The Cabinet of West Suffolk Council is scheduled to convene on Tuesday 3 November 2026, with a key focus on addressing homelessness and reviewing the council's commercial asset portfolio. Other discussions are expected to cover reports from scrutiny committees and partnership arrangements.

West Suffolk Council's Local Plan to End Homelessness

A significant item on the agenda is the proposed adoption of West Suffolk Council's Local Plan to End Homelessness. This plan is being developed in response to the government's National Plan to End Homelessness and the Rough Sleeping Programme. It aims to prevent homelessness at the earliest opportunity, ensure it is brief when it occurs, and ultimately end rough sleeping within West Suffolk. The plan will also support the delivery of the council's existing Housing, Homelessness Reduction and Rough Sleeping Strategy. Alongside this, the Cabinet is being asked to approve a revised Temporary Accommodation Procurement and Placement Policy, which outlines how the council will ensure the suitability of temporary accommodation, procure sufficient units, and allocate them effectively. The report details local targets for improving outcomes against the Local Outcomes Framework metrics for homelessness and rough sleeping up to 2028, with a vision to Work with partners to ensure homelessness is prevented at the earliest opportunity and is brief when it does occur and end rough sleeping in West Suffolk. Funding for these actions will be drawn from various grant awards, including the Homelessness and rough sleeping grant and the Government's Rough Sleeper Programme.

Review of Commercial Asset Portfolio - Former Discount Warehouse Superstore, Anglian Lane, Bury St Edmunds

The Cabinet will consider options for the former Discount Warehouse Superstore located on Anglian Lane, Bury St Edmunds. The council acquired the freehold interest in this property in 2018. Following the cancellation of the Western Way development project, which had initially influenced the acquisition, fresh consideration has been given to the site's future. The report outlines several options, with a recommendation to agree to Option 1: the freehold disposal of the property to the Eastern Education Group. This option is presented as supporting the council's growth and thriving communities priorities, reducing annual holding costs, and providing a capital receipt. The Eastern Education Group intends to use the site for construction-based courses, consolidating their construction skills provision and creating a construction skills hub. The report acknowledges potential risks, including the purchaser withdrawing from the sale or failing to obtain planning consent.

Reports from Scrutiny Committees and Partnerships

The Cabinet will receive reports from various scrutiny committees and partnership bodies. These include:

• Report of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (10 September 2026): This report covers items such as the scrutiny of Barley Homes, the Audio Visual System in the Conference Chamber, and appointments to outside scrutiny bodies. Recommendations regarding Barley Homes include implementing a different model of internal scrutiny, replacing the Annual General Meeting with an annual report to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, and considering an increase in the membership of the Shareholder Advisory Group (SAG).
• Report of the Anglia Revenues and Benefits Partnership Joint Committee (22 September 2026): This report provides an update on the performance and financial standing of the partnership, which includes West Suffolk Council, Breckland Council, East Cambridgeshire District Council, East Suffolk Council, and Fenland District Council. It details performance in areas such as business rates and council tax collection, welfare reform updates, and forthcoming issues.
• Report of the Performance and Audit Scrutiny Committee (24 September 2026): This report covers the committee's review of the EY Audit Plan Addendum, the Ernst & Young 2025 to 2026 Audit Results Report, the West Suffolk Annual Governance Statement 2025 to 2026, and the 2025 to 2026 Annual Statement of Accounts. It also includes reports on complaints and the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, and the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.

Other Items

The Cabinet will also consider the Decisions Plan for the period 1 November 2026 to 31 May 2027, which outlines forthcoming key decisions and other executive decisions. Additionally, there will be a consideration of whether to exclude the press and public for certain items due to the likely disclosure of exempt information, specifically relating to Investing in our Commercial Asset Portfolio and appendices for the Review of Commercial Asset Portfolio.