Here is a summary of the matters scheduled for discussion at the Leicestershire County Council Cabinet meeting on 12 September 2025.

The Cabinet was scheduled to discuss the Draft Leicestershire and Rutland Safeguarding Children Partnership Yearly Report 2024-2025, the Draft Leicestershire and Rutland Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report 2024-2025, the Medium Term Financial Strategy – Budget Monitoring and MTFS Refresh, Local Government Reorganisation, Home Care for Leicestershire Procurement, the Outcome of the 18-Month Medium Term Financial Strategy Street Lighting Dimming Trial, the A5 Concept Link, and the A511 Growth Corridor – To Commence Construction of a Small Section of Works on the Bardon Link Road, Coalville. The Cabinet was also scheduled to discuss the Harborough Local Plan - Duty to Cooperate Statement of Common Ground with Leicestershire County Council, and the Corporate Complaints and Compliments Annual Report 2024-2025.

Medium Term Financial Strategy and Budget Monitoring

The Cabinet was scheduled receive an update on the County Council's short and medium term financial position, and to consider changes to the previously agreed 2025-29 capital programme. The report pack highlighted significant financial challenges faced by the County Council, including the impact of inflation and increasing demand for core services. The report pack noted that the current Medium Term Financial Strategy showed the 2025/26 revenue budget as being balanced only after the use of £5m from earmarked reserves, and anticipated a funding gap of £38m in 2026/27 rising to £91m by 2028/29, despite savings of £85m being targeted. The report pack stated that an initial review of the position indicated that the Council would face significant additional costs in 2025/26 and future years, particularly in relation to children's social care, adult social care and children with special education needs and disabilities. The report pack also included a proposed approach to updating the Medium Term Financial Strategy, and a revised Capital Programme for 2025/26 to 2028/29. The Cabinet was also scheduled to consider additional investment in a bank risk sharing product (capital release funds) in line with the Council's approved Treasury Management Strategy, up to a maximum investment of £20m at any one time. Finally, the report pack included a recommendation to extend the membership of the Investing in Leicestershire Programme Board to include all members of the Cabinet.

Local Government Reorganisation

The Cabinet was scheduled to receive an overview of the government's policy on local government reorganisation, the local response earlier in the year, and an analysis of the current position across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. The report pack noted that the deadline for submission of proposals to the government was 28 November 2025, and that the government would undertake statutory consultation on any proposals submitted. The report pack also stated that a supplementary report would be circulated to members, including information on the financial modelling currently being undertaken to inform the options appraisal and final business case.

A511 Growth Corridor – Bardon Link Road

The Cabinet was scheduled to consider a report about the A511 Growth Corridor, and to decide whether to approve the commencement of construction of a small section of works on the Bardon Link Road. The report pack noted that planning permission for the Bardon Link Road would lapse on 16 January 2026 if construction works did not commence before that date. The report pack stated that the works comprised setting out of the drainage pond and the construction of a short section of haul road. The report pack also noted the latest position with regards to costs and timescales for the scheme.

Outcome of the 18-Month Medium Term Financial Strategy Street Lighting Dimming Trial

The Cabinet was scheduled to receive a report advising of the outcome of the 18-month street lighting dimming trial, which took place from January 2023 to June 2025. The report pack noted that the trial had reduced street lighting energy costs by £539,759, reduced street lighting energy consumption by 1,442,770 kWh, and reduced carbon emissions by 319.3 tonnes. The report pack also stated that the trial had a positive impact on reducing costs associated with the street lighting service, while leaving lighting in place, albeit at reduced levels. The report pack recommended that the Cabinet approve the dimming of County streetlights to 30% intensity from 20:00 hours until 07:00 hours permanently, and authorise the Director of Environment and Transport to make alterations to the dimming of streetlights following feedback from Leicestershire Police and other key stakeholders in accordance with an approved risk assessment.

Draft Leicestershire and Rutland Safeguarding Children Partnership Yearly Report 2024-2025

The Cabinet was scheduled to consider the Yearly Report 2024-25 for the Leicestershire and Rutland Safeguarding Children Partnership (LRSCP). The report pack noted that Leicestershire County Council was one of the statutory Safeguarding Partners which have a shared and equal statutory duty with the local Integrated Care Board, Leicestershire Police and Rutland Council to agree and make arrangements to work together to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children in Leicestershire and Rutland. The report pack stated that it was a statutory requirement, as set out in Working Together 2023, that the Safeguarding Partners publish a report at least once every twelve months on the arrangements and their effectiveness. The report pack outlined the learning, assurance, training and improvement activity of the LRSCP and its partners and the impact this has had on safeguarding children.

Draft Leicestershire and Rutland Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report 2024-2025

The Cabinet was scheduled to consider the draft Leicestershire and Rutland Safeguarding Adults Board (LRSAB) Annual Report 2024-2025. The report pack noted that the LRSAB was a statutory body established as a result of the Care Act 2014. The main purpose of the SAB is to ensure effective, co-ordinated multi-agency arrangements for the safeguarding of adults with care and support needs. The report pack stated that it was a statutory requirement for the Chair of the SAB to publish an annual report into the effectiveness of safeguarding adults' arrangements in the local area. The report pack outlined the key messages from the LRSAB for Leicestershire, including the proportion of safeguarding alerts becoming safeguarding enquiries, the inclusion of rough sleeping within its assurance role, and the launch of new safeguarding adults' resources for members of the public.

Home Care for Leicestershire Procurement

The Cabinet was scheduled to discuss the procurement of home care contracts for Leicestershire residents with eligible social care needs, for the period 2026 to 2034. The report pack noted that the current Home Care for Leicestershire (HCL) Framework ends on 31 October 2025 and has a remaining option to extend for up to one year until 31 October 2026, but that it was not possible to extend the current Framework beyond that date. The report pack stated that the Care Act 2014 requires local authorities to undertake an assessment of any person who appears to be in need of care and support, and to provide services to meet any unmet care and support needs identified through that assessment. The report pack also noted that the Procurement Act 2023 introduces open frameworks which are a scheme of successive frameworks on substantially the same terms, with a combined term of eight years.

A5 Concept Link

The Cabinet was scheduled to discuss the work being undertaken on a potential road link, to connect the A5 and A47 in Hinckley, and to decide whether to approve the undertaking of relevant engagement activities to help develop the concept and understand its potential for delivery. The report pack noted that the A5 is on the Strategic Road Network and is managed by National Highways, and that there are existing issues and constraints at the Longshoot-Dodwells junction that cause problems of congestion, road safety and re-routeing of vehicle trips on to the local road network. The report pack stated that uncertainty regarding the programme of improvements to be implemented by National Highways and the possibility of new land use developments nearby has led the Council's officers to develop a potential scheme to address the existing and future issues in this location.

Harborough Local Plan - Duty to Cooperate Statement of Common Ground with Leicestershire County Council

The Cabinet was scheduled to consider the progress of the Harborough District Council's Local Plan and to decide whether to approve the County Council becoming a signatory to a Statement of Common Ground with Harborough District Council regarding the two Authorities' 'Duty to Cooperate'. The report pack noted that the Duty to Cooperate is a legal duty for local planning authorities, county councils and relevant bodies to 'engage constructively, actively and on an ongoing basis in any process' including the preparation of development plan documents. The report pack stated that the Statement of Common Ground confirms that Harborough District Council and the County Council have effectively and regularly cooperated to consider strategic and cross-boundary matters associated with the production of the Harborough Local Plan, and that it focuses on the engagement related requirements of the Duty to Cooperate and is produced without prejudice to other matters of detail that the parties may wish to raise during the Local Plan examination.

Corporate Complaints and Compliments Annual Report 2024-2025

The Cabinet was scheduled to consider the Council's Corporate Complaints and Compliments Annual Report 2024-2025. The report pack noted that the Annual Report includes information on complaint handling performance for cases managed under the Corporate Complaint Procedure and includes trends, themes, and matters of general importance. The report pack stated that the Corporate Complaints and Compliments Annual Report is considered by the Scrutiny Commission in line with its function to scrutinise the Council's performance and good governance practice.