The Leader Decisions meeting on Wednesday 29 July 2026 resulted in a decision to delegate authority for the distribution of South Midlands reserves. This significant financial decision involved approximately £4.5 million in non-ringfenced funding.

South Midlands Reserves Distribution

Authority has been delegated to the Chief Executive to enter into grant agreements with other South Midlands constituent authorities to facilitate the distribution of approximately £4.5 million in non-ringfenced South Midlands reserves. This decision was previously endorsed at the South Midlands Authorities Board meeting in March 2026, with Councillor Mark Arnull¹ in attendance and agreement.

The decision was made after considering options for the distribution of these reserves among the six South Midlands authorities: Bedford Borough Council, Central Bedfordshire Council, Luton Borough Council, Milton Keynes City Council, North Northamptonshire Council, and West Northamptonshire Council. The unanimous preferred option was to distribute the funds in equal portions to these six authorities, aligning with the original grant funding conditions. This approach ensures that the reserves are allocated in a manner consistent with their initial purpose.