment to good financial management and the need for transformative change. Councillor Paul May, Cabinet Member for Children's Services, added that the success of the programme relies on close collaboration with officers, praising their quality and capability. The programme was approved unanimously.
Treasury Management Performance Report Noted
The Cabinet noted the Treasury Management Performance Report for Quarter 1 of 2026/27, which detailed positive performance against the Council's Treasury Management Strategy Statement. Councillor Mark Elliott, Cabinet Member for Resources, reported that the Council's Treasury Book consistently beat its benchmark, with operational investments returning 3.76% above the SONIA rate and strategic funds returning 4.07% ahead of budget. All prudential indicators were within target, and delayed borrowing combined with stronger returns had resulted in interest and capital financing forecasts being £1.2 million better off than budget. Councillor Paul Roper, Cabinet Member for Economic and Cultural Sustainable Development, seconded the report, noting its uncontroversial and positive nature. The report was unanimously noted.
The meeting concluded with the Chair thanking attendees and those watching on YouTube.
Delegated decisions linked to this meeting
Decision summaries below are AI-generated from the council’s published record. Check the council source or the full decision page before relying on them.
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Case for Change
ApprovedThe Cabinet of Bath and North East Somerset Council decided on 10 September 2026 to confirm its support for the case for change and to agree that the council should continue developing the transformation programme. A draft transformation plan will be presented to the Corporate PDS panel for discussion before adoption by Cabinet alongside the MTFS in November.
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Case for Change
ApprovedThe Cabinet of Bath and North East Somerset Council decided to confirm its support of the case for change on 10 September 2026. They agreed that the council should continue to develop the transformation programme as a key strand of the MTFS. A draft transformation plan will go to the Corporate PDS panel for discussion before adoption at Cabinet alongside the MTFS in November.
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The Cabinet decided to note the Treasury Management Performance Report 2026/27 – Quarter 1 and the Treasury Management Prudential Indicators to 30th June 2026 on 10 September 2026.
Councillor Paul Roper, as Cabinet Member for Economic and Cultural Sustainable Development, decided on 28 July 2026 to delegate authority to the Head of Corporate Estate to market and dispose of land behind The Glebe Freshford. This includes instructing the Corporate Estate to achieve Best Consideration under the Local Government Act 1972.
The Cabinet decided on 10 September 2026 to confirm support for the case for change and to continue developing the transformation programme as a key strand of the Medium Term Financial Strategy. A draft transformation plan will be presented for discussion before adoption alongside the MTFS in November.
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The Cabinet of Bath and North East Somerset Council decided to adopt the Clean Air Strategy and local annual average air quality targets for nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter across the district on 10 September 2026. The decision maker delegated authority to the Director of Place Management, in consultation with the Cabinet Member, to implement and make changes to the Clean Air Strategy. Progress against the strategy and targets will be monitored and reported through the Council's annual air quality reporting arrangements.
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The Cabinet of Bath and North East Somerset Council decided to adopt the Clean Air Strategy and local air quality targets for nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter across all wards on 10 September 2026. The decision maker delegated authority to the Director of Place Management, in consultation with the Cabinet Member, to implement and make changes to the Clean Air Strategy. Progress against the strategy and targets will be monitored and reported through the Council's annual air quality reporting arrangements.
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Case for Change
ApprovedThe Cabinet of Bath and North East Somerset Council decided on 10 September 2026 to confirm its support for the case for change and to agree the continuation of the transformation programme. A draft transformation plan will be presented to the Corporate PDS panel for discussion before adoption by Cabinet alongside the MTFS in November.
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The Cabinet of Bath and North East Somerset Council decided to note the Treasury Management Performance Report 2026/27 – Quarter 1 and the Treasury Management Prudential Indicators to 30th June 2026 on 10 September 2026. The report details performance against the Council’s 2026/27 Treasury Management Strategy Statement for the first three months of the financial year.
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The Cabinet of Bath and North East Somerset Council approved the Pre-Submission Draft Local Plan for public consultation on 10 September 2026. The decision authorised the Executive Director for Sustainable Communities to issue communications and undertake consultation, and delegated authority for minor textual and factual changes to the plan prior to publication.
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