Here's a summary of the Derbyshire County Council Cabinet meeting held on 11 September 2025:

The Cabinet approved several key initiatives, including amendments to the Derby and Derbyshire Strategic Leaders Board terms of reference, allocations for Children's Services, the Derbyshire's Heartwood Community Forest Plan, and the Local Nature Recovery Strategy for Derbyshire. They also discussed and approved recommendations regarding performance and budget monitoring.

Here's a more detailed look at the key topics discussed:

Performance Monitoring and Budget Forecast

The Cabinet reviewed the council's performance against its Council Plan priorities and the 2025-26 revenue budget. The council is forecasting a net overspend of £1.331m against a revenue budget of £770.502m. While savings delivery is mostly on track, Children's Social Care is expected to overspend by £25.936m due to demand and cost pressures. Adult Social Care is also forecasting a small overspend, offset by an underspend in Health and Communities.

The Cabinet agreed to in-year adjustments to the strategic objectives within the Council Plan and recommended them to the Full Council for approval. These adjustments include:

• Amending the wording for Strategic Objective 10 relating to Climate Change to focus on energy security, energy efficiency and clean energy.
• Revising the wording for Strategic Objective 11 relating to the East Midlands Combined County Authority to reflect current activity.
• Adding two additional underlying actions to Strategic Objective 12 relating to the Highways Service, concerning a review of strategic highways policy and maintaining a safe and serviceable highway network.
• Including an additional action under Strategic Objective 13 around the development and implementation of an efficiency strategy for libraries.
• Revising the wording for Strategic Objective 18 on customer experience to reflect the recommendations arising from the recent Pricewaterhouse Coopers' (PwC) report.
• Revising the wording for Strategic Objective 19 relating to Local Government Reorganisation to reflect the council's preferred option of two unitary authorities moving forward.
• Amending the wording of Strategic Objective 21 on the council's workforce to reflect the recommendations arising from the recent PwC report, and including a new underlying action on the development and implementation of a strategic workforce plan.
• Revising the wording for Strategic Objective 22 relating to the transformation of the council to reflect the latest activity.
• Including a new Strategic Objective relating to the redesign of the new Business Services function.
• Revising the wording for Strategic Objective 23 that relates to Best Value Service reviews and amending two of the underlying actions to reflect the latest activity.
• Adding a new underlying action to Strategic Objective 23 relating to the council's property portfolio and the redevelopment of the Matlock complex to align to the council's future requirements.

The Cabinet also approved the virement¹ of £0.776m budget back to Adult Social Care and Health from Corporate Services and Transformation.

Local Nature Recovery Strategy for Derbyshire

The Cabinet approved the Local Nature Recovery Strategy for Derbyshire, enabling the council to publish the strategy. The LNRS aims to create a Nature Recovery Network across England, with locally targeted action and investment in nature. The strategy includes:

• Priorities for nature's recovery
• Mapping of valuable existing areas for nature
• Mapping of proposals for creating or improving habitat

The Cabinet also approved the acceptance of £0.135m of new burdens funding from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to support the transition from Local Nature Recovery Strategy preparation into delivery. Responsibility for the delivery phase governance structures of the LNRS was delegated to the Executive Director for Place, in consultation with Councillor Carol Wood, Cabinet Member for Net Zero and Environment.

Derbyshire's Heartwood Community Forest – Forest Plan

The Cabinet approved the Forest Plan for Derbyshire's Heartwood Community Forest. The plan sets out a strategic vision for the next 25 years, aiming to increase woodland cover in the county by 2050. The Heartwood Community Forest occupies a central position between the National Forest to the south and the Greenwood Community Forest in Nottinghamshire.

Children's Services Section 106 Allocations

The Cabinet approved several recommendations regarding Children's Services funding:

1. Noted the receipt/availability of Section 106² funding and approved allocations to the projects outlined in Appendix 4 of the report.
2. Approved the transfer of approved developer contributions of £156,283.75 directly to Chellaston Fields (George Spencer Academy new school) part of the Spencer Academy Trust to self-manage the projects.
3. Noted the reimbursement to the Children's Services capital budget from developer contributions.
4. Approved the allocation of £1,000,000 from the Children's Services capital budget to address urgent priority operational issues within schools.
5. Noted the return of funds to the Children's Services capital budget.
6. Noted the previous delegated approvals since the last Cabinet report of 20th February 2025.
7. Noted the receipt of additional funding into the Children's Services capital budget for School Condition Allocation.

D2 Strategic Leaders Board Terms of Reference Amendments

The Cabinet approved amendments to the Terms of Reference for the Derby and Derbyshire Strategic Leaders Board (D2 SLB) and the proposed changes in the hosting arrangements for the D2 SLB. The SLB brings together the county's ten local authorities to collaborate on economic wellbeing at a strategic level. The revised Terms of Reference focus on:

• Collaborating and driving forward Derbyshire Devolution.
• Coordinating agendas to improve outcomes for people and places across Derbyshire.
• Engaging Derbyshire Leaders on regional and strategic issues.
• Providing a forum for discussing EMCCA business and approving non-constituent body nominations.
• Providing strategic oversight of county-level economic development matters.

SAP Licences/Support and Implementation

The Cabinet approved the recommendations detailed in the not for publication report regarding the procurement of SAP³ licence and support for 2025-2030 and funding to procure implementation partners.