The Derbyshire County Council cabinet has approved a series of recommendations, including a plan for the 2026/27 budget, a compulsory purchase order (CPO) for the South Derbyshire Growth Zone, and a consultation on changes to children's services transport. The cabinet also reviewed performance monitoring, development progress at Markham Vale, the library strategy, and future options for adult education services.

South Derbyshire Growth Zone Compulsory Purchase Order

The cabinet approved moving forward with a Compulsory Purchase Order to support the South Derbyshire Growth Zone (SDGZ) project. The SDGZ aims to create a major housing and commercial development through new infrastructure, including a junction on the A50 and a link to Infinity Park Derby.

The decision includes:

• Noting an update on the project, including additional land to be added to the CPO.
• Approving delivery of enabling infrastructure within the SDGZ.
• Approving delegation agreements with Derby City Council and National Highways.
• Approving the making, publication and notice of a Side Roads Order (SRO) followed by the CPO for areas of land outlined in appendices, taking into account the project's funding status.
• Approving submission of the CPO and SRO to the Secretary of State for Transport for confirmation.
• Authorising the Director of Legal and Democratic Services to take necessary steps regarding compensation and appoint counsel for any public inquiry.
• Authorising the Executive Director – Place to negotiate with objectors and other landholders, including agreeing accommodation works and land acquisition.
• Approving taking ownership of land and interests in land voluntarily or pursuant to the CPO to deliver the Scheme and authorises the Director of Legal and Democratic Services to draw up and execute any such documents as are necessary to the completion such acquisitions.
• Authorising the Executive Director – Place to negotiate compensation and payment to affected landowners, and to approve payment of relevant professional fees incurred by landowners.
• Authorising the Director of Legal and Democratic Services, in consultation with the Executive Director – Place to make minor amends to the schedules to the CPO as may be necessary prior to making the CPO.

The report noted that the project has a provisional £49.6 million grant from the Levelling Up Fund¹ but faces a funding gap of £19.24m. The cabinet was advised that there was sufficient confidence that genuine options do exist for this to regard the project as fundable.

The report also noted that since the previous cabinet approval, more detailed design work has been undertaken on the Scheme, and through negotiations with landowners covering matters such as means of access, it has become clear that alterations to the boundaries of the land covered in the earlier CPO approvals are required. This additional land is in relation to access requirements to laybys on the A50 that require upgrading as part of the mitigation associated with the new junction, as well as storage of materials during the construction period. Land is also required adjacent to Infinity Park Way during construction of a widened right turn lane into Wilmore Road for the purpose of siting piling machinery. Both areas of land are only required on a temporary basis during construction, and it is the Council's intention to work with the landowners to enter into licence agreements to utilise the land required instead of implementing the CPO.

Children's Services: Home to School Transport Policy Consultation Approved

The cabinet approved a public consultation on potential changes to the Home to School Transport Policy for compulsory school age children and the post 16 transport policy statement.

Proposed changes to the Home to School Transport Policy for compulsory school age children include:

• Renaming the policy to School Travel Policy for children of compulsory school age.
• Revising 'spare seat' charges for children not eligible for free school transport to align with regional benchmarking and allow for annual increases in line with inflation.
• Introducing pick-up points for specialised transport arrangements where appropriate.
• Using the address used to apply for the school place during the admissions intake round to assess eligibility for school transport.
• Providing clear information about how distances are measured.
• Changing the qualifying criteria for Extended Rights for Low-Income Families to reflect legislative changes following the roll out of Universal Credit.
• Considering offering families Personal Travel Budgets (PTBs) as an alternative to traditional transport.
• Enhancing Independent Travel Training (ITT) for secondary school age children with SEND.
• Providing clear information about how the council considers the use of discretion.
• Undertaking route assessments to determine if routes are suitable for walking.
• Extending the timeframe for arranging specialised travel assistance for SEND pupils to 30 working days.

Proposed changes to the Post 16 Transport Policy Statement include:

• Renaming and modernising the policy statement to Post-16 Travel Support Policy Statement.
• Considering offering families Personal Travel Budgets (PTBs) as an alternative to traditional transport.
• Enhancing Independent Travel Training (ITT) for Post 16 pupils with SEND.
• Introducing pick-up points for SEND learners where appropriate.
• Considering changes to the parental contribution amount for transport assistance, in line with regional benchmarking data.
• Extending the timeframe for arranging specialised travel assistance for SEND pupils to 30 working days.

The consultation will run for 10 weeks, from 15 December 2025 to 22 February 2026.

Budget 2026/27 Preparation Timetable Approved

The cabinet approved the timetable for completion of the 2026-27 budget, including arrangements for consultation with stakeholders and the carrying out of an assessment of the need for a full equality impact assessment on budget savings proposals.

The timetable includes the annual pre-budget engagement activities including the Your Council, Your Voice Survey, proposals for reviewing and updating the Medium-Term Financial Plan, and arrangements for reviewing Earmarked Reserves and updating the General Reserve projections.

Performance Monitoring and Budget Forecast

The cabinet noted the update of Council Plan performance, progress with the delivery of savings, and the Revenue Budget position/forecast outturn for 2025-26 as at 30 September 2025 (Quarter 2).

The cabinet approved the use of reserves to support the SEND improvement plan and adopted the amendments relating to the flexible use of capital receipts strategy, referring the amendment to Council for formal approval.

The cabinet approved the virement² of £2.432m Capital Borrowing and £1.833m revenue funding from Place to CST for the Highways Depot Improvement Works and noted the overall position on Reserves.

Markham Vale Development Progress

The cabinet noted the continuing success and progress made in bringing forward development at Markham Vale and the economic activity that has taken place over the period October 2024 to October 2025, and approved the activity planned over the coming years to bring the project to completion.

Derbyshire Adult Community Education Service Consultation

The cabinet approved a programme of formal public and stakeholder consultation for a period of ten weeks on the three proposed future options to deliver Derbyshire Adult Community Education Services (DACES).

Library Strategy Update

The cabinet confirmed the continued delivery of the current Library Strategy approved on 9 January 2025 and delegated decisions on the proposed relocation of Clay Cross Library to the Executive Director for Place and the Executive Director for Corporate Services and Transformation in consultation with the Portfolio Holders for Health and Communities, Business Services and Strategic Leadership to continue to explore opportunities to secure improvements to Clay Cross Library in liaison with North East Derbyshire District Council and other key stakeholders as appropriate.