Here is a summary of the Rushcliffe Borough Council Cabinet meeting on 9 September 2025.

The Cabinet approved the Technological, Digital and Customer Access Strategy 2025-2028, and confirmed the Article 4(1) Direction for properties on Loughborough Road and Patrick Road in West Bridgford. They also approved the Quarter 1 Finance Report, noting a projected revenue budget efficiency, capital budget efficiencies, and a projected overspend on Special Expenses. A decision on the proposed sale of telecom mast sites was determined, but details were not made public.

Technological, Digital and Customer Access Strategy 2025-2028

The Cabinet approved the Technological, Digital and Customer Access Strategy 2025-2028. This strategy consolidates and modernises three existing strategies: ICT, Digital-by-Design, and Customer Access, aligning with the council's Corporate Strategy 2024-2027. The strategy outlines how the council will use emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), to improve service delivery, enhance digital access, and strengthen cyber security.

Councillor Jonathan Wheeler, Portfolio Holder for Leisure & Wellbeing, ICT & Member Development, said:

With this Technological, Digital and Customer Access Strategy we will increase the diversity of our digital services and use technology to maintain easy access and reliability of Council services. Our goal is to work with technology to remove barriers and reduce costs, all whilst continuing to tackle digital inequality and embrace technological transformation.

The strategy includes an action plan with initiatives across three areas:

• Technological Access: Addressing technological transformation, AI advances, reviewing infrastructure, data governance and IT resilience, while being mindful of possible local government reorganisation.
• Digital Access: Using data and insight to empower people and communities and enhancing skills to deliver a more rounded technological culture.
• Customer Access: Ensuring customers and residents can access services conveniently and using innovative projects to meet changing expectations of service delivery.

The strategy aims to foster a fail fast learn faster culture, encouraging staff to explore new ideas and test creative approaches to improve services. The council also intends to upskill its workforce to enable them to understand and exploit emerging technologies.

Confirmation of Rushcliffe Borough Council (67-69 Loughborough Road and 2A Patrick Road, West Bridgford) Article 4(1) Direction

The Cabinet confirmed the Rushcliffe Borough Council (67-69 Loughborough Road and 2A Patrick Road, West Bridgford) Article 4(1) Direction 20 May 2025. This gives ongoing effect to the revocation of permitted development rights for demolition under Schedule 2, Part 11, Class B of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (as amended).

The direction applies to three buildings: Grafton House, Welbeck House, and 2A Patrick Road. The council's decision prevents the demolition of these buildings without planning permission.

The council made the initial direction on 19 May 2025, due to concerns that the owners of Grafton House and Welbeck House could demolish the properties without a secured and appropriate scheme for redevelopment. This followed a prior approval application for demolition, despite a previous planning application for demolition and redevelopment being refused.

The council considers these buildings to be Non-Designated Heritage Assets (NDAs), and that their loss would be contrary to paragraph 217 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).¹

The council received 83 comments in support of the direction and one objection from a legal representative of one of the companies that jointly own Grafton and Welbeck House.

Quarter 1 Finance Report

The Cabinet approved the Quarter 1 Finance Report, noting:

• A projected revenue budget efficiency for the year of £0.637m, proposed to be earmarked for cost pressures, including supporting local government reorganisation and simpler recycling measures.
• Projected capital budget efficiencies of £0.681m, including budget changes.
• A projected overspend on Special Expenses of £11.3k, mainly due to security improvements at Bridgford Park and responsive works at West Park.

The report highlighted that the council continues to face financial challenges, including rising costs, increased demand for services, and the need to balance budgets while maintaining service quality. Inflation and employers' national insurance increases are also impacting council budgets.

Councillor Davinder Virdi, Portfolio Holder for Finance, Transformation and Governance, noted that the council's Transformation and Efficiency Plan is designed to meet emerging financial challenges and is budgeted to deliver £0.824m savings in 2025/26.

Proposed Sale of Telecom Mast Sites

The Cabinet determined a decision on the proposed sale of telecom mast sites, but the details were excluded from the public record.