This meeting of Warwickshire Council's Portfolio Holder Decisions/Leader Decisions was scheduled to discuss the appointment of cabinet portfolios, the delegation of executive functions, and appointments to various bodies. Councillor George Finch, Deputy Leader of the Council, was the only member listed on the agenda. The meeting was scheduled to be filmed for live broadcast on the internet.

Appointment of Cabinet Portfolios, Delegation of Executive Functions and Appointments to Bodies

The Leader was expected to make several key decisions regarding the structure and function of the council. These included:

• Confirming the appointment of the Deputy Leader.
• Appointing councillors to the Cabinet and determining their portfolios and delegations.
• Confirming or amending the delegation of executive functions to members, officers, and other bodies as outlined in the council's constitution.
• Making appointments to various bodies.

The report pack included an appendix titled, Appointment to Cabinet, Delegation of Executive Functions and Appointments to Bodies Report, which listed the decisions proposed by the Leader.

The Leader was invited to appoint up to nine other members to the Cabinet, determine their portfolios, and delegate executive functions. The Leader may also choose to appoint Cabinet support members to assist Portfolio Holders.

Appointments to Member Bodies

The Leader was also expected to make appointments to several member bodies:

• Joint Negotiating Bodies: Two Cabinet members each were to be appointed to the Joint Negotiating Body for staff and the Joint Negotiating Body for teachers. These bodies provide a forum for discussions with trade unions regarding the conditions of service for staff members and to recommend changes to the Staff and Pensions Committee.
• Adoption Panel: The Leader was invited to appoint one county councillor to the Adoption Panel. While there is no longer a legal requirement for an elected member to be on the panel, the council may choose to do so.
• Fostering Panel: Similarly, the Leader was invited to confirm the appointment of one county councillor to the Fostering Panel, although it is not a legal requirement.

Appointment to External Bodies

The Leader was invited to confirm two appointments to the Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation (ESPO) Management Committee, one of whom should be a Cabinet member. ESPO is a joint committee between consortium authorities that aims to improve the supply of goods and services to its constituent authorities. The Leader was also asked to appoint one of the members of the ESPO Management Committee to sit on the ESPO Finance and Audit Committee, which oversees ESPO's financial planning.

Other Considerations

The report pack stated that all proposals could be accommodated within the 2025/26 approved budget and that there were no environmental implications.