Here's a summary of the topics the Calderdale Council Cabinet intended to discuss at their meeting on 6 October 2025. The meeting was scheduled to include discussion of the Medium-Term Financial Plan, a review of support for children not in formal education, and a proposal to submit the Community Infrastructure Levy for independent examination. Some topics, including a review of safe travel to school, were expected to be discussed in private.

Community Infrastructure Levy

The Cabinet were scheduled to consider a recommendation to submit the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Draft Charging Schedule (DCS) to an independent examination, as required by the Community Infrastructure Levy Regulations 2010¹. CIL allows councils to raise funds from new developments to support local infrastructure.

The report pack included the following supporting documents:

• The CIL Draft Charging Schedule 2023
• A Residential Viability Assessment
• A Commercial Viability Assessment
• An Infrastructure Delivery Plan
• A Statement of Representations
• A Statement of Representations Procedure
• A Statement of Compliance

The proposed CIL charges varied depending on the location and type of development. For residential properties, Calderdale was divided into nine zones, with different rates for greenfield and brownfield sites. All other types of development were proposed to be charged at a rate of £0 per square metre, with the exception of residential institutions and care homes, which would be charged at £60 per square metre.

The report pack noted several objections to the proposed CIL, including concerns about viability, transparency, and the evidence used to support the schedule. Some objectors felt that the proposed reductions in residential CIL rates, particularly in Southeast Calderdale, could undermine infrastructure delivery and strain public services. There were also concerns about the treatment of commercial development and the funding of infrastructure requirements relating to the Garden Communities².

The report pack stated that the Cabinet were to consider delegating authority to the Director of Regeneration and Strategy, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Climate, Planning and Housing, to make submissions to the examiner, undertake further consultation if required, and make modifications to the submission documents.

Medium-Term Financial Plan

The Cabinet were scheduled to receive an update on the Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP) for 2026/27 to 2028/29. The report pack included a report from the Director of Resources and Transformation, which provided an initial review of the assumptions in the current MTFP, considering the ongoing impact of socio-economic factors, inflation projections, spending power projections, and demographic changes.

The report pack noted that the council's operating environment had been subject to significant changes since early 2020, creating sustained financial pressure on the council's budget. The areas with the most significant cost pressures were children's and adults' social care, special educational needs, highways, and waste management.

The report pack also noted that the landscape of local government funding was going to significantly change for 2026/27 onwards, with the re-instatement of a multi-year settlement and a radical overhaul to the methodology for the distribution of funding across the sector proposed in the Fair Funding Review 2³.

The report pack stated that the Cabinet were to consider the current financial position, changes to the Local Government Financial Settlement, and changes to the operating environment. The Cabinet were also scheduled to discuss the financial planning process which will determine a balanced budget proposal for 2026/27 and medium-term financial plan covering the financial years 2026/27 to 2028/29.

Support for Children and Young People Not in Formal Education

The Cabinet were scheduled to receive a report from the Children and Young People's Scrutiny Board on how children and young people who are not in formal education access support. The report pack included a report from Councillors Leah Webster, Chair of CYP Scrutiny Board, and Abigail White, Chair of Place Scrutiny Board, which made 15 recommendations to Cabinet and relevant officers.

The report pack noted that in January 2025, Calderdale had 691 children and young people who were recorded as being electively home educated, a percentage increase of approximately 40% from 2023. The report pack also noted that the numbers of children who have an Education, Health and Care Plan⁴ (EHCP) who are electively home educated has also risen.

The report pack stated that the recommendations were designed to be both practical and achievable, and were meant to be positive and to benefit the lives of Calderdale's children and young people and their families. The recommendations included:

• That children who are electively home educated and who would be eligible for free school meals if at school can access Healthy Holidays for free.
• That a report detailing how the new legislation around home education will work in practice and how it will benefit children and young people in Calderdale is brought to the CYP Scrutiny Board as soon as possible after the legislation is announced.
• That when setting the Budget for 2025 to 2026, priority is given to funding extra staff in the Education Welfare Team.
• That an investigation is undertaken into current challenges and trends regarding the numbers of excluded young people and those who are home educated.
• That the numbers of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities⁵ (SEND) who are either electively home educated or excluded are a standard reporting item at the SEND Strategic Partnership Board.
• That a guide is co-produced for parents detailing what constitutes reasonable adjustments, when they can be put in place and how parents can be assured that they are put in place.