The Cabinet of Derbyshire County Council met on Thursday 9 April 2026, approving several key strategies and funding allocations. Decisions included the adoption of a new Property Asset Management Strategy, the approval of a Cloud Strategy and Migration Programme, and the acceptance of significant government funding for early years development.

Best Start in Life Local Plan and Additional Funding for Best Start Family Hubs Implementation

The Cabinet approved Derbyshire's Best Start in Life Local Plan and accepted £6.753 million in government funding for the implementation of Best Start Family Hubs. This plan aims to improve outcomes for children from conception to the end of the Reception Year, aligning with the national strategy to ensure children's backgrounds do not determine their future success. The funding will be distributed over three years to support various programme strands, including parenting support and home learning environments. The plan prioritises improving early years provision, developing a network of family hubs, creating a system-wide early years strategy, and increasing support for parents. Councillor Stephen Redfern, Cabinet Member for SEND and Education, highlighted that while no formal public consultation was conducted, the plan was developed based on national direction, local evidence, and engagement with partners.

Update on the Cloud Strategy and Cloud Migration Programme

The Cabinet approved the use of £0.95 million in capital funds to procure a cloud implementation partner to build the council's cloud infrastructure and migrate remaining council applications and data from the physical datacentre at County Hall to Microsoft Azure Cloud. This decision progresses the council's Cloud Strategy, approved in 2024, which aims to transition to a cloud-first approach over five years. The migration is deemed critical to address risks associated with an aging on-premise data centre, including potential hardware failure, cyber threats, and a lack of disaster recovery capabilities. Councillor Stephen Reed, Cabinet Member for Business Services, emphasised the benefits of cloud migration in terms of flexibility, security, and availability.

Property Asset Management Strategy 2026-2029

The Cabinet approved the Property Asset Management Strategy 2026–2029, endorsing the implementation of the Corporate Landlord model and associated governance arrangements. This strategy outlines the council's approach to managing its land and property assets to optimise their use, ensure affordability, and align with service delivery needs and broader council priorities. The strategy aims to ensure the council has the right buildings in the right place, create flexible spaces, maximise value for money, strengthen partnerships, and future-proof the estate. Councillor Stephen Reed noted that the shift to a centralised Corporate Landlord model, managed by property professionals, was driven by the need for greater scrutiny and accountability, addressing past inefficiencies.

Children's Services Section 106 Allocations

The Cabinet noted the receipt of Section 106 developer contributions and approved their allocation to various projects within Children's Services, as detailed in Appendix 2 of the report. These contributions, totalling £392,181.11, will fund new school projects and repay the Children's Services Capital budget. Councillor Simon Mabbott, Cabinet Member for SEND and Education, stated that these allocations would ensure sufficient school places are available to accommodate housing growth. In response to a question about the cancelled Infinity Park Spencer Academy, Councillor Mabbott confirmed that the council remains committed to delivering a new secondary school in the area and is exploring alternative funding mechanisms and delivery models.

Consultation on the Proposal to Close Glossop Household Waste Recycling Centre

The Cabinet approved the commencement of a public consultation regarding the potential closure of Glossop Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) as part of the 2026-27 budget setting process. The report highlighted that Glossop HWRC is the least-used site in the county, with significant operational costs and a need for substantial capital investment. Closing the site is projected to deliver an annual saving of £0.360 million. Councillor Carol Wood, Cabinet Member for Environment, stated that the consultation is a legal requirement and will gather residents' views on the proposal and potential alternative cost-saving measures.

Capital Budget Monitoring and Forecast as at Quarter 3

The Cabinet noted the current position on the monitoring of Capital schemes, as presented in the report. The Capital Programme forecast indicated an overall underspend of £10.002 million across the life of the programme. The report detailed projected underspends within Adult Social Care & Health, Children's Services, Corporate Services & Transformation, and Place Projects, with specific explanations for variances in major schemes. Councillor John Lawson, Cabinet Member for Finance and Efficiency, confirmed that the council is complying with financial regulations by providing regular updates on capital expenditure.

Modification of the Contract PLACE703ET Reception and Treatment of Garden Waste from Erewash, South Derbyshire and Derbyshire Dales

The Cabinet approved recommendations from a not-for-publication report concerning the modification of Contract PLACE703ET. This modification will provide for an additional reception point for garden waste within the administrative areas of Derbyshire Dales District Council and Derby City Council.

Modification of the Agreement for Provision of Household Waste Recycling Centre Management Services and the Supply of Goods (ETE079)

The Cabinet approved recommendations from a not-for-publication report regarding the modification of the Agreement for Provision of Household Waste Recycling Centre Management Services and the Supply of Goods (ETE079). Authority was also delegated to the Assistant Director – Resources and Waste to finalise the terms of these changes.

Agenda for Change Policy and Payments for 26/27

The Cabinet approved recommendations from a not-for-publication report concerning the Agenda for Change policy and payments for 2026/27. This included approval for recurrent pay uplifts and authorisation for the Director of Public Health to approve and transact all 2026/27 Agenda for Change pay uplifts.