At a meeting of the Warwickshire Council Cabinet, key decisions were made regarding the 2026/27 budget, education, employment, and risk management. The Cabinet endorsed the Annual Education Sufficiency Update and approved additions to the Education Capital Programme for multiple schools. Additionally, they approved the Get Warwickshire Working Plan and authorised the procurement of supported lodgings for young people aged 16-21, as well as the updated Strategic Risk Management Framework.

2026/27 Budget and 2026-31 Medium Term Financial Strategy

Cabinet members considered background information and options for the upcoming budget and medium-term financial strategy, with Councillor Stephen Shaw, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Finance and Property, playing a key role. They acknowledged significant uncertainties due to the pending Local Government Finance Settlement and ongoing discussions about resolving Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) deficits.

The Cabinet agreed to develop its draft budget and financial strategy, taking into account the advice of the Corporate Board, while noting the remaining uncertainties. They also authorised the Corporate Board to begin preparatory work necessary to deliver the budget options, prior to the final decision by the Full Council on 5 February 2026.

The report highlighted that 64% of corporate funding is expected to come from council tax, making decisions about council tax increases central to the council's financial resilience. The Corporate Board recommended taking the maximum permitted council tax increase of 4.99% in 2026/27 and each year thereafter to ensure a robust and sustainable MTFS. This recommendation was based on several factors:

• Significant and growing spending pressures, particularly in social care.
• Continued uncertainty over Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) deficits.
• The Fair Funding Review 2.0 and Business Rates Reset implications.
• The need to maintain financial resilience.

The report also noted that not taking the maximum council tax increase in any year is a riskier financial strategy, given that any permitted increase not taken cannot be caught-up in future years.

The report included several appendices, including:

• Appendix A - MTFS Scenarios set out numerous plausible funding scenarios which include variations in the Council Tax, Business Rates and Corporate Government Grants for members to use in considering their Council Tax strategy.
• Appendix B - Permanent Budget Allocations provides brief details of the proposed permanent budget allocations recommended for approval.
• Appendix C - Time Limited Budget Allocations provides brief details of these proposed time-limited spending budget allocations.
• Appendix D - Budget Reductions
• Appendix E - Reserves Strategy 2026-31
• Appendix F - Capital Strategy 2026-31
• Appendix G - Responses to Public Budget Consultation

Education Sufficiency

The Cabinet endorsed the Annual Education Sufficiency Update for ages 0-25, with Councillor Wayne Briggs, Portfolio Holder for Education, leading the discussion. The update provides data and information about early years, childcare, and education for Warwickshire children and young people. The report also noted proposed projects to ensure sufficient school places in Warwickshire.

The report highlighted that the local authority is required by legislation under the Childcare Act 2006 to secure sufficient childcare to meet the requirements of parents of children aged 0 to 14 in their area (0 to 18 for those children with a disability).¹ The report also noted that the Council is required under the Education Act 1996 to secure sufficient primary, secondary and further education to meet the needs of the local population.

Education Capital Programme

The Cabinet approved additions to the Education Capital Programme for 2025/26, with Councillors Wayne Briggs and Stephen Shaw as the relevant portfolio holders. This included:

• Increasing the capacity of Whitestone Infant School in Nuneaton from three form entry to four form entry, with an additional £5.523 million allocated to the capital programme.
• Increasing the capacity of Chetwynd Junior School in Nuneaton from three form entry to four form entry, with an additional £3.222 million allocated to the capital programme.
• Increasing the capacity of The Avon Valley School in Rugby by 300 places, establishing additional specialist resourced provision for up to 20 learners with SEND, and allocating £31.000 million to the capital programme.
• Establishing specialist resourced provision at Race Leys Infant School in Bedworth, with an additional £0.068 million allocated to the capital programme.
• Establishing specialist resourced provision at Holy Trinity CofE Primary School in Stratford, with an additional £0.060 million allocated to the capital programme.
• Adding £0.155 million to the capital programme for a scheme at Henry Hinde Junior School in Rugby.
• Adding £0.078 million to the capital programme for a scheme at Atherstone Nursery School.

The funding for these schemes will come from developer contributions, education capital funding, and forward funding by the Council until contributions are received.

Get Warwickshire Working Plan

The Cabinet approved the Get Warwickshire Working Plan, presented by Councillor Rob Howard, Portfolio Holder for Economy. This plan, commissioned by the Department for Work and Pensions, aims to tackle economic inactivity and boost employment across Warwickshire. The plan gives a detailed overview of the economy of Warwickshire and local labour market, along with key issues and challenges.

The plan notes that Warwickshire has a relatively strong and buoyant economy, and overall, the county currently has an employment rate of 80.9% (June 2025), compared to a rate of 75.5% nationally, and 74.2% for the wider West Midlands region. The unemployment rate is 4.3% in Warwickshire (June 2025), compared to a national rate of 4.2% and a regional rate of 4.9%.

The plan identifies the following priorities and areas of local focus:

• Supporting those with health and mental health conditions to stay in or secure employment.
• Addressing rising youth unemployment.
• Targeting support at those in greatest need, including those with learning disabilities and autism, care leavers, older workers, and ex-offenders.

Supported Lodgings Procurement

The Cabinet authorised the Executive Director for Children and Young People, in consultation with the Executive Director for Social Care and Health and Councillor George Finch, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Children & Families, to commence a procurement process for the provision of supported lodgings for young people in care aged 16 – 21. The Executive Director for Children and Young People was also authorised to enter into all necessary contracts for the provision of supported lodgings for young people in care aged 16 – 21 on terms and conditions acceptable to the Executive Director for Resources.

Strategic Risk Management Framework

The Cabinet approved the updated Strategic Risk Management Framework and risk appetite statements for 2005-27, presented by Councillor Michael Bannister, Portfolio Holder for Customer and Localities. The updated framework sets out the strategic, holistic, and organisation-wide focus on risk, including the ambition and principles that frame the council's approach.

The Audit and Standards Committee considered the updated Strategic Risk Management Framework on 25 November 2025 and were supportive of the updates. The committee additionally asked for the link between Foresight / Horizon scanning and risk identification to be highlighted moving forward. The risk appetite statements remain relevant, albeit with two small amendments - People (Workforce i.e. risk of loss of critical officers) and the wider category area of staff health and well-being were both adjusted to Cautious from open and minimalist respectively.