The Cabinet of Staffordshire Council met on Wednesday 14 January 2026 to discuss and approve the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for 2026-2031. The council agreed to a council tax increase of 3.99%, which is lower than anticipated, and confirmed that no frontline services would be cut, with increased investment in key areas such as children's services and highways.

Medium Term Financial Strategy and Council Tax

The most significant item discussed was the council's Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for 2026-2031, which outlines the council's financial plans and priorities for the coming years. A key decision made was to implement a council tax increase of 3.99%. This is lower than the maximum rate of 4.99% that other councils are applying and is a reduction from previous years where the council tax was raised at the highest rate for five years. This decision was made despite facing significant financial pressures, including national economic burdens, RPI inflation at 3.8%, and increased wage and living wage costs.

The council highlighted that this strategy aims to drive economic growth, attract investment, and improve infrastructure across Staffordshire. Despite facing pressures, including tens of millions of pounds in extra costs for care services, Staffordshire County Council will remain solvent and able to fund all services. The MTFS includes an investment of an additional £15 million in highways over two years and £3 million, rising to £5.5 million, in children and families services to provide up to 120 additional frontline staff.

Arguments for the proposed council tax increase and MTFS focused on the need to maintain and invest in essential services, address backlogs in areas like highways and SEND cases, and protect vulnerable residents. Councillor Nicholas Lakin stated, we have to be pragmatic. We have to be, we have to understand the difficulties that exist. This MTFS is an investment in essential services going forward. And without those investments, we would, well we wouldn't even be standing still. He also highlighted that the 3.99% increase is a fantastic result given the investments being made.

Concerns were raised regarding the potential for savings from strategic reviews and workforce efficiencies to be fully directed towards council tax savings in 2027. It was clarified that while strategic reviews are ongoing, their benefits are not yet incorporated into the current MTFS. Workforce efficiencies have also not been included in this version, with decisions on their allocation to be made by the Cabinet in future years.

The MTFS also addresses the need for improved connectivity, with plans for high-speed fibre across Staffordshire, and investment in libraries, colleges, and further education hubs. There is also a focus on promoting tourism and hospitality, supporting rural economies, and protecting county farms.

Highways Investment and Winter Maintenance

A significant portion of the discussion focused on the proposed investment in highways and the council's approach to winter maintenance. The MTFS demonstrates a commitment to investing £15 million of capital into the highway network over the next two years, in addition to other grants received. This funding is specifically earmarked to tackle the backlog of road repairs, particularly potholes, which has accumulated over decades. The strategy aims to move towards geographical, whole-road repairs rather than addressing individual potholes, supporting a new asset management approach. Councillor Peter Mason, Cabinet Member for Strategic Highways, explained, This investment helps deliver one of our wider ambitions in the roadmap, which is to move towards geographical, whole road repairs, rather than chasing individual potholes. It's about asset management.

In response to concerns raised about the winter maintenance schedule following a recent cold snap and snowfall, it was explained that the council inherited and reviewed the existing winter programme. While acknowledging the challenging conditions, including temperatures as low as minus 9 or 10 degrees Celsius, the output figures for the period of 1 to 11 January were presented as impressive. Over 60,250 kilometres of the network were treated, using nearly 7,000 tonnes of de-icing salt. The teams worked nearly 5,000 hours during this period. Councillor Daniel Cecil, Cabinet Support Member for Highways (Operations South), praised the teams, stating, Those teams have worked incredibly hard around the clock in challenging conditions. They deserve all our thanks for their dedication and for just going above and beyond and keeping Staffordshire moving. It was also clarified that grit requires traffic to activate and that extremely low temperatures can reduce its effectiveness. The council covers approximately 43% of the entire highways network, which is considered one of the largest achievements nationally, with most councils covering between 30% and 40%.

Children's Services and Support for Vulnerable Residents

Investment in children's services was highlighted as a key priority within the MTFS. The council is proposing to invest an additional £3 million, rising to £5.5 million, in children and families services. This funding will support the integrated front door, social care, care leavers, and the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and inclusion aspects of children's services. It was noted that a backlog of 400 SEND cases had already been reduced to zero since the current administration took office. The additional investment is expected to produce even better results and assist in reducing the number of children in care, which in turn is anticipated to lead to long-term savings. Councillor Nicholas Lakin, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, emphasised the importance of this investment, stating, we have to remember that some of the most vulnerable individuals in the county are within the children and families portfolio.

Community Safety and Other Portfolio Investments

The MTFS also signals a commitment to community safety, with the introduction of a dedicated community safety portfolio. This budget reflects a determination to protect and strengthen all parts of the county. Investments are being made in children's services to steer young people away from anti-social behaviour and towards positive futures. Libraries are being transformed into community hubs, and the highways network is being improved for reliability and resilience. Trading standards teams have been active in closing premises selling illegal and counterfeit goods, with no such closures occurring in 2024 prior to the current administration. A new community safety strategy is also set to be approved, embedding responsibility across all portfolios. Councillor Anthony Screen, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Resilience, stated, Our trading standards teams have taken decisive steps closing premises that sell illegal goods and counterfeit goods. This marks a significant change.

The health and care sector will also see continued focus, with efforts to improve the assessment and review of care plans, ensure person-centred support, and maintain high-quality care. The council is also applying its choice policy to keep carer and placement costs affordable and fair.

Devolution and Economic Growth

The council reiterated its ambition for devolution, seeking full devolved powers to ensure decisions and funding are made locally in Staffordshire, giving the county a stronger voice. The exclusion of Staffordshire from the recently announced Northern Powerhouse Rail line between Birmingham and Manchester was cited as an example of why devolved power is crucial. The MTFS aims to drive economic growth and attract investment, with Staffordshire noted for a record number of 150 entries for tourism awards, a 43% increase in first-time entrants, and a tourism sector worth approximately £2.7 billion, supporting 25,000 jobs. The council is also focusing on environmental strategy, local transport strategy, and flood resilience, particularly in North Staffordshire.

The meeting concluded with the Cabinet proposing the MTFS for approval, which was subsequently agreed upon.