The Cabinet of Wiltshire Council met on Tuesday 11 November 2025 to review the council's financial performance for the second quarter of the 2025/26 financial year, approve increased funding for the Chippenham Avon Project, and receive an update on the Treasury Management Strategy. Key decisions included approving virements within the capital budget, authorising drawdowns from reserves to support revenue budgets, and noting the council's financial position against its Treasury Management Strategy.

Financial Monitoring and Budgetary Decisions

The Cabinet reviewed the council's financial performance for the second quarter of the 2025/26 financial year, receiving updates on both revenue and capital budgets.

Revenue Budget Monitoring: The Cabinet approved several drawdowns from reserves to support various initiatives. A sum of £0.120m was drawn from the Supporting Families Reserve to fund the Wiltshire Community Foundation Youth Partnership and the Wiltshire Parent Carer Council website. A new Children's Social Care Prevention Grant reserve was created, with £0.360m transferred into it to cover costs for the Family First Partnership that will extend into future financial years. Additionally, £0.574m was drawn from reserves to support Adult Care, including £0.084m from the Latent Demand Reserve for fixed-term posts, £0.090m from the Streamlining Adult Social Care Grant Reserve, and £0.400m from the Public Health Grant Reserve for prevention activities.

The Cabinet noted that the current revenue budget is forecast to overspend by £6.658m by the end of the financial year, primarily due to pressures in Adult Services and the impact of higher inflation. Further actions are being taken to manage this position, and if necessary, additional in-year savings will be required. The report also highlighted an overspend against Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) budgets of £12.892m, with a total deficit forecast for the year of £49.404m.

During the discussion, Cllr Richard Clewer, Chair of the Finance and Procurement Select Committee, raised concerns about the in-year spending of reserves, the increase in the overspend from Quarter 1 to Quarter 2, and the trajectory of reserves reducing over time. He also sought clarification on the outcome of a Full Council decision regarding procurement issues for the Destination Management Plan for VisitWiltshire. Cllr Gavin Grant, Cabinet Member for Finance, acknowledged these concerns and confirmed that further information would be provided on various matters, including the vacancy freeze and unfilled posts.

Capital Budget Monitoring: The Cabinet approved virements within the capital budget. £0.250m was moved from the Facilities Management Operational Estate capital scheme to a new line for Facilities Management Non-Operational Assets. A further £0.272m was transferred from the Integrated Transport capital scheme to a new scheme line for Active Travel. The Cabinet also approved grant income received and applied for.

The Cabinet noted additional budgets funded by grants, developer contributions, and reserves totalling £1.243m. It also noted the removal of £0.320m from the 2025/26 budget due to project completion or return for grant, including funds from the Evolve, Waste, and HUG2 Capital Scheme Lines. Furthermore, £1.603m was removed from future years' budgets due to project completion or to reduce the impact of borrowing. The report also detailed budgets brought forward from future years into the 2025/26 programme (£0.935m) and budgets reprogrammed from 2025/26 into future years (£32.632m). The revised 2025/26 Capital Programme forecast as at quarter two was £214.743m, with capital spend as of 30 June 2025 at £80.527m.

Cllr Richard Clewer, Chair of the Finance & Procurement Select Committee, requested that future reports include reasons for slippages in the capital programme, which the Section 151 Officer confirmed would be provided.

Treasury Management Strategy

The Cabinet received and noted the report on the Treasury Management Strategy for 2025/26, covering the half-year period ending 30 September 2025. The report confirmed that the council's activities were in line with the approved strategy. The Cabinet noted the performance of the Council's investments and borrowings against the set parameters.

During the discussion, Cllr Richard Clewer, Chair of the Finance & Procurement Select Committee, raised points regarding cash flow issues due to High Needs block repayments, noted inaccuracies in the capital receipts and grants table, and expressed a degree of concern regarding the CCLA investment, which is a longer-term investment. The committee would continue to monitor this.

The Council has not taken out any new long-term borrowing during 2025/26, though some may be taken towards the end of the financial year to address an under-borrowed position. Some new short-term borrowing has been undertaken to fund short-term cashflow deficits. The council has not exceeded any of its prudential indicators for the period.

Chippenham Avon Project

The Cabinet resolved to increase the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) allocation for the Chippenham Avon Project to £1.8 million. This decision aims to ensure that essential flood risk alleviation works can proceed, subject to Defra funding being made available. The Cabinet also delegated authority to the Director of Planning, Economy, and Regeneration to approve expenditure on the project up to £1.8m between now and 2030, and to agree contractual terms with the Environment Agency.

The Chippenham Avon Project is a key part of the One Plan for Chippenham and aims to alleviate flood risk and enhance the River Avon in the town centre. The Environment Agency has identified the need to replace the existing radial sluice gate, which is nearing the end of its life and poses an increasing flood risk. The total budget cost for the proposed scheme is £24m, with £18m required for the flood risk reduction element. DEFRA is expected to fund 90% of this essential element, leaving the Council to fund the remaining 10%, or £1.8m. The Cabinet had previously agreed to allocate £1m CIL funding in October 2024.

Cabinet members expressed disappointment with the increase in the CIL allocation. Cllr Dr Nick Murry, as the division member, raised concerns about the local choice element, the lack of flood risk mitigation components, the replacement of valuable habitat at Monkton Meadow, and the absence of transport infrastructure along the river corridor. Cllr Richard Clewer, Leader of the Conservative Group, supported the proposals but reiterated his disappointment with the increased CIL allocation, emphasising that the removal of the radial gate would manage, rather than eliminate, flooding.

Other Matters

During the meeting, Cabinet members made announcements regarding upcoming events and initiatives. Cllr Mel Jacob reaffirmed the Council's commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) policies. Cllr Clare Cape highlighted 16 days of wellbeing action focusing on domestic abuse from 25 November 2025. Cllr Paul Sample JP shared updates on the opening of the retro-fit build zone, a Dog Friendly Shop project, the national recognition of the Council's Dog Warden Service, and reminded residents about winter opening times for Household Recycling Centres and revised waste collection schedules. Cllr Adrian Foster reported that future planning applications would need to detail social rental houses rather than affordable rental houses.

Public participation included questions regarding the 'vision zero' approach to road safety and targets for reducing fatalities on Wiltshire roads, with Cllr Martin Smith, Cabinet Member for Highways, Streetscene and Flooding, confirming the Wiltshire and Swindon Road Safety Partnership's awareness of the initiative and commitment to reducing casualties. Concerns were also raised about the public availability of a response to Mr Redgewell and the outcome of cross-boundary cooperation with Bath and North East Somerset (B&ANES) Council, with the Leader promising an investigation into the former and Cllr Smith confirming ongoing discussions for the latter. Statements were received from Andrew Nicolson, Chair of Wiltshire Climate Alliance, regarding the A303 Stonehenge Tunnel Scheme and active travel proposals, and from Adrian Temple-Brown on climate change.

Cllr Graham Wright raised concerns about the community lottery decision, urging Cabinet members to engage Overview and Scrutiny in such decisions. Cllr Nick Holder questioned the council's flood preparedness for the coming winter, referencing previous flooding incidents. Cabinet members confirmed ongoing discussions with partners and the establishment of mitigation measures.