Here is a summary of the St Helens Council Cabinet meeting held on 3 September 2025:

The St Helens Council Cabinet met to discuss several key issues, including responses to scrutiny reviews on ketamine use, vaping, and suicide prevention, as well as the adoption of the St Helens Together Strategy 2025-2028 and the approval of capital expenditure at Hardshaw Brook Depot. The cabinet approved the St Helens Together Strategy 2025-2028, capital expenditure for the Hardshaw Brook Depot, and an extension to education high needs provision. They also endorsed an updated business case for the Health Innovation Hub Business Connect project.

Here are the key topics discussed in the meeting:

• Issues Arising from Overview and Scrutiny
• Quarter 1 Performance Report 2025-26
• St Helens Together Strategy 2025-2028
• Food and Feed Law Enforcement Annual Plan 2025-2026
• Approval of Capital Expenditure at Hardshaw Brook
• Extension to Education High Needs Provision
• St Helens Town Deal: Healthy Communities (Health Innovation Hub: Business Connect) – Business Case Update

Issues Arising from Overview and Scrutiny

The Cabinet considered reports and action plans from the Children and Young People's Services (CYPS) and Adult Social Care and Health (ASCH) Scrutiny Committees. The reports covered the use of ketamine among young people, reducing vaping among young people, and suicide prevention.

• Ketamine Use Among Young People: The CYPS Overview and Scrutiny Committee identified the use of ketamine among young people as a growing concern. The Addressing Ketamine Use Among Young People Task and Finish Group held meetings with council officers and partner organisations to address the issue. The Cabinet noted the outcome of the CYPS Scrutiny Committee Spotlight Review and agreed to provide a response to the recommendations of the review at the CYPS Committee meeting on 13 October 2025.
• Reducing Vaping Among Young People: The CYPS Scrutiny Committee carried out a spotlight review on reducing vaping among young people due to concerns about the increasing number of children vaping in schools and communities. The Cabinet noted the outcome of the CYPS Scrutiny Committee Spotlight Review and agreed to provide a response to the recommendations of the review at the CYPS Committee meeting on 13 October 2025.
• Suicide Prevention: The ASCH Scrutiny Committee established a Suicide Prevention Task Review due to a concerning upward trend in suicide rates. The Cabinet noted the outcome of the ASCH Scrutiny Committee Task and Finish Review and agreed to provide a response to the recommendations of the review at the ASCH Committee meeting on 6 October 2025.

Quarter 1 Performance Report 2025-26

The Cabinet reviewed the Quarter 1 Performance Report for 2025-26, which analysed progress against the council's six priorities. The report reflected the new performance framework and targets aligned to the Borough Strategy. The Cabinet noted the performance position and agreed to work with directors to address areas where performance improvement was required.

St Helens Together Strategy 2025-2028

The Cabinet considered a report on the refreshed St Helens Together Strategy 2025-2028, which was co-designed with partners from the VCFSE sector¹. The strategy would form the basis for the St Helens Together Partnership's work over the next three years, to ensure the VCFSE sector in St Helens was supported and empowered to deliver better outcomes for residents. The Cabinet approved the adoption and implementation of the strategy.

Food and Feed Law Enforcement Annual Plan 2025-2026

The Cabinet reviewed the Food and Feed Law Enforcement Annual Plan 2025-2026, which highlighted the impact of activities undertaken within Regulatory Services to ensure compliance with the Food Standards Agency requirements. The Cabinet approved the plan for publication.

Approval of Capital Expenditure at Hardshaw Brook

The Cabinet considered a report seeking approval for capital expenditure to replace the fuel station, construct a new salt barn, and update plans to improve welfare facilities at Hardshaw Brook Depot, which accommodates essential operational services. The Cabinet approved £1.412m of capital funding for the construction of a new fuel station and new salt barn, and awarded contracts to George Cox and Sons Ltd for the construction of both facilities. The Director of Legal and Governance was delegated authority to enter contracts as required to implement these recommendations.

Extension to Education High Needs Provision

The Cabinet considered a report regarding the allocation of capital to renovate the former Parr Library site and extend the lease of modular classrooms to maintain and accommodate an increase in pupil numbers at Mill Green School. The number of children assessed as having special educational needs was increasing, leading to a demand for special school places. The Cabinet noted the allocation of £1,535,640 from the Department for Education High Needs Provision Grant allocation to invest in the renovation of former Parr Library and £825,556 to extend the lease arrangements of existing modular classrooms. They also approved the plan to permanently increase pupil numbers from 134 to 170 from the start of the academic year 2025/26, and to gradually increase them to 190 beyond from 2025/26.

St Helens Town Deal: Healthy Communities (Health Innovation Hub: Business Connect) – Business Case Update

The Cabinet reviewed an updated business case for the St Helens Town Deal Healthy Communities Business Connect project, which sought endorsement of the requisite submission to Government. Towns Fund investment was key to securing transformational change for St Helens to support the Council's sustainable growth ambitions. The Cabinet approved the updated business case and a Town Deal capital grant funding investment of £405,000 for the project.