The Policy and Resources Cabinet Committee was scheduled to meet on 13 November 2025 to discuss the adoption of a new commercial strategy, budget planning for 2026-27, and an update on the decant of Invicta House into Sessions House. The committee was also expected to review commercial and procurement performance, and receive an update on the Department of Local Government Efficiency.

Kent County Council Commercial Strategy 2026-2028

The committee was scheduled to consider the adoption of the Kent County Council Commercial Strategy for 2026-2028. The strategy sets out a framework for delivering value for money through procurement and contract management, aligned with the council's strategic priorities and financial plans. According to the report pack, the strategy aims to provide:

a structured, outcomes-focused approach to all commercial activity that supports consistent smarter decision-making, strengthens supplier relationships, and ensures public money is spent effectively and transparently.

The report pack stated that the strategy was developed following engagement with senior officers, members, and feedback from suppliers and partners. It reflects national and sector best practice, responds to legislative change, and aligns with local priorities including the council's Strategic Statement, Medium-Term Financial Plan, and the Commissioning Framework.

The strategy outlines four strategic priorities:

• Delivering Financial Benefits and Return on Investment
• Strengthening Supplier Management and Partnerships
• Supporting Local Economic Growth and Wider Public Value
• Ensuring Compliance and Transparency

These priorities are supported by eight 'key enablers':

• Embedding Category Management
• Embedding Supplier Relationship Management (SRM)
• Strengthening Procurement Planning
• Leading Effective Tendering Processes
• Effectively Negotiating and Awarding Contracts
• Managing Contracts to a High Standard
• Setting Clear Procurement Policies and Governance
• Elevating Commercial Skills and Capabilities.

The report pack outlined three options that were considered for improving commercial outcomes: maintaining the status quo, incremental improvement of existing procurement policies, and a new strategy. The report pack stated that the option of a new strategy was selected as it offered the greatest potential to drive long-term financial sustainability, position Kent County Council as a commercially confident organisation, secure best value for residents, and unite stakeholders around a shared framework.

The report pack stated that the adoption of the strategy is expected to be cost neutral, with implementation delivered within existing budgets.

An Equality Impact Assessment¹ (EqIA) was conducted, and no significant adverse impacts were identified.

Budget Planning 2026-27

The committee was scheduled to discuss budget planning for 2026-27. The report pack set out the major issues affecting revenue spending and the high-level strategy to achieve a balanced budget. It also included the timetable for preparing the draft budget and medium-term financial plan, main messages from the summer budget consultation, and the next steps.

The report pack stated that the council has been facing spending increases in excess of available resources, requiring the budget to be balanced through savings, additional income, and temporary measures. The indicative plan for 2026-27 included an unresolved gap of £20.1 million. An initial refresh of the previous plans increased the unresolved balance to an estimated circa £60 million.

The report pack outlined the main drivers of spending growth, including price uplifts, demand drivers, cost drivers, pay, and service strategies. The proposed strategy to balance the budget includes resisting spending growth, maintaining adult social care net growth within an affordable level, identifying further savings/income, reviewing contributions to reserves, and the outcome of Fair Funding 2.0 reforms.

The report pack stated that due to the significant uncertainty over the impact of funding reforms, a full draft budget was not published for the November round of cabinet committee meetings. A full draft budget was scheduled to be published for the January round of cabinet committee meetings before being presented to Cabinet on 29 January 2026, ahead of the full County Council budget meeting on 12 February 2026.

The report pack also noted that as long as the Local Authority can set a balanced budget that reflects viable savings proposals and the maintenance of appropriate levels of reserves, then there should be no need to apply for Exceptional Financial Support² (EFS).

The report pack summarised the results of the budget consultation, which ran from 5 August 2025 to 29 September 2025. In total 4,670 responses were received, nearly double the number than the previous year. The majority of responses supported increases in both the general and adult social care elements of council tax. The areas where respondents were most uncomfortable with spending reductions were highways, children's social care, and services for schools.

Decant of Invicta House into Sessions House

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the decant of staff from Invicta House into Sessions House. The report pack stated that the decant was authorised by Key Decision ref 24/00100, which also approved a £1.75 million capital spend to facilitate the minimum compliance and condition works required to enable staff to safely reoccupy A Block on a temporary basis and the relocation of the case conferencing suite.

The report pack stated that the majority of compliance works focused on A Block of Sessions House, and infrastructure throughout the building to support the reoccupation of A Block. These works focused on compliance with modern fire safety regulations, including the replacement of fire alarms, emergency lighting, and the introduction of new fire doors throughout A Block.

The report pack noted that the decant strategy involved a like-for-like replacement of bookable desks and meeting rooms as to those that were previously available in Invicta House, to minimise the impact on service delivery during the decant period. The Case Conferencing function has been relocated close to the Sessions House main reception, with its own sub-reception service delivered within the space due to service requirements.

The report pack also stated that the courtyard car park has been closed for a number of years due to the structural condition of the reinforced concrete deck below the entrance archway, above the basement. Temporary propping has been in place to ensure the archway remained safe and open for pedestrian movements, as a key component of the fire evacuation strategy, but this propping was not sufficient to safely allow vehicles to travel over the surface. Works will be delivered within the overall budgetary limit for the compliance and decant project.

The report pack noted that feedback from staff post-relocation has been broadly positive, with expected snagging issues which have been resolved.

Commercial and Procurement Performance Report

The committee was scheduled to consider the Commercial and Procurement Performance Report for Quarter 1 and Quarter 2 of the 2025/2026 financial year. The report pack provided an overview of the performance reporting of the Commercial and Procurement Division (CPD). It summarised the CPD and wider council's achievements in delivering financial benefits and return on investment, detailing the value added and savings secured through commercial and procurement activity.

The report pack highlighted efforts to enhance wider public benefit, such as spend with local suppliers, SMEs³, and VCSEs⁴. It also discussed improvements in reporting, supplier relationship management, and transparency and compliance.

The report pack addressed the CPD's commitment to improved policies and procedures, governance, investing in staff capability, improved systems, and working collaboratively across the council and with partners. It also outlined the key plans for further improvement to explain how the council can continue towards its vision to have the best commercial and procurement function in local government.

The report pack stated that the reporting period included the successful delivery of a complex procurement for the council's Road Asset Renewal Contract (RARC). The CPD secured approximately £44 million of Rate-Based Efficiency Gain over the 10-year lifetime, which allows KCC to deliver more work within this contract and the financial envelope.

The CPD has seen a total of £5,226,893 financial benefit in this period, not including the efficiency gain from the RARC contract. Including the RARC contract with the other financial benefits there has been a total of £68,369,890 value now having been secured since the CPD was first formed in September 2023.

In Quarter 1, 61% of KCC spend was with Kent based suppliers with a total of £25 million more spent compared to this quarter last year. There has been an increase of 17% spent with SMEs this year compared to last year.

The report pack noted that the CPD is committed to improving the management of suppliers through enhancing the capabilities of contract management across the council. The Division will be launching a Contract Management Policy to ensure that supplier performance is consistently monitored, supported and improved and that strategic suppliers are engaged through structured, collaborative relationships.

The report pack stated that the CPD are key holders for the spending rules set out in Spending the Council's Money, and reports against compliance with these rules as part of this role. In this Financial Year, the CPD has received forty-two requests through the 'Waiver Process', 39% of these have been retrospective.

Department of Local Government Efficiency (DOLGE) Update

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the strategy, remit, governance, and decision-making mechanisms for Kent County Council's Department of Local Government Efficiency (DOLGE). The report pack outlined the proposed way forward for consideration by the members of the Policy & Resources Cabinet Committee.

The report pack stated that DOLGE's strategy seeks to identify efficiencies and savings opportunities to ensure that value for money is provided to Kent residents. The intention of the programme is to provide a relentless focus on controlling costs and ensuring opportunities for efficiency are prioritised, resourced, and delivered.

The report pack noted that DOLGE has been working and will continue to work closely with both Members and Officers to identify areas for investigation, associated opportunities to realise efficiencies, develop business cases, and make recommendations to the respective Cabinet portfolio holders in their capacity as decision makers.

The report pack stated that the overarching ambition of DOLGE is to ensure that the people of Kent receive quality and cost-effective services which align with the priorities of the proposed new Council Strategic Statement.

The DOLGE team are researching opportunity areas across the organisation and sharing outputs with Cabinet Members who are then accountable for the development and decisions where specific proposals for their portfolios to realise efficiencies or savings can be taken forward.

The report pack noted that the DOLGE team continue to develop a register of areas of exploration and plan to update members of the Policy and Resources Cabinet Committee on a bi-annual basis about the work underway.

The report pack stated that DOLGE will have an initial specific focus on the delivery of 2025/26 in-year savings but also, the medium-term savings for 2026/27 and beyond to ensure a planned and sustainable approach.

The report pack also outlined the governance arrangements for DOLGE, including reporting to appropriate Cabinet Committees, cross-party meetings of the Contract Review Group, and adherence to the council's constitution.

Work Programme 2025/26

The committee was scheduled to review its work programme for 2025/26.