The Cabinet of Warwickshire Council met on Thursday 16 April 2026 to discuss a range of important issues, including the council's budget, performance management, and environmental strategies. Key decisions made included the approval of the 2026-27 revenue budget, budget reduction plan, and capital programme, as well as the adoption of the Warwickshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy. The meeting also addressed the closure of Great Alne Primary School and the establishment of a new Crisis Resilience Fund.

Budget and Financial Planning

The Cabinet approved the detailed 2026-27 revenue budget, the budget reduction plan, and the capital programme for each service. This includes allocating an additional £3.5 million to children's social care and £1.5 million to adult social care to address significant financial pressures anticipated for 2025-26 and 2026-27. The council will also draw down funds from the Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) Reserve. Councillor Warwick raised concerns about coping with additional in-year pressures due to inflation and interest rates, to which Councillor Shaw, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Finance and Property, responded that the council is working closely with officers on a weekly basis to manage allocations and monitor spending. Councillor Cowher expressed confidence in achieving budget reductions but questioned the feasibility of the capital programme given inflationary pressures. Councillor Condicott noted that the 4.4% council tax rise provided more reserves than the initially considered 3.8% and suggested accelerating income from street works to generate additional revenue. Councillor Stevens sought clarification on the impact of permanent and one-off transfers on previous spending and questioned the adequacy of the £11 million allocated for LGR transition, including potential redundancy and recruitment costs. Councillor Shaw confirmed that the £11 million is based on a single unitary authority model and is split between the county council and boroughs/districts, with further investigation needed if a two-unitary model is adopted.

Performance Management Framework

The Cabinet reviewed and agreed in principle the Key Business Measures (KBMs) for the 2026-27 Performance Management Framework. Councillor Michael Bannister, Portfolio Holder for Customer and Localities, presented the framework, which includes 98 KBMs, an increase from the previous 66. The framework aims to measure what matters, demonstrate progress against objectives, and align with the refreshed council plan. Councillor McAllister raised concerns about discrepancies in the reported numbers of KBMs, stating they counted 92 instead of 98. Councillor Bannister acknowledged a potential counting issue and assured it would be addressed. Councillor Condicott highlighted the need for geographically balanced data, citing disparities in electric charging points between Warwick and Nuneaton, and stressed the importance of measuring road safety by the number of people killed and seriously injured, rather than just the number of schemes implemented. Councillor Stevens requested visibility on the benchmarks and targets against which performance will be measured. Councillor Feeney welcomed the inclusion of KBMs for young children's outcomes but sought clarification on whether the council acts as the collecting authority for housing statistics for lower-tier authorities, which was confirmed as no. Councillor Boad reiterated concerns about the numerical discrepancies and the need for clarity. Councillor Curtis echoed the sentiment that the focus should be on actual accident reduction rather than just road safety schemes. Councillor Dixon inquired which KBMs would specifically track progress on the council's motion to address child poverty, and Councillor Bannister pointed to happy, healthy and safe children on page 68, while acknowledging further review might be needed. Councillor Edwards raised the risk of focusing on KBMs rather than underlying problems and the need to capture qualitative information.

Great Alne Primary School Closure

A significant decision was made regarding the proposed closure of Great Alne Primary School. Councillor Wayne Briggs, Portfolio Holder for Education, presented the report, recommending the closure of the school from 31 August 2026, subject to the revocation of the current Direct Academy Order. He acknowledged the impact on children, families, and staff, and committed to supporting families in finding alternative school places. Councillor Norris argued against the closure, emphasizing that Great Alne is the only local school with spare capacity, that other primary schools in Ulster are full, and that the nearest alternative is six miles away. He also highlighted that the school was full only four or five years ago and suggested a reprieve of one to two years to assess the impact of the South Yorkshire local plan, which may include significant new housing in Wilmcote. Councillor Briggs responded that pupil numbers were falling before the Ofsted rating improved and that the Stratford plan's fruition is uncertain. He also stated that a decision is needed to provide support to the nine children and four teachers currently at the school. Councillor Norris sought a commitment that the school site would be retained for educational or community use in Ulster and Great Holm, to which Councillor Briggs could not provide a definitive commitment due to legal reasons and the need for a decision before further planning could occur. The Cabinet ultimately agreed to the recommendations for closure.

Crisis Resilience Fund

The Cabinet authorised the commencement of a procurement process for the delivery of the Crisis Resilience Fund (CRF) for the period 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029. Councillor Michael Bannister explained that the CRF replaces the Household Support Fund, with a reduced initial allocation of £5.6 million per year, increasing to £6.3 million in the third year. The fund has different criteria set by the government, with a greater emphasis on resilience, income maximisation, and debt management. He noted the tight timetable imposed by the government, with a submission deadline of 1 July. Councillor Jonathan Chilvers welcomed the emphasis on resilience but shared concerns about the short timescale and suggested a small grant process for local community groups to provide immediate support for initiatives like warm hubs before the tendering process is complete. Councillor Bannister indicated that existing funded groups would be supported through the interim period if their activities align with the CRF strategy. Councillor Warwick highlighted Warwickshire's identification as an oil-dependent county and the additional grant this brings, noting the significant impact of rising oil prices on households without price caps. He urged for agility in distributing the funds. Councillor Stevens inquired about plans for a collective buying scheme for heating oil for residents, which Councillor Bannister stated is something that can be explored. Councillor Dixon expressed concern that the tendering process might favour larger national providers over local organisations with demonstrable local relationships and trust, suggesting that organisations like the Heart of England Community Foundation and Wekava could distribute funds more effectively. Councillor Bannister agreed with the desire to keep the initiative local and confirmed that provisions would be made in the tender specifications to ensure local focus. Councillor Curtis added that the fuel crisis also affects bottled gas and solid fuel users, not just oil. Councillor Condicott suggested exploring opportunities for residents to transition to renewable heating systems to avoid future dependence on fossil fuels.

Establishing a Cross-Party Working Group for Councillors' Grant Fund

The Cabinet approved the establishment of a cross-party working group to review the Councillors' Grant Fund. Councillor Michael Bannister, Portfolio Holder for Customer and Localities, explained that the fund, which has an annual allocation of £8,000 per councillor, often receives more applications than available funding. He noted that the current process involves significant administrative costs and that some organisations have been making multiple applications, potentially deviating from the fund's original purpose. The working group will review the fund's effectiveness, fairness, accessibility, and value for money, with a view to implementing changes quickly to support summer applications. Councillor Boad supported the review but expressed concern about a single round of funding, suggesting it could force the allocation of money to groups that may not be ideal if the funds are not fully disbursed in one round. She also raised the issue of multiple small bids and the need for clarity on the working group's size and membership. Councillor Chilvers agreed with the need for minor administrative tweaks and suggested limiting multiple applications to two or three, advocating for a swift and efficient review process. Councillor Warwick welcomed the review, emphasizing the significant impact of relatively small grants on enabling community initiatives such as warm hubs and defibrillators. Councillor Feeney commended the work of officers in streamlining the application process in the past and highlighted the effectiveness of joint funding by councillors in Rugby. The Cabinet agreed to the recommendation to establish the working group.

Warwickshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy

The Cabinet adopted the Warwickshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS). Councillor Darren Cheshire, Portfolio Holder for Environment, Heritage and Culture, presented the strategy, which aims to reverse biodiversity loss, restore habitats, and strengthen the natural environment across Warwickshire. He emphasised that the strategy is practical, locally grounded, and supported by residents, organisations, and stakeholders. Key focuses include habitat restoration, species recovery, water resilience, improving green and blue spaces, and fostering connections between communities and nature. Councillor Stephens sought clarification on the receipt of the £135,000 financial burden grant for 2025-26, which Councillor Cheshire confirmed had been provided, with a similar grant expected in subsequent years. Councillor Condicott expressed strong support for nature recovery across all of Warwickshire, particularly in urban areas like Nuneaton and Bedworth, which he noted are heavily impacted by development. He highlighted issues such as pollution in the River Anker and the lack of country parks in Nuneaton. Councillor Warwick welcomed the report and mentioned the River Anker, expressing concern about potential development near it. He praised the work of David Lowe, an officer recognised nationally for his expertise in nature recovery, and invited the Leader to the reopening of a wetland reserve in Wolvey. Councillor Cheshire echoed the importance of addressing river quality and pollutants. Councillor Feeney supported the focus on preserving green spaces within town centres and commended the Borough Council's partnership with the University of Birmingham on a river champions scheme. Councillor Dixon welcomed the LNRS and questioned the extent to which HS2 and its contractors were involved in its formulation. Councillor Cheshire stated that HS2 had been part of the original conversation and that details of their participation would be provided in writing. The Cabinet agreed to adopt the Warwickshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

Exclusion of the Public

The Cabinet resolved to exclude the press and public from the remainder of the meeting on the grounds that their presence would involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of schedule 12A of part one of the Local Government Act 1972.