Here is a summary of the scheduled Cabinet meeting for Cornwall Council on 17 December 2025. The Cabinet is expected to discuss the council's draft budget, council homes, the Langarth Garden Village, the Resources and Waste strategy, the Marine Nature Recovery Framework, the Carers Strategy, the Corporate Parenting Strategy and the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The meeting will be held at County Hall in Truro.

Cornwall Comprehensive Spending Review: Draft Budget proposals 2026/27 to 2028/29

The Cabinet will be provided with the draft budget proposals for the next three financial years. The Budget Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee has already reviewed the relevant report.

Council homes update and Housing Revenue Account Business Plan, Medium Term Financial Budget and rent setting for 2026/7

The Cabinet will consider an update on council homes and the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Business Plan, including the medium-term financial budget and rent setting for 2026/7.

The report pack highlights that Cornwall Council owns approximately 10,400 properties, managed on their behalf by Cornwall Housing Ltd (CHL).

The report pack also notes that the government has continued to increase the requirements that the council's homes have to meet through new legislation and regulatory expectations, placing additional pressures on the HRA.

The report pack indicates that officers are recommending that rent be increased by the maximum allowable amount, which is currently the consumer price index¹ (CPI) + 1%. The report pack also mentions that the council is proposing to commit £24m of capital over the next four years to support the acceleration of stock decency measures.

The report pack states that this will enable the council to invest:

• £144m over four years to ensure homes meet the government's Decent Homes standard.
• £33m to build or acquire new homes by 2030/31.
• £65m of revenue investment will be spent over the next four years on repairs and maintenance with a priority to deal with damp and mould wherever it is.

The report pack also states that the average rent charged for the properties is among the lowest nationally.

The report pack also states that a survey of tenants indicated that rising household bills, stagnant incomes, and wider cost-of-living challenges are impacting residents' ability to meet essential needs such as food, heating, and rent.

The report pack also mentions that officers from the council and CHL met with the Tenants Monitoring and Governance Panel (MGP) to discuss the HRA Business Plan proposals along with the proposed rent increase. The panel broadly accepted and were in favour of the proposal to increase the rents from April 2026 by CPI + 1% (4.8%).

The report pack also states that the Corporate Finance & Performance Overview and Scrutiny Committee thoroughly considered the paper and raised questions on the proposed rent increase, including its impact on tenants in the homes that pay an affordable rent as well as those paying social rents, noting that while there are only 134 affordable rent homes within the HRA, these households may be harder hit.

Langarth Garden Village - Way Forward

The Cabinet will consider a report on the way forward for Langarth Garden Village, a planned community to the west of Truro.

The report pack notes that the council has already made a substantial intervention at Langarth through the provision of capital to buy land, investment in infrastructure and scheme delivery including progressing the planning permission and compulsory purchase of land and rights.

The report pack also states that the delivery of homes as early as possible is crucial to maintaining the confidence of Homes England and ensuring there is no clawback of the Homes England Infrastructure Funding which has paid for the road.

The report pack also notes that the master developer is working with Walker Developments who control approximately one third of the land holding for the scheme.

The report pack also mentions that LGV LLP conducted a Soft Market Test (SMT) in early November, which confirmed housebuilder appetite but a limit to the options available currently due to market forces.

The report pack also states that the master developer is currently exploring options for potential early delivery in the East and West of the Garden Village. This includes the potential of an early Reserved Matters Approval to deliver up to 350 homes including the possibility of Health Care, Key Worker, and student accommodation in the Penventinnie Village area on the edge of Treliske.

Resources and Waste Strategy Delivery Plan

The Cabinet will consider the Resources and Waste Strategy Delivery Plan, following the adoption of the Resources and Waste Strategy 2025–2045 in March 2025.

The report pack notes that the strategy sets out a 20-year framework for transforming how Cornwall manages waste and resources, aligning with national legislation, environmental targets, and community needs.

The report pack also states that the strategy is built around 5 key principles:

• Follow the Waste Hierarchy
• Meet Government Targets
• Deliver Value for Money
• Reduce Carbon Emissions
• Empower Communities

The report pack also mentions that the Strategy Delivery Plan outlines nine strategic objectives supported by key workstreams such as waste prevention, infrastructure planning, and local environmental quality.

The report pack also notes that the plan details actions for 2025/26 and a roadmap to 2045, with annual reviews to adapt to legislation, funding, and performance.

The report pack also states that an operational proposal is the formalisation and expansion of the Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) booking system, trialled at seven sites since 2024.

The report pack also mentions that the HWRC booking system has delivered measurable benefits including:

• Reduced traffic congestion and queuing.
• Improved recycling rates (+3%).
• Enhanced customer satisfaction (82% found the system easy to use).
• Better site management and safety.
• No increase in fly-tipping associated with the system.

The report pack also states that a waste composition study showed that the proportion of recyclable materials (including food waste) in the household rubbish, have decreased from 65% to 49%.

The report pack also mentions that the council does not currently collect cartons, plastic bags and wrapping and there are plans to add these materials to the collection service.

Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Marine Nature Recovery Framework

The Cabinet will consider the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Marine Nature Recovery Framework (MNRF).

The report pack notes that the MNRF is a voluntary, evidence-based and co-designed vision for the recovery of marine and coastal wildlife.

The report pack also states that the framework represents a key opportunity for Cornwall Council to demonstrate how it is delivering on its priority for a 'Clean, Green Cornwall with healthy rivers and seas' and the earlier Motion for the Ocean.

The report pack also mentions that the consultation received 104 responses, with 96% supporting the Framework as a vital tool for tackling biodiversity loss, pollution, and climate impacts.

The report pack also notes that the CIoS MNRF outlines a comprehensive set of locally agreed priorities aimed at restoring and protecting marine biodiversity. These include:

• An ecologically coherent and actively managed Marine Protected Area (MPA) Network
• Protection and restoration of locally agreed Species and Habitat Priorities, which include seagrass, maerl, kelp forests, native oysters, polychaetes (marine worms), Cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises), seals, tuna, sharks and rays, and seabirds at sea.
• A focus on the Isles of Scilly, recognising it as a priority location due to its global biodiversity significance.

Carers Strategy and Business Case

The Cabinet will consider the Carers Strategy and Business Case.

The report pack notes that the term 'carer' refers to any child, young person or adult who provides unpaid care and support to a family member, friend or neighbour due to illness, disability, mental health needs, addiction or age-related challenges.

The report pack also states that following engagement with c.800 informal carers in Cornwall, a new all ages carers' strategy has been developed by the council and NHS Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board (ICB) to ensure that Cornwall continues to understand and respond to the voices of the carers.

The report pack also mentions that the strategy sets out four priorities that have been coproduced with carers as part of the engagement:

• Carers have timely access to information.
• Carers can access help, support and activities to enable them to live the life they want.
• Supporting carers when they need us the most by addressing health and social care system gaps and challenges.
• Carers of all ages feel heard, they are recognised, appreciated and valued.

The report pack also notes that the new service delivery model takes a family focused, place-based approach to supporting the carers.

Corporate Parenting Strategy

The Cabinet will consider the Corporate Parenting Strategy.

The report pack notes that a child who is in care or a Care Leaver in Cornwall has the right to expect everything from a Corporate Parent that would be expected from a responsible and loving parent.

The report pack also states that through the Corporate Parenting strategy the council will drive the focus of supporting children to remain in their kinship networks with only the children that need to entering care and wherever possible remaining in Cornwall.

The report pack also mentions that the Corporate Parenting Board meets quarterly and is chaired by the Portfolio Holder and Cabinet Member for Childrens and Families.

Adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child

The Cabinet will consider the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child.

The report pack notes that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is an international treaty adopted by the United Nations in 1989 that sets out the civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights of all children under the age of 18.

The report pack also states that the UK ratified the UNCRC in 1991, committing to uphold its principles.

The report pack mentions that the adoption of the UNCRC supports the council's strategic priorities by placing children's rights at the heart of policy, practice, and governance.

The report pack also notes that Youth Council Members support formal adoption of the UNCRC and have said that this is an opportunity to commit to being inclusive of all ages and that we aren't just the future, we are the present .