The Cabinet of Tendring Council met on Friday 24 July 2026. The meeting included the approval of funding for the Clacton-on-Sea Pride in Place programme, the adoption of a new Housing Mutual Exchange Policy, and the endorsement of a draft Culture-Led Framework for Clacton town centre for public consultation. The Cabinet also noted the council's financial outturn for 2025/26, which showed a favourable General Fund revenue variance of £3.389m, and approved amendments to treasury management practices.

Pride in Place Programme for Clacton-on-Sea

Cabinet welcomed the UK Government's endorsement of the 10-year vision and investment plan for Clacton as the principal document for the delivery of the Pride in Place programme. Approval was given for the Year 1 delivery funding programme, which comprises £360,000 in capital and £232,000 in revenue. This funding was approved by the Clacton Town Board at its meeting on 27 March 2026.

Cabinet also approved two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs): one between Tendring District Council (as Accountable Body) and the Clacton Town Board, and another between Tendring District Council and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). The signing of the latter MoU will trigger the release of the Year 1 delivery funding. Authority was delegated to the Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, Regeneration and Tourism for capital delivery funding, and to the Deputy Chief Executive for revenue delivery funding, following consultation with the Council's Section 151 Officer. Future year allocations of delivery funding will be reported to Cabinet within the appropriate budget update report.

The Pride in Place Programme is a UK Government-funded initiative aimed at regenerating Clacton-on-Sea, with the Clacton Town Board overseeing the delivery of up to £20 million over ten years. Tendring District Council acts as the Accountable Body, responsible for ensuring compliance with legal, procurement, and financial requirements. The programme is structured around three themes: Safe and Lively, Prosperous, and Healthy, and aims to improve the economic, social, and environmental wellbeing of Clacton-on-Sea.

Clacton Town Centre Culture-Led Framework

Cabinet formally approved the draft Clacton Town Centre Culture-Led Framework, titled Clacton Thriving, and its accompanying draft Action Plan, for public consultation over an eight-week period. The consultation period is set to commence on 17 August 2026, with the Portfolio Holder for Arts, Culture & Heritage authorised to approve the consultation arrangements prior to its start. The outcome of the consultation will be considered when the final documents are presented to Cabinet for adoption.

This framework, developed with funding from the Community Regeneration Partnership programme, aims to support the economic regeneration of Clacton-on-Sea by using culture as a catalyst. It provides a vision and spatial framework for the town centre's future, identifying interventions to strengthen its identity, improve the public realm, support businesses, and encourage community participation. The framework aligns with the Council's Local Plan and Corporate Priorities, as well as the ambitions of the Clacton Pride in Place programme. The framework is intended to attract future investment and will be a material consideration in planning decisions.

Financial Outturn and Budget Adjustments

Cabinet noted the high-level Financial Outturn Position for 2025/26, which showed a favourable General Fund Revenue variance of £3.389m. This variance is currently held within the Corporate Investment Fund (Revenue) via the Revenue Commitments Reserve. Approval was given for the use of this variance, along with other proposed budget adjustments for 2026/27 and 2027/28.

Specific allocations include £0.250m set aside within the Contingency budget, £1.000m to support general capacity within the Council, and £0.050m in both 2026/27 and 2027/28 to support the extension of local sports grant schemes. Authority was delegated to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Finance and Governance, to utilise the contingency and general capacity funding. The Corporate Director (Place and Wellbeing), in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Public Realm, was authorised to implement arrangements for the sports grant schemes. The Council's Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the Corporate Finance and Governance Portfolio Holder, was authorised to adjust the 2025/26 outturn position based on recommendations from the Council's External Auditor.

Housing Mutual Exchange Policy

Cabinet formally adopted the Housing Mutual Exchange Policy for implementation. This policy formalises existing practices within the Housing and Environment service and ensures compliance with the Housing Act 1985 and 1904, the Regulator of Social Housing's Consumer Standards, and the Housing Ombudsman's recommendations. The policy aims to enable eligible secure tenants to exchange their homes with other social or affordable housing tenants, promoting housing mobility and more effective use of the Council's housing stock.

The Corporate Director (Operations and Delivery) was authorised to make future updates or amendments to the policy in consultation with the Portfolio Holder responsible for Housing. The policy will be reviewed every two years.

Treasury Management Performance

The Cabinet noted the Treasury Management performance for 2025/26 and approved the Prudential and Treasury Indicators for the same period. An amendment to the Council's Treasury Management Practices was also approved, increasing the maximum amount that can be invested per money market fund from £4.000m to £6.000m. This change aims to provide officers with additional flexibility in investment decisions while maintaining a proportionate balance with risk. The report highlighted that borrowing and investments were undertaken in accordance with the approved Annual Capital and Treasury Strategy, and that the Council operated within its treasury limits.

Tendring District Council (Career Track) Apprenticeships

Cabinet noted the annual review of Career Track, the Council's apprenticeship training provider. The review covered the programme's impact, governance arrangements, quality assurance, financial position, and proposed actions for continued development. The report highlighted Career Track's success rate of 94% in 2025/26, significantly exceeding the national ambition, with 86% of completers progressing into employment. The programme's contribution to raising aspirations, creating opportunities, and supporting the future public sector workforce, particularly in the context of Local Government Reorganisation, was also acknowledged. Officers were requested to continue reporting financial updates through the two-year financial planning process and/or quarterly financial reporting arrangements.

Other Business

The Cabinet also noted the financial outturn for the Housing Revenue Account (HRA), which showed a favourable variance of £1.652m, transferred to the HRA General Balance. The report on Treasury Management Performance 2025/26 also detailed the Council's borrowing and investment positions, noting that no new external borrowing was undertaken in 2025/26.

The meeting also considered a report on the Milton Road and Victoria Street regeneration schemes, noting progress in securing a preferred bidder for the project. Cabinet also approved the adoption of the Food & Safety Service Plan and Enforcement Policy for 2026-2028. Finally, the Cabinet noted the outturn performance against the Regulator of Social Housing's Tenant Satisfaction Measures for 2025/26.