The Staffordshire Council Cabinet met on Wednesday 28 January 2026 to approve the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for 2026-2031, which includes a 3.99% council tax increase. The meeting also reviewed the council's performance in children's services, which has received positive feedback from Ofsted, and discussed planned investments in highways and libraries.

Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) and Council Tax

The most significant item discussed was the council's Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for 2026-2031, which was approved by the Cabinet. This strategy includes a proposed council tax increase of 3.99%. Councillor Chris Large, Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources, explained that this increase is 1% below the recommendation from central government and that for the past three years, the council tax has been set at 4.99%. He highlighted that 2% of the 3.99% increase is specifically allocated to adult social care, meaning the increase for other council services is 1.99%.

Councillor Large elaborated on the decision to set the council tax at this level, stating, We could have come in lower than that. So, 1.99%. We could have come in at 0.9%. Because every percent is around £5 million. However, he explained that the Cabinet had agreed in December to invest an additional £5.5 million in children and families services to improve quality and standards. He emphasised that despite this investment, the council has worked to keep the tax rate as low as possible, saving taxpayers' money. The MTFS was developed through extensive scrutiny, including working groups and corporate overview scrutiny, with an additional informal scrutiny meeting held the day before the Cabinet meeting. The strategy aims to balance the budget while highlighting key areas of interest to the people of Staffordshire.

The council's commitment to improving highways was also a key point within the MTFS. Councillor Large announced an investment of an additional £15 million for roads, clarifying that this is for direct road improvements and not back-office costs. This investment is contingent on a strategic review of highways, which began in December and is expected to yield notifications in April and May, focusing on how services are delivered and how potholes are identified and managed.

Councillor Peter Mason, Cabinet Member for Strategic Highways, addressed what he termed misinformation regarding highway funding. He stated that while there are reports of Staffordshire receiving an extra £56 million for road repairs, this is not the case. He clarified that for the 2025-2026 budget, there is a 3.5% increase, or approximately £1.3 million, which is largely due to inflation. He added that while there may be additional funding over five years, allowing for inflation, this amounts to about £3 million per year on average, and none of this has arrived yet. The £15 million investment mentioned by Councillor Large, he explained, is being funded through efficiencies within the council's highways operations, specifically to address the backlog of potholes and improve road conditions.

The MTFS was presented to the Cabinet following a review by the MTFS Working Group, chaired by Councillor Andrew Mynors, Cabinet Member for Connectivity. Councillor Mynors thanked the officers and Cabinet members for their work in understanding the council's risks and challenges. He noted that the working group had gathered evidence and put forward recommendations, which were then responded to by the Cabinet. The Cabinet's response to these recommendations was put forward for approval at this meeting. The approved MTFS will be presented to the full council for further discussion and questions in a few weeks.

Children and Families Services

The Cabinet received praise for the council's children and families services, as highlighted in a recent Ofsted inspection. Councillor Nicholas Lakin, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, reported that the official Ofsted letter, published the day before the meeting, contained many positive points, including recognition for the current administration. He commended the officers, particularly Bernie Brown, for their tireless work in supporting children in Staffordshire. Councillor Lakin emphasised the importance of the £5.5 million investment in children and families, stating, it is vitally important that we, as an administration, support children and families, and support Bernie and her team. He noted that Ofsted had recognised and praised the staff and the administration for their efforts.

Libraries

The budget includes £5 million allocated for libraries, which have undergone a strategic review and consultation. The feedback indicated a strong desire for libraries to function as community hubs. Councillor Hayley Coles, Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture, clarified that the mobile library service, which serves a significant number of people, was never under consideration for removal. Instead, it will be integrated into the community hub model, with new strategies for community hub libraries to be rolled out in the coming months.

Previous Meeting Minutes

The Cabinet formally approved the minutes from the previous Cabinet meeting held on 21 January 2026.