Warwickshire County Council's Portfolio Holders convened to discuss and make decisions on several key issues. Councillor Jennifer Warren, Portfolio Holder for Transport and Planning, approved an increase in on-street parking charges in select areas, while Councillor Wayne Briggs, Portfolio Holder for Education, initiated consultations for establishing SEND ¹ resourced provisions at two schools; in his absence, Councillor George Finch, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Children & Families, took the decision in his capacity as Leader of the Council. Additionally, Councillor Stephen Shaw, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Finance and Property, approved the council's response to a consultation on Local Government Pension Scheme improvements and gave the go-ahead for government-funded transport schemes.

Annual on-street pay and display charge review

Councillor Jennifer Warren approved an increase in on-street parking charges in Leamington, Warwick, Kenilworth and Stratford Upon Avon from 1 April 2026, following a countywide review of on-street pay and display charges, and taking into account district and borough off-street pricing structures.

The decision follows a review undertaken after a cabinet decision on 14 December 2023, which benchmarked the council's parking charges against those of the district and borough councils. The review concluded that an increase to on-street parking charges was necessary. The signed decision document notes that this review is now undertaken annually.

The council aims to align on-street parking charges with off-street car park charges, as recommended by the Department for Transport (DfT), to ensure consistency across the county. However, existing on-street parking charges in Rugby will remain unchanged, with an hourly rate of £1.00, as this is sufficient to encourage longer stays in off-street car parks which also charge £1.00.

The Annual on-street pay and display charge review report details the proposed increases:

The report also notes that the 15-minute stay charge will continue to be offered across the county to support the town economy, and the regular turnover of visitors.

Councillor Jan Matecki raised concerns that the proposed changes could negatively impact local businesses and town centres, citing a potential loss of footfall. He recommended reducing the proposed 15-minute charge from 45p to 35p, stating that this adjustment would cost the council less than £24,000 per year, but could encourage greater local spending and support town centres. He requested that the increase for the 15-minute band be limited to 12.5%, in line with other band adjustments, to help promote local businesses across the county.

Councillor Matecki also queried whether Councillor Warren and Councillor Finch had engaged with businesses in the areas most likely to be affected by the proposed increase in on-street parking charges.

Councillor Finch highlighted the challenges posed by failing local plans in the south of the county, which he stated were contributing to shoppers being drawn to larger shopping centres. He emphasised the need for increased local investment to support and revitalise town centres, and queried whether the district councils in the south of the county had implemented similar measures to Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council and North Warwickshire Borough Council, who had offered free parking to shoppers during the Christmas period.

Councillor Warren responded that all available options had been thoroughly considered and assessed, and that the proposed approach represented the most appropriate solution.

The report notes that the proposed increases in charges have been set at a level designed to achieve the service's 2026/27 Medium Term Financial Strategy income targets. The pay and display charges will contribute an expected £0.248m towards the current MTFS planned savings in relation to parking income.

In accordance with Section 55 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, any surplus generated from parking income must be reinvested into transport-related purposes.

Establishment of SEND Resourced Provisions

Councillor Finch, in Councillor Briggs' absence, approved the undertaking of a statutory process, including public consultation, as part of the proposed establishment of a Resourced Provision ² to cater for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) at Binley Woods Primary School, Coventry and Brownsover Community School, Rugby.

The signed decision document for Binley Woods Primary School details that the council is looking to establish a Resourced Provision for up to ten primary aged pupils with an Education, Health and Care plan (EHCP) whose primary needs are communication and interaction (C&I).

The signed decision document for Brownsover Community School details that the council is looking to establish a Resourced Provision for up to eight primary aged pupils with an Education, Health and Care plan (EHCP) whose primary needs are communication and interaction (C&I).

The council aims to ensure sufficient representation of resourced provisions across all local area schools' consortium networks, providing more opportunities for children to access quality education within their communities. The provisions ensure pupils are supported appropriately, as well as reducing waiting times for appropriate placement and pupil travel times.

The Consultation on the Establishment of a SEND Resourced Provision report notes that in line with the statutory guidance issued by the Department for Education and titled 'Making Prescribed Alterations to Maintained Schools', any proposals to establish, remove or alter SEN provision (including Resourced Provision) at a mainstream school requires the local authority to undertake a statutory process including a consultation period of at least four weeks.

The proposed consultation will take place between 5 January and 1 February 2026. Parents will be consulted using the school's established route of communication, and alongside this the council will ensure information is published on its Ask Warwickshire consultation platform.

It is anticipated that the Resourced Provision at Binley Woods Primary School would open in April 2026, and the Resourced Provision at Brownsover Community School would open in September 2026.

There are currently 39 established Resourced Provisions across primary and secondary schools in Warwickshire.

The establishment of resourced provision forms part of the council's ongoing strategy to limit the overspend on the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) through reducing the pressure on in-county specialist provision, reducing the need to place learners in more expensive independent specialist provision, and focusing on effective provision for learners.

Warwickshire Pension Fund response to the LGPS : Scheme Improvements (access and protections) consultation

Councillor Stephen Shaw approved the Warwickshire Pension Fund's response to the Local Government Pension Scheme's (LGPS) consultation on scheme improvements, which was submitted by officers before the 12 December 2025 deadline.

The Warwickshire Pension Fund response to the LGPS Scheme Improvements access and protections consul report notes that the consultation proposes changes to the LGPS regulations in four main areas:

• Normal Pension Age - In 2021, the government announced plans to increase the minimum age at which scheme members could take their pension from 55 to 57, effective from April 2028. The consultation sets out the protections for members of the LGPS to keep their Protected Pension Age of 55. The main category of member this protection will apply to is members who were part of the LGPS before 4 November 2021.
• LGPS access for mayors and councillors - The proposed changes to the regulations would allow councillors of county and district councils to join the LGPS to reflect the demands these roles place on members.
• Academies in the LGPS - The government is proposing changes to the rules covering applications by academies for a direction to change administering authority by removing the requirement for Secretary of State consent where criteria set out in regulations are met.
• New Fair Deal - The government is proposing to extend protections set out in the 2013 Fair Deal guidance to LGPS members who are transferred to a new employer when a local government contract is outsourced.

The fund's response largely welcomes the proposals while pointing out areas of concern or requesting detailed guidance in some areas, including the funding source of councillors' membership of the LGPS and the technical challenge of recording the Protected Pension Age protected members.

The potential for academies to move Administering Authorities based on lower contribution rates (described as 'contribution rate shopping' in the consultation) is recognised as a concern in the fund's response, and the potential impact this could have on funding level and membership numbers is highlighted.

The proposed protection for members of the LGPS involved in an outsourcing arrangement is particularly welcomed. By removing the phrase 'broadly comparable' from the regulations, it will prevent members losing the benefits of their continued LGPS accrual after their role is outsourced to a contractor.

The Appendix 1 for Warwickshire Pension Fund response to the LGPS Scheme Improvements access and prot document includes the full response, and notes:

This change will add complexity to an already complex scheme and the Fund's ability to meet the changes will be dependent on the speed at which our administration software developer can deliver the updated functionality. The regulations and overall approach need to minimise additional complexity.

Government Grant Funded Transport Schemes

Councillor Stephen Shaw approved the addition of two transport schemes to the Capital Programme, fully funded by government grant from the Active Travel Fund (ATF) round 5. He also authorised the Executive Director for Communities to procure and enter into any necessary contracts and agreements required to implement the schemes.

The schemes are:

• A428 Rugby Road Binley Woods Cycle Route, £250,000
• B4087 Tachbrook Road Leamington Spa Walking and Cycling Enhancements, £143,177

The Government Grant Funded Transport Schemes report notes that in November 2024, the council was awarded £715,887 capital grant funding from round five of the Active Travel Fund (ATF) ringfenced to support delivery of infrastructure in 2025/26 and 2026/27 that enables greater levels of walking, wheeling and cycling. The funding has been allocated to schemes that meet the funding guidelines and have passed a required scheme assurance process by Active Travel England (ATE).

The A428 Rugby Road Binley Woods Cycle Route scheme comprises a new 0.25km cycle route adjacent to the A428 Rugby Road that will connect Binley Woods to cycling infrastructure at the A46 Binley junction and the emerging Coventry cycling network. The scheme involves widening and converting the existing footway between Oakdale Road and the access to the Caffeine Project/Classic Interiors to shared footway / cycle track and relocating street furniture to provide additional space for the shared use facility. A priority crossing for pedestrians and cyclists is also planned over the entrance to the Caffeine Project / Classic Interiors.

The B4087 Tachbrook Road Leamington Spa scheme will enhance the existing 0.9km footway / cycle track that connects south Leamington Spa to the railway station and town centre by treating five side road / access junctions with crossing facilities that will deliver improved safety and continuity for pedestrians and cyclists and make the route more attractive and comfortable to use, including for journeys to school.

The report notes that the schemes are affordable within the grant allocation and can be delivered without requiring council capital funding.