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Cabinet - Wednesday, 10th June, 2026 10.30 am
June 10, 2026 at 10:30 am Cabinet View on council websiteSummary
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The Cabinet of Shropshire Council met on Wednesday 10 June 2026, discussing a range of important issues including the council's financial outturn for the 2025/26 year, the closure of a day service in Ludlow, and reforms to children's services. Key decisions made included approving the closure of Helena Lane Older People's Day Service in Ludlow, agreeing to transfer the Aquamira Learning Disability Day Service to the Abbots Wood Site, and endorsing a comprehensive Children's Services Reform Programme.
Financial Outturn 2025/26
The Cabinet noted that the council's revenue budget for 2025/26 had an outturn variance of £49.428 million above budget. This was largely attributed to unachieved savings targets and increased demand pressures within social care services. Of this overspend, £19.637 million was funded by Exceptional Financial Support (EFS), leaving £29.278 million to be funded from the General Fund reserves and balances. The report highlighted that the current combination of earmarked and un-earmarked reserves (£34.069 million) is below the level typically considered appropriate for a council of Shropshire's size. The council has an agreed plan to restore these balances over time, including further requests for EFS in 2026/27 and beyond. Ringfenced funding performance was also noted, with a surplus in the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) but a significant overspend for the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG), resulting in a deficit reserve of £45.655 million. The capital programme also saw net budget variations of £26.932 million, with re-profiled budgets for 2025/26 and future years.
Helena Lane Older People's Day Service Closure
The Cabinet approved the closure of the Helena Lane Older People's Day Service in Ludlow. This decision was made due to sustained low utilisation and high unit costs, with an indicative average net cost of £332.82 per attendance day. The report highlighted that four out of the five current attendees are self-funders, meaning the council was effectively subsidising private care arrangements. While acknowledging strong opposition to the closure from service users and carers during the public consultation, the Cabinet agreed to delegate authority for implementing the closure through a managed transition. This includes Care Act assessments and reviews for individuals and carers to secure alternative arrangements, along with mitigation and support measures such as person-centred transition planning and monitoring.
Children's Services Reforms
The Cabinet endorsed a comprehensive, integrated approach to deliver national children's services reforms through a single Children's Transformation Programme. This programme aligns with the Corporate Plan and Improvement Plan, aiming to rebalance services towards prevention and earlier intervention. Key decisions included approving the locations for three Best Start in Life (BSIL) Family Hubs in Shrewsbury (The Lantern), Oswestry, and Ludlow, along with additional multi-disciplinary team bases in Highley, Market Drayton, and South Shrewsbury. Authority was delegated to the Director for Children's Services, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, to approve the final BSIL Delivery Plan for submission to the Department for Education, and to explore premises options for Oswestry, Ludlow, and the additional multi-disciplinary team bases. The Cabinet also endorsed the Families First Partnership's requirement for multi-agency agreement on operating models for Family Help, Multi-Agency Child Protection Teams (MACPT), and Family Group Decision Making (FGDM) to drive earlier intervention.
Other Key Decisions
In addition to these major decisions, the Cabinet also:
- Approved the Aquamira Learning Disability Day Service transfer to the Abbots Wood Site, delegating practical arrangements to the Director of Adult Social Services.
- Approved the adoption of the Design of New Dwellings SPD and the Design of Residential Extensions and Alterations SPD, providing guidance for planning applications.
- Approved the Commissioning, Procurement and Contract Management Strategy (CPCM) 2026–2029, setting out the framework for how the council will plan, procure, and manage goods, services, and works.
- Noted the Q4 Performance Report and approved the proposed Corporate Plan 2026-2030 Performance Management Framework.
- Approved the development of an engagement and consultation strategy for the draft Local Transport Plan for Shropshire 2027-2037.
- Approved the Motor Race Order and Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders required to facilitate the Hills Ford Stages Rally on 19–20 September 2026.
- Noted the Treasury Management Update for Quarter 4 2025/26, including new borrowing of £100 million for the General Fund.
- Declared St Andrews, Shifnal surplus to requirements and approved its disposal as a non-core asset, delegating authority for the disposal process.
- Approved the Shropshire Housing Authority Enforcement Policy and Civil Penalty Policy, aligning with the Renters' Rights Act 2025.
- Noted the Improvement Plan Progress Report, providing guidance on the Council's plans for continued improvement and financial sustainability.
Delegated decisions linked to this meeting
Decision summaries below are AI-generated from the council’s published record. Check the council source or the full decision page before relying on them.
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Improvement Plan - Progress Report
Recommendations ApprovedThe Cabinet decided to approve recommendations regarding the Improvement Plan progress report on 10/06/2026. The Cabinet noted the report and provided guidance on continued improvement and financial sustainability.
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Aquamira Learning Disability Day Service
Recommendations ApprovedThe Cabinet decided to approve the transfer of Aquamira Learning Disability Day Service to the Abbots Wood site and the closure of the Aquamira building. This decision was made on 10th June 2026. The Cabinet delegated practical arrangements to the Director (DASS) in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care and Public Health.
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Commissioning and Procurement Strategy
Recommendations ApprovedShropshire Council's Cabinet approved the Commissioning and Procurement Strategy on 10th June 2026. The strategy sets out how the council will plan, procure, and manage goods, services, works, and concessions from 2026 to 2029. Authority was delegated to the Service Director Commissioning, in consultation with the Portfolio holder for Finance, to update the strategy annually.
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Shropshire Housing Authority Enforcement & Civil Penalty Policies
Recommendations ApprovedThe Cabinet approved the Shropshire Housing Authority Enforcement Policy and Civil Penalty Policy. The Cabinet delegated to the Service Director Communities and Customer the authority to make required updates to these policies. The Cabinet also directed that a formal review of the policies should be presented in June 2027.
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Helena Lane Older Peoples Day Service
Recommendations ApprovedThe Cabinet decided to approve the closure of Helena Lane Older People's Day Service. This decision was made on 10th June 2026. The approval includes delegating authority to the Director of Adult Services to implement closure through a managed transition, including Care Act assessment and/or review for individuals and carers to secure alternative arrangements.
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Financial Outturn 2025/26
Recommendations ApprovedShropshire Council's Cabinet approved the financial outturn for 2025/26 on 10th June 2026. The Cabinet noted the revenue budget outturn variance of £49.428m above budget and approved retaining a balance of capital receipts set aside of £22.309m. The Cabinet also noted the £28.029m overspend for the Dedicated Schools Grant.
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Q4 Performance Report
Recommendations ApprovedShropshire Council's Cabinet approved the proposed Corporate Plan 2026-2030 Performance Management Framework on 10th June 2026. The Cabinet also noted the progress and position against the outcomes of The Shropshire Plan. Authority was delegated to the Service Director (Strategy & Change) in consultation with the Leader of the Council to make final amendments to KPIs and delivery commitments.
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Minutes
Recommendations ApprovedThe Cabinet of Shropshire Council decided to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 15 April 2026. They also recommended the draft Corporate Plan 2026-30 to Council for approval. Additionally, the Cabinet agreed the Shropshire Domestic Abuse Partnership Strategy 2026-2029 and recommended its approval to Full Council.
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St. Andrews, Shifnal – Asset Decision
Recommendations ApprovedShropshire Cabinet approved the declaration of St. Andrews, Shifnal as surplus to requirements and authorised its disposal as a non-core asset on 10/06/2026. The Cabinet delegated authority to the Head of Property and Development, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance, to progress the disposal, including title resolution and determining the disposal strategy.
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Children's Services Reforms
Recommendations ApprovedThe Cabinet decided to approve recommendations regarding Children's Services Reforms on 10 June 2026. This included approving the proposed locations for three Best Start in Life Family Hubs in Shrewsbury, Oswestry, and Ludlow, and additional multi-disciplinary team bases. The decision also delegated authority to the Director for Children's Services to approve the final Best Start in Life Family Hubs Delivery Plan and explore premises options.
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Hills Ford Rally
Recommendations ApprovedThe Cabinet decided to approve the Motor Race Order and Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders for the Hills Ford Stages Rally on 10 June 2026. The decision was to authorise the TTROs and operational arrangements.
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Treasury Management Update Quarter 4 2025/26
Recommendations ApprovedThe Cabinet decided to approve the Treasury Management Update for Quarter 4 2025/26 on 10/06/2026. The update noted new borrowing of £100m for the General Fund, including £61.8m for Exceptional Financial Support, which was £9.6m less than approved, reducing future revenue costs.
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Adoption of Design of New Dwellings and Design of Residential Extensions and Alterations Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs)
Recommendations ApprovedThe Cabinet decided to approve the adoption of the Design of New Dwellings SPD and the Design of Residential Extensions and Alterations SPD on 10/06/2026. These documents will provide guidance for planning applications and form material considerations in decision-making. The decision included approving amendments to the draft SPDs informed by public consultation.
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Scrutiny Item - Report of the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee-Health in All Policies and Planning
Recommendations ApprovedThe Cabinet decided to approve the recommendations of the Health in All Policies & Planning Task and Finish Group on 10/06/2026. The Cabinet will provide a formal response to the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, including an action plan for accepted recommendations.
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Local Transport Plan - Consultation
Recommendations ApprovedShropshire Council's Cabinet approved the draft Local Transport Plan for public consultation on 10/06/2026. The decision allows for the publication of the draft plan and supporting documents for a six-week consultation period commencing in September 2026. This includes developing an engagement and consultation strategy and associated programme of activities.
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