The Derbyshire County Council Cabinet met on Friday, 9 January 2026, to discuss a range of significant financial and service-related matters. Key decisions included the approval of budget savings proposals for the next five years, the allocation of Section 106 developer contributions for children's services projects, and the establishment of enhanced resource school provision.

Budget Savings Proposals and Medium Term Financial Plan

The Cabinet considered proposals for budget savings from 2026/27 to 2030/31 and an update to the Medium Term Financial Plan. The report highlighted significant cost and demand pressures, particularly in Children's Services and Adult Social Care, driven by inflation and demographic shifts. The Council faces a forecast budget gap of £37.777m for 2026-27. To address this, the Council is proposing a series of savings and efficiencies, including a 4.99% Council Tax increase (2.99% general increase and 2% for Adult Social Care). The report noted that rural shire counties have been negatively impacted by reforms to the local government finance settlement. The proposals were referred to the Resources Scrutiny Committee for consideration.

Children's Services Section 106 Allocations

The Cabinet was informed of the receipt of Section 106 developer contributions totalling £1,143,498.50, and approved their allocation to various school projects across the county. These allocations are intended to fund expansions and improvements to school facilities, ensuring sufficient capacity and suitable accommodation for pupils. A further £725,599.15 in Section 106 contributions will be used to repay the Children's Services Capital budget. Notable allocations include £219,724.93 for Heanor Gate Spencer Academy, £384,131.02 for Eureka Primary, and £159,586.14 for Woodthorpe Primary.

Approval of Children's Services Capital Expenditure

The Cabinet approved the allocation of funding from the Children's Services Capital budget for priority modernisation projects in schools for 2025/26. These allocations, totalling £3,160,500 from the School Condition Allocation (SCA), are intended to address pressing condition-related issues and ensure schools remain open and operational. Additionally, £712,000 was approved for projects requiring additional funding or initial allocation to begin on site, including roofing repairs at Thornsett Primary (£450,000) and Ripley Infant (£775,000), and rewiring at Northfield Junior (£330,000). The report also noted previously delegated approvals totalling £175,000.

Proposal to Close Gamesley Early Excellence Centre

The Cabinet approved the publication of a statutory proposal to close Gamesley Early Excellence Centre. This decision follows a pre-publication consultation where no responses were received. The closure is proposed to align with Gamesley Primary School's successful application to extend its age range to include nursery provision, ensuring continuous service provision and greater financial sustainability for the nursery. The statutory consultation period will run from 19 January 2026 to 15 February 2026.

Proposal for Enhanced Resource School Provision and SEND Unit at Whitfield St James' CE (VC) Primary School

The Cabinet approved the publication of a statutory proposal to establish an Enhanced Resource School Provision and a Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Unit at Whitfield St James' CE (VC) Primary School. The school currently informally operates these provisions for Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 pupils with Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs). The formal designation will allow for more secure planning for staff training and development. A four-week consultation period will commence from 19 January 2026.

Local Youth Transformation Fund

The Cabinet approved the acceptance of up to £600,000 in grant funding from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) as part of the Local Youth Transformation Pilot. The funding will be used to develop a coordinated network of voluntary and community sector organisations, provide accredited youth work qualifications to at least 100 staff and volunteers, support a Youth Work Ready programme, and develop a digital directory to improve access to youth provision. The majority of the funding must be spent by 31 March 2026.

Families First Partnership Programme

The Cabinet endorsed Derbyshire's approach to implementing the Families First Partnership Programme (FFPP), a national initiative aimed at transforming support for children and families through prevention and integration. The programme will involve expanding the Family Help Service, growing the Stronger Families Team, establishing Multi-Agency Child Protection Teams (MACPTs), and embedding Family Group Decision Making (FGDM). The FFPP funding will also be used to address SEND priorities by integrating assessments, improving information sharing, and developing the workforce. The report highlighted that the Stronger Families Team has already achieved significant cost avoidance through its work.

Adult Social Care Home Care Fee Review

The Cabinet endorsed a programme of work to review the current fee model for contracted Home Care providers. This review, to be conducted in consultation with the Derbyshire Home Care Association and contracted providers, aims to ensure that fees are sufficient to meet provider costs, support market sustainability, and deliver value for money, in line with the Care Act 2014. The current fee model, which includes a separate travel payment based on location, differs significantly from national practices. Engagement with providers is planned to conclude by April 2026, with recommendations to be presented to Cabinet in Spring 2026.