At a meeting on 15 October 2025, Shropshire Council's cabinet approved a CPC action plan, a draft financial strategy for 2026/27-2030/31, a highways future operating model report, application of the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman’s Complaint Handling Code from 1 April 2026, and a plan to deliver a new skateboard and BMX pump track in Oswestry in partnership with Oswestry Town Council. Councillors also reviewed the financial monitoring for period 5, noting a potential illegal financial position by the end of the financial year.

Financial Emergency

The cabinet addressed the council's ongoing financial difficulties, which had led to a financial emergency being declared in the previous month. Councillors approved a series of recommendations in the Financial Monitoring Period 5 report, including:

• Continuing emergency action to reduce spending and increase income between October and March.
• Noting that Operations Boards have been in place since August 2025 to challenge all in-year spending.
• Noting that the Period 5 position forecasts indicative savings delivery of £33.981m (57%).
• Noting the projected General Fund Balance is now negative (£1.251m), indicating a potentially illegal financial position by the end of the financial year.
• Noting that active discussions regarding Exceptional Financial Support¹ (EFS) have commenced with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).

The report highlighted a worsened forecast outturn position of £35.531m, which could lead to an illegal financial position by year-end. The report outlined significant risks, including savings delivery being below target, social care demand exceeding budget estimates, and insufficient reserves. To mitigate these risks, the council is implementing measures such as spending control boards and workforce review boards.

The report also presented three forecast scenarios:

• Favourable: £32.431m potential variation to budget
• Central: £35.531m potential variation to budget
• Adverse: £94.837m potential variation to budget

The report noted that emergency action is necessary to improve the General Fund Balance² by year-end.

Financial Strategy 2026/27 - 2030/31

The cabinet agreed to discuss emerging pressures for the coming year and work with officers to identify decisions necessary to achieve a legal budget for 2026/27 and a balanced financial position across the medium term. Cabinet also required officers to continue work to:

• Reduce all non-essential spend for 2025/26 and review identified pressures
• Prepare savings options for the coming year, to secure a balanced budget for approval by Council in February 2026.
• Work with MHCLG to actively pursue options for Exceptional Financial Support over the MTFS Period

Skateboard & BMX Pump Track Provision in Oswestry

The cabinet agreed to work with Oswestry Town Council to deliver a new skatepark and BMX pump track in an appropriate location in Oswestry, contingent on the Town Council’s support and funding. The Head of Property and Development was instructed to complete an options appraisal of available sites within the Council's ownership, considering the most appropriate and beneficial location, and bring back a report to a future Cabinet meeting with a final recommendation. The Head of Property and Development was instructed that the work is to be undertaken rapidly with a report on the options appraisal brought back to the Cabinet meeting on 19 November 2025.

Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman’s Complaint Handling Code

The cabinet supported the application of the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman’s (LGSCO)³ Complaint Handling Code from 1 April 2026, focusing on compliance whilst acknowledging that resource challenges may lead to some practical challenges and delays. The cabinet acknowledged that collective effort will be required across the council to ensure that complaints are prioritised appropriately, and supported the requirement within the Code for Oversight and Scrutiny of the complaints handling processes and annual reporting to elected members, including the Ombudsman’s annual letter and performance data.

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman's Complaint Handling Code sets out a process for organisations to apply with regard to non-statutory complaints. The Code aims to bring processes in line with a single set of standards and timescales and help to create a positive complaint handling culture amongst staff and individuals.

Highways Future Operating Model Report and EXEMPT Report of the Highways Contract Review Task and Finish Group

The cabinet approved the Highways Future Operating Model Report and the EXEMPT Report of the Highways Contract Review Task and Finish Group. Details of these reports are exempt from publication.

CPC Action Plan

The cabinet agreed the CPC action plan and the plan’s integration into the overarching improvement plan as the first section of the Council’s Strategic Plan.