The Cabinet of Shropshire Council was scheduled to consider a range of financial and strategic documents, including the Draft Financial Strategy and Capital Strategy. Discussions were also planned regarding the management of the Shropshire Hills National Landscape and the progression of neighbourhood plans for Baschurch and Much Wenlock. Additionally, the meeting agenda included items related to provider services redesign and the retendering of the leisure service contract.

Draft Financial Strategy 2025/26 - 2029/30

Councillor Roger Evans, Portfolio Holder for Finance, was scheduled to lead the discussion on the Draft Financial Strategy for the period 2025/26 to 2029/30. This strategy outlines the council's financial plans over a five-year period. The agenda indicated that a report on this matter was to follow, and associated documents include the Draft Medium Term Financial Plan 2026.27 - 2030.31 formally Draft Financial Strategy, Appendix 1 - 202627 Draft Revenue Budget Summary, Appendix 2 - Growth to offset Unachievable Savings, Appendix 3 - Demography Demand Growth, Appendix 4 - Service Growth, and Appendix 5 - Inflationary growth.

Capital Strategy 2025/26 – 2030/31 - In-Year Review

Also led by Councillor Roger Evans, Portfolio Holder for Finance, the meeting was scheduled to review the Capital Strategy for 2025/26 to 2030/31. This strategy details the council's plans for capital investment and expenditure. Supporting documents for this item include the Capital Strategy 2025.26 - In-year review, Appendix A Cabinet review of Council Funded Capital Programme schemes and next steps, Appendix B Capital Strategy Priority Scheme Review 002, Appendix C General Fund Capital Receipts Forecast, and Appendix D Educational Place Planning Projects.

Approval of Shropshire Hills National Landscape Management Plan 2025-30 and new Shropshire Hills National Landscape Advisory Committee Terms of Reference

Councillor James Owen, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Leisure, was scheduled to present the Approval of Shropshire Hills National Landscape Management Plan 2025-30 and new Shropshire Hills National Landscape Advisory Committee Terms of Reference. This item concerns the management plan for the Shropshire Hills National Landscape¹ for the period 2025-30, alongside the proposed terms of reference for a new advisory committee. Supporting documents include Appendix A to Cabinet report Thriving in Balance with Nature final draft for approval and Appendix B to Cabinet report - Advisory Commitee Terms of Reference. An ESHIA for Shropshire Hills Plan and Committee was also available.

Baschurch Neighbourhood Plan - Area Designation

Councillor David Walker, Portfolio Holder for Planning, was scheduled to address the designation of an area for the Baschurch Neighbourhood Plan. This item relates to the formal process of identifying and designating the geographical area that the Baschurch Neighbourhood Plan will cover. Documents provided for this item include the Application to designate a Baschurch Parish Area as a Neighbourhood Area and a Map of proposed neighbourhood plan area.

Recommendation for the Much Wenlock Neighbourhood Plan Review to Proceed to Referendum

Another planning item led by Councillor David Walker, Portfolio Holder for Planning, was the Recommendation for the Much Wenlock Neighbourhood Plan Review to Proceed to Referendum. This concerns the proposed next steps for the review of the Much Wenlock Neighbourhood Plan, specifically whether it should move forward to a public referendum. The agenda listed several supporting documents: Appendix 1Much Wenlock NDP ReviewExaminers report_Final draft, Appendix 2Much Wenlock NDP ReviewSchedule of Modifications, and Appendix 3Much Wenlock Neighbourhood Plan ReviewReferendum Version_showing tracked changes.

Provider Services Redesign (in-house)

Councillor Ruth Houghton, Portfolio Holder for Social Care, was scheduled to lead the discussion on the Provider Services Redesign (in-house). This item pertains to the internal restructuring or redesign of services provided by the council. An accompanying document is Appendix 1-shropshire-council-updated-eshia-In-House Redesign Review final.

Leisure Service Contract Retendering

Councillor James Owen, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Leisure, was also scheduled to address the Leisure Service Contract Retendering. This item concerns the process of re-tendering contracts for the provision of leisure services.

The agenda also included standard procedural items such as apologies for absence, declarations of disclosable interests, and the confirmation of minutes from the previous meeting held on 3 December 2025. Public and Member Question Time were also scheduled, with deadlines for notification set for 12 noon on Thursday, 15 January 2026. The meeting also noted the date of the next meeting as Wednesday, 11 February 2026. A resolution was planned to exclude the press and public from discussions on certain items, citing provisions of the Local Government Act 1972.