Here is a summary of the items scheduled for discussion at the Wiltshire Council Cabinet meeting on 9 December 2025.

The Cabinet is scheduled to discuss a range of topics, including council tax premiums, the enhanced biodiversity duty, future waste service delivery, and the future of Adoption West. Councillors will also review performance monitoring for the second quarter of 2025/26 and a framework for fees and charges.

Here are some of the topics that are scheduled to be discussed in greater detail:

Future Waste Service Delivery Arrangements

The Cabinet is expected to discuss the future of waste services in Wiltshire, as detailed in the Future Waste Services Delivery Arrangements - Clean 2 document. The report includes a review of the estimated budget for waste services from 2026/27 to 2028/29, and proposals to comply with new statutory requirements for separate food waste collections from 2027/28.

Several proposals are up for consideration, including:

• Entering a deed of variation to alter the technology used at the Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT) plant.
• Forming a Local Authority Trading Company (LATCO) partnership for kerbside waste and recycling collection services.
• Forming a LATCO partnership for Material Recovery Facility services.
• Awarding contract extensions for the operation of Household Recycling Centres (HRCs) and Waste Transfer Stations.
• Using Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging funding to deliver the waste transformation programme.

In addition, the Cabinet will consider proposals to retain the current twin-stream recycling collection system, gather public feedback on a potential move to three-weekly residual waste collections, and gather public feedback on the closure of the Purton and Lower Compton Household Recycling Centres.

The report states that:

The proposals seek to achieve optimal best value outcomes for the delivery of efficient and effective waste services beyond 2026 whilst adapting to legislative change to ensure continuity of high-profile statutory services.

Council Tax Premiums

The Cabinet is scheduled to discuss and make recommendations to the Full Council regarding council tax premiums for second homes and long-term empty properties. The Council Tax - Second Homes report recommends introducing a 100% council tax premium on second homes from 1 April 2027. The Council Tax - Empty Properties report proposes increasing the Long-Term Empty Homes Premium to the maximum permissible from 1 April 2026, with a 100% premium for properties empty for 1 to 5 years, 200% for 5 to 10 years, and 300% for 10+ years.

The stated rationale behind these proposals is to tackle housing shortages and increase local authority revenue.

Enhanced Biodiversity Duty Report

The Cabinet is expected to consider the Enhanced Biodiversity Duty Report 6, which outlines actions taken and planned to conserve and enhance biodiversity in Wiltshire. The report details the legal requirements of the enhanced biodiversity duty, Wiltshire's existing biodiversity assets, and future plans for nature recovery. It also highlights the importance of integrating biodiversity into planning, land management, and decision-making processes.

The report states that:

The enhanced biodiversity duty aims to ensure that public authorities, including LPAs, actively contribute to the restoration of nature through their functions. It moves beyond the previous requirement to merely have regard for biodiversity, introducing a proactive obligation to take strategic and operational actions that support nature recovery.

Adoption West: Future Options

The Cabinet will discuss the future of Adoption West, a regional adoption agency, as detailed in the Adoption West Future Options 5 report. The current arrangements for Adoption West are set to end in February 2027, and the Cabinet will consider options for the delivery of adoption services beyond this date. The report recommends continuing with Adoption West as the preferred option, while further developing the agency and exploring opportunities to expand its remit.

The report states that:

The review concluded that the further development of Adoption West, consolidating and building upon the progress to date, represents the best option for service provision beyond February 2027, providing opportunities to innovate, as well as addressing the pressures and challenges that are evident in the adoption system both regionally and nationally.

Provision of Education at The Northwood Centre, Colerne

The Cabinet is scheduled to discuss a proposal to create high needs places at The Northwood Centre, Colerne, as detailed in the Provision of Education at The Northwood Centre report. The proposal involves using the DfE statutory guidance to create a special school satellite campus at The Northwood Centre, which was previously known as Calder House School. This would help to address a shortage of local specialist education places and reduce reliance on costly independent special school placements.

Award of Contract for Bus Shelters and Bus Stop Infrastructure

The Cabinet will discuss the award of a contract for the design, supply, installation and maintenance of bus shelters and bus stop infrastructure, as detailed in the Award of Contract for the Design Supply Installation and Maintenance of Bus Shelters and Bus Stop In report. The report seeks approval to delegate authority to the Director responsible for Highways and Transport to award the contract, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highways, Streetscene and Flooding. This will ensure that the 2025/26 Local Authority Bus Grant funded programme can be delivered in accordance with the approved Local Authority Bus Grant Delivery Plan.

Fees and Charges Framework

The Cabinet is scheduled to discuss the Cabinet 9 Dec 2025 Fees and Charges Report, which presents the Wiltshire Council Fees and Charges Framework for approval. The framework outlines the council's approach to setting, reviewing, and managing discretionary fees and charges. It aims to promote financial sustainability, transparency, and equitable service delivery.

The Cabinet will be asked to approve the proposed principles and methodology for setting fees and charges, as well as the contents of the Fees and Charges Framework. They will also be asked to note the proposed increase to fees and charges for 2026/27, as presented in Cabinet 9 Dec 2025 Fees and Charges App B.

Performance Monitoring 2025/26 Q2

The Cabinet is scheduled to receive a report on performance monitoring for the second quarter of 2025/26, as detailed in the Performance Monitoring 202526 Q2 document. The report provides an update on the performance framework, which comprises selected measures used to monitor progress against the high-level Priorities set out in Our Wiltshire Plan 2025-35. It includes measures of performance using data available at the end of Quarter 2.

The Appendix 1 - Corporate Performance Scorecard 202526 Q2 is attached to the report.

Other items

The agenda for the meeting also includes:

• Approval of the minutes from the previous meeting on 11 November 2025, as detailed in the Minutes 11112025 Cabinet document.
• Apologies for absence
• Declarations of interest
• Leader and Cabinet announcements
• Public participation and questions from members
• Urgent items
• Exclusion of the press and public for a discussion on future waste services delivery arrangements.