The Portfolio Holder Decisions/Leader Decisions meeting on Friday 30 January 2026 is scheduled to consider a range of financial and strategic matters. Key discussions are expected to include a Memorandum of Understanding with Coventry City Council regarding planning, proposed fees and charges for various council services in 2026/27, and the setting of school term dates for 2027/28. The meeting will also address the potential closure of Great Alne Primary School.

Memorandum of Understanding with Coventry City Council

A significant item on the agenda is the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Coventry City Council and other Warwickshire district and borough councils. This agreement, framed within the planning duty to co-operate introduced by the Localism Act 2011¹, aims to ensure that housing and employment needs across the Coventry and Warwickshire Housing Market Area (HMA) and Functional Economic Market Area (FEMA) are met as local plans are developed. The MoU is intended to facilitate collaboration on strategic cross-boundary matters to enhance the effectiveness of local plans. It acknowledges the housing and employment needs assessments, including the Coventry and Warwickshire Housing and Economic Development Needs Assessment (HEDNA)², and the West Midlands Strategic Employment Sites Study (WMSESS)³. The report outlines points of agreement, including the geographical scope of the MoU and the evidence base for housing and employment needs. It also highlights areas yet to be resolved, such as the distribution of housing and employment and Coventry City Council's request for assistance with its local employment need shortfall. The MoU is not intended to be legally binding but signifies a commitment to collaboration.

Fees and Charges for 2026/27

Several reports detail proposed changes to fees and charges for various council services for the 2026/27 financial year. These reviews are conducted regularly to ensure charges reflect the costs of delivery, offer value for money, and remain competitive.

County Highways The Portfolio Holder for Transport and Planning, Councillor Jennifer Warren, is to consider proposed changes to fees and charges for County Highways services. These charges relate to licences and permissions for activities on the highway, such as the placement of building equipment (skips, cranes, scaffolding) and alterations to the highway (e.g., dropped kerbs). The proposals include increases of between 2.6% and 4.2% to cover expected inflation and cost increases, maintaining the principle of full cost recovery. A retrospective licence fee will be 1.5 times the normal fee.

Trading Standards Councillor Michael Bannister, Portfolio Holder for Customer and Localities, will review proposed changes to fees and charges for Trading Standards and Calibration Services. The Trading Standards service acts as a regulatory body and a UK Approved Body for weighing and measuring instruments. Calibration Services offers calibration of weights, flowmeters, and other equipment. The report indicates an increase of 2.9% for advice services using hourly rates to cover cost inflation, and the introduction of a new Inspector day rate. Charges for Explosives and Petroleum Licences, and Animal Feed Approvals, are set by legislation and will remain unchanged unless legislative amendments occur. Calibration Services will see modest increases to cover staffing and overhead cost inflation while remaining competitive.

Country Parks, Waste Management, Ecology, Historic Environment & Landscape Services Councillor Darren Cheshire, Portfolio Holder for Environment, Heritage and Culture, is to consider proposed changes to fees and charges for Country Parks, Waste Management, and Ecology, Historic Environment & Landscape Services. For Country Parks, the proposals involve price freezes for charges increased in 2025-26, with increases of 2% to 20% for other charges to align them with those in other country parks. School activity charges are proposed to increase by 11%–20% from September 2026. Waste Management charges for commercial waste will see increases for General Waste (2.59% for inflation) and Green Waste (12.35% to reflect new contract prices), while Wood Waste charges will be reduced. Ecology, Historic Environment & Landscape Services will see a flat 4% increase across all charges to reflect inflation.

School Term and Holiday Dates 2027/28

Councillor Wayne Briggs, Portfolio Holder for Education, is being asked to approve the proposed school term and holiday dates for 2027/28. The Local Authority (LA) is responsible for setting these dates for Community and Voluntary Controlled Schools, with collaboration with Academies, Foundation, and Aided Schools. The proposed dates follow a pattern consistent with neighbouring authorities and aim for balanced half-terms and a summer break close to six weeks. A non-statutory engagement exercise was conducted with schools and academies, with a low response rate suggesting the proposed dates are largely uncontroversial. The report notes requests for more balanced half-terms and a shorter summer holiday, but these were not pursued due to a lack of consensus.

Proposed Closure of Great Alne Primary School

Councillor Wayne Briggs, Portfolio Holder for Education, is also being asked to approve the publication of proposals for the closure of Great Alne Primary School. The school, located in a semi-rural area of Stratford-on-Avon District, has experienced a significant decline in pupil numbers, from 102 in January 2021 to 13 in January 2026, resulting in 88% unfilled places. Despite council support and interventions, including attempts at academisation and school improvement measures, the school faces ongoing challenges with financial viability and sustainability. A statutory consultation on the closure proposals was held from 3 November to 12 December 2025, with 77% of respondents opposing the closure. The main themes from the consultation highlighted the school's importance to the community, concerns about future place sufficiency, and positive comments on current education quality. However, the report concludes that the consultation did not provide new elements that alter the initial considerations, and it is recommended to proceed to the formal publication of statutory proposals. The proposed closure date is 31 August 2026. An Equality Impact Assessment has been conducted, noting that while there is a removal of local primary provision, sufficient places are forecast to be available in nearby schools, and transport provisions will be considered for displaced pupils.