Gloucestershire County Council's Cabinet met on Wednesday 28 January 2026 to discuss and approve the Medium Term Financial Strategy for 2026/27 to 2029/30, which includes a proposed revenue budget of £697.8 million and a Band D council tax increase of 4.99%. The Cabinet also agreed to adopt Gloucestershire's Multi-Agency School Attendance Strategy 2025-2028 and approved the publication of the Gloucestershire Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

Medium Term Financial Strategy and Budget Approval

The Cabinet considered the draft revenue and capital budget for 2026/27 to 2029/30, recommending a revenue budget of £697.8 million to the County Council. This includes a proposed council tax increase of 2.99% and a 2% adult social care precept, resulting in an overall increase of £83.81 per annum for a Band D property. The strategy acknowledges significant financial pressures, including a £124.1 million deficit in the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) for high needs provision by March 2026, and a projected budget gap growing to £34.9 million by 2029/30. To address these challenges, the council aims to achieve £32.3 million in savings in 2026/27 and has identified a need for further savings in subsequent years. The Cabinet also approved changes to the planned use of reserves, resulting in a net reduction of £4.927 million in the planned use of Useable Revenue Reserves, and an increase of £533k in the forecast DSG deficit. A capital programme of £848.3 million is planned over four years, with significant investment in Economy, Environment and Infrastructure (£602.8 million), Schools and facilities for children (£105.6 million), and Adults' services (£67.5 million). The Cabinet delegated authority to accept £249.5 million in funding from the Department for Transport (DfT) for transport infrastructure projects.

School Attendance Strategy Adoption

The Cabinet approved the adoption of Gloucestershire's Multi-Agency School Attendance Strategy 2025-2028. This strategy, developed in response to new statutory national attendance legislation, aims to improve school attendance by fostering collaborative working between schools, local authorities, and other partners. It emphasizes a support first ethos, focusing on identifying and addressing the root causes of absence. The strategy aligns with the One Plan vision for children and young people in Gloucestershire and aims to ensure all pupils achieve the highest possible school attendance.

Local Nature Recovery Strategy Publication

The Cabinet approved and adopted the Gloucestershire Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) and authorised its publication on the Gloucestershire County Council website in February 2026. This strategy, prepared in response to the Environment Act 2021, identifies and maps priority areas for nature recovery across the county. It aims to guide actions for habitat management, restoration, and creation, contributing to national commitments for nature's recovery and providing a resource for farmers, landowners, developers, and community groups. The strategy highlights six key messages for nature recovery, including safeguarding existing biodiversity-rich sites, enhancing landscape-scale connectivity, addressing the climate emergency, improving the relationship with water, valuing mixed and wilder habitats, and promoting biodiversity in developments and settlements.

Other Key Decisions

The Cabinet also made decisions on the following:

• Corporate Fleet Unit Fuel Card & Fuel Contract: Delegated authority was given to award a call-off contract to Allstar Business Solutions for the supply of fuel cards for council and fire service vehicles for a term of two years.
• Highways Major Projects and Infrastructure Projects Procurement 2026/27: Delegated authority was given to procure highway services and construction works for various schemes across the county.
• Corporate Asset Management Plan 2026-2029: The plan was approved and adopted, outlining the council's strategic approach to managing its property assets to support corporate aims and service objectives.
• Extension of contracts for Gloucestershire Adult and Young Carers Support and Re-tender for Adult Carers Support: Approved the extension of current contracts for adult and young carers support by six months and agreed to a revised model for adult carers support, including a single contract for core services and the transfer of emergency schemes and breaks to external providers.
• Gloucestershire County Council's Digital Infrastructure, Inclusion, and Innovation Strategy (DIIIS) 2025-2030: Approved the adoption of the strategy, which sets out the council's vision and priorities for digital connectivity, skills, and innovation across the county.

The meeting concluded with the Leader of the Council, Cllr Lisa Spivey, thanking members and officers for their work.