The Executive of Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council met on Wednesday 23 September 2026, endorsing a new strategy to prepare the council for future changes and approving a policy to ensure the safety and compliance of council housing. The meeting also saw the adoption of a Cyber Security Strategy to protect the council's digital systems and data.

Future Ready Council Strategy

The council endorsed the Future Ready Council Strategy 2026-28, a plan designed to ensure Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council remains forward-looking, resilient, and customer-focused amidst potential structural changes, including Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) and public sector reform. The strategy, developed prior to the government's pause on LGR, remains relevant for navigating devolution and reform opportunities. It is built around a vision for an agile, preventative, and engaging council that drives economic regeneration and sustainable growth, using innovation to improve outcomes and support its people and communities. The strategy's six priorities are: People and Culture, Readiness for Local Government Reorganisation, Early Intervention and Prevention, Service Innovation, Maximising Opportunities for People and Communities, and Enabling Place-Based Prosperity. An action plan will be developed for each priority. Councillors expressed frustration over the resources spent on LGR planning, particularly given the government's pause, but agreed the strategy would help the council continue to deliver services effectively. Councillor S.L. Bray, Leader of the Council, noted that the strategy would help the council play an active role in influencing the development of future unitary arrangements and ensure its strengths are recognised. The strategy was approved unanimously, with an additional recommendation granting delegated authority to the Leader and Sharon Stacey to make minor changes to reflect evolving opportunities.

Landlord Property Safety and Compliance Policy

The Executive approved the Landlord Property Safety and Compliance Policy, which establishes a clear framework for managing property safety risks across the council's housing stock. This policy aims to ensure all council tenants live in safe, secure, and well-maintained homes, aligning with the Regulator of Social Housing's Safety and Quality Standard. A key strength of the policy is its co-production with tenants, who were involved in shaping its priorities, particularly regarding communication and transparency. Gary Upton, Director of Place Services, highlighted that the policy demonstrates the council's commitment to a risk based approach that goes beyond minimum statutory obligations. Councillor M.T. Mullaney, Executive Member for Housing and Community Safety, praised the involvement of tenants, stating, I'm particularly glad that, as Gary said, we have involved tenants in this process. The policy covers key compliance areas including gas, electrical, fire, asbestos, water, and lift safety, and also addresses wider housing quality objectives. It was unanimously approved.

Cyber Security Strategy

The council adopted the Cyber Security Strategy 2026-2028, a plan to manage cyber security risks across the organisation. The strategy acknowledges the increasing complexity and volatility of the cyber threat landscape facing local government, with a rise in ransomware and phishing attacks. It aims to protect essential services, safeguard sensitive information, and build trust with residents and partners. The strategy aligns with the UK Government's Cyber Security Strategy and guidance from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). Councillor K.W.P. Lynch, Executive Member for Finance, ICT & Asset Management, noted that while this is the first formal strategy, we have already completed extensive work in this area to protect our vital services and the systems that support them, including achieving PSN compliance and Cyber Essentials certification. Councillor Martin Mullaney raised concerns about the council acting as a primary shield for residents against scams, suggesting a need for targeted communication campaigns to warn residents about potential threats. The strategy was unanimously approved.