The Gloucestershire County Council Cabinet met on Wednesday, 3 December 2025, and agreed to put the draft budget for 2026/27 out for public consultation. They also approved plans for a new fire and rescue service training facility, highways depot, care home, and residential housing at the Coombe Hill site, and agreed to extend several contracts for services including household recycling, fostering and residential care.

Draft Budget 2026/27

The Cabinet approved the draft revenue, capital and Dedicated Schools Grant budgets for 2026/27 - 2029/30 to be the basis for scrutiny and consultation with residents, staff, businesses, partners, trade unions and schools. Councillor Colin Hay, Deputy Leader & Cabinet Member for Finance, Assets & Transformation, emphasised the importance of a long-term plan, while acknowledging the uncertainty of the future of Gloucestershire Councils and the wait for the funding settlement from central government.

The budget is structured around four key themes:

• Children and Young people thrive
• Stronger healthy communities that care
• A place to be proud of
• An open fair and sustainable council

According to the minutes, £5 million has been set aside to help deliver Local Government Reorganisation¹, whichever proposal is taken forward. An extra £15 million investment in road maintenance over the next three years was also outlined.

The Cabinet noted national challenges in relation to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) spend, with the County Council £125 million in deficit regarding this. Councillor Lisa Spivey, Leader of Council, stated that it was expected that council tax would be raised, as that was the expectation from central government and the settlement would reflect that expectation.

A public consultation on the council’s draft budget 2026/27 will take place for a 5-week period between 4 December 2025 and 9 January 2026.

Development of the Coombe Hill Site

The Cabinet approved the development of the Coombe Hill site to include a new Fire and Rescue Service training facility, highways depot, care home, and residential housing, allocating £46.7 million of capital investment to build a new Fire and Rescue Training Centre, Highways Depot and Care Home, and to enhance five satellite Fire Stations.

The council will return 27 acres of GCC-owned land from the current farm tenant at Coombe Hill adjacent to the A4019 to the County Council. The development is subject to planning permission. A residential housing development of approximately 25 homes is included in the proposal.

According to the minutes:

An apology was given to the local member who had not been consulted at this stage. This was due to approval being sought for the potential use of the plot prior to a request for planning permission. A meeting would be arranged with the local member. Assurances were given that communities would be consulted with as the development progressed.

Extension of Household Recycling Centre Contract with Ubico

The Cabinet approved the exercise of a two-year extension option under the council’s current contract with Ubico Ltd for the delivery of Household Recycling Centre Management Services, commencing 7 August 2026. Ubico has managed and operated the Household Recycling Centres (HRCs) since 2016.

Holiday Activity and Food Programme 2026-28

The Cabinet approved the acceptance of £1,655,070 per annum of Holiday Activity and Food programme grant funding from the Department for Education (DfE) during financial years 2026/27, 2027/28 and 2028/29. The Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) programme delivers six weeks of activities across the spring, summer, and winter school holidays, supporting children who are eligible for free school meals in Gloucestershire. The funding also extends this provision for other vulnerable families.

Procurement of Minor Frameworks

The Cabinet approved the procurement of three new framework agreements under which Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) may call-off statutory servicing works; minor responsive and reactive works; and medium size project work respectively. The total value of the agreements is £15.9 million over 4 years, with contingency recommended for LGR. The aim with the framework is to enable easier access to smaller local small to medium size enterprises.

Purchasing Arrangements for Residential Care

The Cabinet approved an extension commencing 1 April 2026 until 23 February 2029 to the term of the Southwest Residential Dynamic Purchasing System, which provides independent residential homes for children in care and is operated by South Gloucestershire Council on behalf of itself, Gloucestershire County Council, North Somerset Council and Bath and North-East Somerset Council.

South West Fostering Dynamic Purchasing System

The Cabinet approved a 2-year extension, commencing 1 April 2026, to the Southwest Fostering Dynamic Purchasing System, which provides independent foster care for children in care and is operated by Bath and North-East Somerset Council on behalf of itself, Gloucestershire County Council, North Somerset Council and South Gloucestershire Council. According to the minutes, Cabinet gave thanks to foster carers, recognising their commitment to children.

Future Use of Wheatridge Court

The Cabinet approved the continued use of the council-owned facility, Wheatridge Court, for the provision of short-term accommodation-based housing related support to refugees granted Leave to Remain². The contract for the Wheatridge Court initiative will expire in June 2026, and it is proposed to call off a one-year contract of a maximum value of £300,000 per annum, with an option to extend for a second year. This is entirely funded from existing local authority government grants for refugees and asylum-seeking children.