The Cabinet of Devon Council met on Wednesday 20 May 2026, approving a new vision for the future of Devon's libraries, including no reduction in weekly opening hours and the cessation of overdue book fines. The council also approved the highway maintenance capital budget for 2026/27, an expanded pothole repair trial, and the closure of Shaugh Prior Primary School.

Future Library Service - Transformation and Vision

The council agreed on a new Vision for Devon's Libraries, which includes no reduction in weekly opening hours. This decision was made after considering feedback from a library consultation. The council also agreed to remove area groupings and bandings used to categorise libraries. A programme for the implementation of Open+ will proceed, aiming to enable extended library access and support staffed hours. Furthermore, a new Volunteer Strategy will be developed in partnership with Libraries Unlimited to enhance recruitment and support for library volunteers. The council also agreed to develop a new model of Partnership Libraries, working with local councils, charities, and other bodies, utilising the £1,000,000 Libraries Transformation and Rural Hub Fund. An additional £100,000 will be invested in the council's Book Fund annually for the financial years 2026-27 and 2027-28. Crucially, the collection of overdue book fines in Devon's libraries will cease from 1 October 2026. Delegated authority for the £1,000,000 Libraries Transformation and Rural Hub Fund has been given to the Council's Library Transformation Programme, with budget spend sign-off resting with the Cabinet Member for Rural Affairs and Broadband and the Cabinet Member for Finance, in consultation with the Director of Finance and Public Value and the Director of Public Health and Communities. Councillor Stuart Rogers BEM declared a personal interest in this matter as he is a postmaster at Ashburton post office.

County Road Highway Maintenance Capital Budget, Progress on 25/26 schemes, proposals for 26/27 and On-Street Parking Account 26/27

The Cabinet noted the progress on the 2025/26 capital-funded highway maintenance programme. The highways maintenance block grant will be amended to move £11,644,818 from conditional to unconditional in 2026/27. The capital-funded highway maintenance programme for 2026/27 was approved, with the detailed allocation of the budget to be determined by the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highways, and within the approved budget limits. The programme funded from the On-street Parking Account for 2026/27 was also approved, as were schemes scheduled for delivery over the next two years. The updated Asset Management Policy, re-aligned to the Council's Strategic Plan 2025–2029, was also approved. The Cabinet recognised the positive impact of additional funding, approved in February 2026, which is focused on improving roads this year and for a further four years. Councillor Dan Thomas is the Cabinet Member for Highways.

Pothole Repair Trial - Update and Future Considerations

An expanded 12-month Pothole Repair Trial was agreed. Delegated authority has been given to the Director for Climate Change, Environment and Transport (Interim), in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highways Management, to make any minor amendments to the trial. The resolutions from the Corporate Infrastructure and Regulatory Services Scrutiny Committee regarding the trial were noted. Councillor Dan Thomas is the Cabinet Member for Highways Management.

The Future of Shaugh Prior Primary School

The closure of Shaugh Prior Primary School from 31 August 2026 was approved. The proposed new designated areas for the area currently served by the school, to inform school transport eligibility, were also approved.

North Devon UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Strategy

The North Devon UNESCO Biosphere Strategy 2026–2036 was endorsed. The Council's role as the host organisation, providing staffing and secretariat support to the Biosphere Partnership, and the role of the North Devon Biosphere Foundation as an independent charitable body supporting the delivery of funded programmes aligned to the Strategy were noted. It was noted that the Biosphere Partnership Agreement is currently being updated for the period 2026–2036. Delegated authority has been given to the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Biodiversity, to sign the updated Partnership Agreement on behalf of the County Council once finalised. Councillor Jacqi Hodgson is the Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Bio-diversity. Councillor Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin declared a personal interest in this matter as she lives within the area covered by the biosphere.

Specialist and Supported Housing Needs Assessment

The Specialist and Supported Housing Needs Assessment report was approved. The Council's continued close working with District and Borough Councils to deliver a joint Specialist and Supported Housing Strategy by 31 March 2027, as required by recent guidance and on wider aspects of the Supported Housing Regulatory Oversight Act (SHROA), was endorsed. Councillor Richard Keeling is the Cabinet Member for Adults Services.

Corporate Infrastructure and Regulatory Services Scrutiny Committee (25 March 2026, Minute 45) on Broadband (Community Voucher Scheme Opportunity)

The Cabinet received the report and thanked the Corporate Infrastructure and Regulatory Services Committee for its resolutions. The Cabinet noted the request to review and actively consider the legal and equality implications of current national broadband policy, with regard to the Council's duties under the Equality Act 2010, and to escalate these concerns to national government. The aim is to request a review of national policy to address unequal impacts on rural and hard-to-reach communities and ensure consistent delivery of broadband schemes. It was also noted that the Cabinet Member for Rural Affairs and Broadband, Councillor Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin, is already lobbying national government on the rural connectivity gap. A letter, titled Bridging the Rural Connectivity Gap in Devon, has been sent to the Minister for Digital Economy, signed by Councillor Cottle-Hunkin and seven of Devon's MPs, National Park Chairs, and Chief Executives of Devon Communities Together and Citizens Advice. The establishment of a CIRS Broadband Voucher Scheme Task and Finish group was welcomed to monitor the development and opportunity for Devon from the national broadband voucher scheme. A report will be presented to a future Cabinet for a decision on the installation of 5G on County Council assets, reviewing the current position agreed in June 2019, where no 5G equipment is installed on council-owned infrastructure due to resident concerns. Clear pathways for Member engagement with Parish and Town Councils, communities, and providers on broadband access will be developed in the form of a toolkit, working with the CIRS Scrutiny task and finish group.

Revenue and Capital Outturn 2025/2026

The draft outturn for 2025/26, showing a balanced break-even position for the General Fund Balance against the approved revenue budget, was noted. The 2025/26 revenue outturn, including transactions on earmarked reserves and provisions, spending against budget, and the implications for balances, was approved. The 2025/26 capital outturn, including spending against budget and proposed carry forwards, was also approved. The use of capital finance as set out in the report was approved. A total of £19 million will be set aside from revenue resources as Minimum Revenue Provision for the repayment of capital borrowing. The Prudential Indicators and the total monies owing to the Council as at 31 March 2026 were noted. Councillor James Buczkowski is the Cabinet Member for Finance.

Forward Plan

The Cabinet reviewed the Forward Plan and determined those items of business to be defined as key and framework decisions to be included in the Plan from the date of the meeting onwards.