The Cabinet of Devon County Council met on Wednesday 10 June 2026. The meeting approved a new management plan for the Tamar Valley National Landscape and a significant implementation plan for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) services. The Cabinet also approved a contract extension for passenger transport services and agreed to recommendations concerning the Carer Assessment and Review function, the financial framework, and the role of the voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) sector to improve support for carers.

Approval of the Tamar Valley National Landscape Management Plan 2025-2030

The Cabinet adopted the Tamar Valley National Landscape's new five-year Management Plan. This plan, developed in partnership with local authorities and stakeholders, sets out a vision to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the area. It outlines strategic themes focusing on nature, climate, and people and place, with specific targets for habitat restoration, climate change mitigation, and public engagement. The plan aligns with national environmental goals and strengthens the statutory duty of public bodies to protect National Landscapes.

SEND Sufficiency Implementation Plan 2025-2030

The Cabinet approved the SEND Implementation Plan for 2025-2030, along with a capital programme and funding intentions. This plan aims to increase mainstream capacity to support children and young people with SEND, aligning with the government's Every Child Achieving and Thriving White Paper. Key priorities include strengthening mainstream inclusion through Support Bases and Specialist Bases, expanding specialist provision, increasing post-16 provision, and ensuring financial sustainability. A capital commitment of £3.2 million was also approved for new therapeutic school provision. The plan aims to reduce reliance on out-of-county placements and ensure children receive support closer to home.

Homes for Children and Young People Update

A 10-year contract for a Strategic Partner was approved for the provision of local options for children and young people in the council's care. This aims to improve the outcomes for looked-after children and young people.

Extension to Passenger Transport Dynamic Purchasing System

The Cabinet approved an extension to the existing Passenger Transport Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) from 1 April 2027 to 23 February 2029. This extension is necessary to comply with new procurement regulations and to allow for a better understanding of the impact of SEND transformation and local government reorganisation on future transport needs. The DPS ensures a competitive market for transport services, supporting statutory duties and value for money.

Securing Improved Outcomes for Carers

The Cabinet agreed to recommendations concerning the Carer Assessment and Review function, the financial framework, and the role of the voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) sector. This initiative aims to improve support for carers within Devon.

Corporate Performance and Risk Report - Quarterly Update (4)

The Cabinet noted the council's performance for the fourth quarter and the full year against its six strategic priorities, as detailed in the Strategic Plan 2025-2029. The report highlighted areas of progress and areas requiring further attention, along with the council's current strategic risks. Notably, the report indicated a Red rating for the percentage of unfilled social work posts, attributed to a challenging workforce market.

Growing the Newly Qualified Social Workers Programme and Routes into Social Work

The Cabinet received an update on the progress of the Newly Qualified Social Worker (NQSW) programme and other routes into social work. The report highlighted the success of the two-year Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) programme, leading to high retention rates. The proposal included expanding the ASYE programme, increasing social work apprenticeships, and offering PGDip places for internal candidates. Additional infrastructure and quality assurance roles were also proposed to support the expanded programme. The part-year cost of £1 million for the current financial year will be funded from an underspend, with full-year costs to be considered in future budget setting.

Minutes of Other Committees

The Cabinet endorsed the minutes of the Farms Estate Committee (19 May 2026), the Farms Estate Committee (Interviewing) (19 May 2026), and the Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (2 June 2026), noting that no decisions requiring Cabinet agreement were made in these instances.

The meeting also included a resolution to exclude the press and public for specific agenda items due to the likely disclosure of exempt information.