The Cabinet of Leicestershire County Council met on Tuesday 28 April 2026 to discuss a range of important issues, including the future of the council's rural estate, school term dates, and a new fund to support residents in crisis. Key decisions were made regarding the approval of a new Rural Estate Strategy, the principle of a joint Minerals and Waste Local Plan, and the delivery plan for the Crisis and Resilience Fund.

Rural Estate Strategy 2026-2036 Approved

The Cabinet approved the Investing in Leicestershire Programme (IiLP) Rural Estate Strategy 2026-2036. This 10-year strategy aims to create a rural estate that supports thriving rural businesses, the local economy, and communities, while also contributing to the Council's strategic objectives and delivering financial benefits. The strategy outlines ambitions to retain a core estate of farms suitable for new entrants and existing tenants, realise the estate's potential for financial benefits to support services, increase its contribution to the Council's Strategic Plan, and strengthen partnerships.

The strategy acknowledges opportunities such as leveraging the Council's landowner position, restructuring estate clusters, improving buildings, and generating income from biodiversity credits. Challenges include managing market volatility for tenants, high compliance and maintenance costs, and balancing competing priorities like development and environmental land management. The plan proposes a restructuring of the estate to create more sustainable farm units, with a focus on retaining holdings that deliver market returns or have development and biodiversity potential. A rolling five-year Financial Strategy will be produced annually to manage disposals, acquisitions, capital investment, and revenue budgets. The Director of Corporate Resources, in consultation with the Cabinet Lead Member for Resources and the IiLP Board, will be authorised to approve future estate reorganisation plans, disposals, and investment proposals within delegated authority limits.

Consultation with tenants, farming industry stakeholders, and the public revealed strong support for retaining the rural estate, with a recognition that restructuring and potential land sales would be acceptable if sufficient funds were reinvested in farm improvements and replacement assets. There was also emphasis on the need for the estate to remain viable for both landlord and tenant, supporting new entrants, and contributing to environmental goals such as biodiversity net gain and climate resilience.

Joint Minerals and Waste Local Plan to be Pursued

The Cabinet gave approval in principle for Leicestershire County Council to collaborate with Leicester City Council and Rutland County Council to prepare a joint Minerals and Waste Local Plan (M&WLP). This decision is subject to formal agreement from the other two authorities and the establishment of appropriate governance, resourcing, and cost-sharing arrangements.

The new plan-making system in England requires local authorities to prepare new M&WLPs by the end of 2026, with a strict 30-month timeline for preparation, examination, and adoption. A joint plan is considered a sensible approach due to the strategic nature of minerals and waste, which often cross local authority boundaries. This collaboration is also intended to mitigate risks associated with the upcoming local government reorganisation and its potential impact on future authority boundaries and responsibilities. While joint plan-making presents challenges in coordinating governance and approvals across multiple authorities within the tight timeframe, the benefits of strategic planning at a larger scale and resource sharing are deemed to outweigh these difficulties. A further report detailing the plan timetable, intention to commence, and governance arrangements is expected in autumn 2026.

Crisis and Resilience Fund Delivery Plan Noted

The Cabinet noted the delivery plan and funding allocations for the new Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF), a three-year government grant running from April 2026 to March 2029. This fund replaces previous schemes like the Household Support Fund and Discretionary Housing Payments, with an emphasis on long-term financial resilience.

The CRF aims to provide fast, short-term support for residents facing immediate financial crises, such as for food, fuel, or emergency living costs, with a cash first approach where possible. It will also offer housing-related payments, replacing the Discretionary Housing Payment system, with district councils managing this in Years 1 and 2, and the new unitary authority in Year 3. A significant component of the fund is dedicated to resilience support, offering practical help with debt advice, benefit maximisation, budgeting, and access to affordable credit to prevent future crises. Community coordination will also be a focus, ensuring residents have a clear and simple route to access help.

Leicestershire County Council will receive £16.9 million over three years, fully funded by the government. An additional £222,102 was allocated for Year 1 specifically for households using heating oil. The delivery plan involves establishing a single front door service for crisis applications, with a shift in expenditure focus from crisis payments to resilience support over the three-year period. The Director of Public Health, Law and Governance will be authorised to approve future funding, delivery plans, and monitoring returns. The scheme is designed to be accessible, trauma-informed, and needs-based, with ongoing monitoring and continuous improvement informed by data and engagement.

School Term Dates for Consultation Approved

The Cabinet recommended that the County Council approve a consultation on two potential models for Leicestershire school term and holiday dates for the period autumn 2027 to summer 2032. This decision follows a previous Cabinet meeting where a model impacting the Leicestershire fortnight was not supported. The two proposed models retain the early July finish to the school year, a traditional feature of Leicestershire's term dates. Model 1 retains the historic pattern with a one-week autumn half-term, while Model 2 proposes an earlier return to school in August to accommodate a two-week autumn half-term. The consultation will seek views on these models to inform a recommended pattern for implementation.

Youth Justice Strategic Plan 2026-2027 Approved for Submission

The Cabinet recommended that the County Council approve the Leicestershire Youth Justice Strategic Plan 2026-2027 for submission to the full Council meeting on 13 May 2026. This plan is a statutory requirement linked to the release of the Youth Justice Grant from the Ministry of Justice. The plan adopts a one-year cycle due to anticipated reforms in the youth justice sector. It outlines five key priorities for the coming year: improving education, employment, and training outcomes; strengthening children's health and wellbeing; improving support for victims; strengthening prevention pathways for children at risk of entering the criminal justice system; and ensuring a coordinated response for children at the highest risk of harm, exploitation, and/or serious violence. The plan also emphasises a commitment to reducing disproportionality for groups over-represented in the youth justice system, such as looked-after children and ethnic minority children.

Dates for Council Meetings Agreed

The Cabinet recommended a schedule of dates for County Council meetings for the 2027/28 and 2028/29 municipal years. These dates are set to comply with the Local Government Act 1972 and the Council's Standing Orders. The proposed dates include the annual budget meeting in February and the Annual Meeting in May for both years, along with several other general business meetings throughout the year. It was noted that Local Government Reorganisation might affect this timetable.

Other Matters

No urgent items were raised, and no declarations of interest were made by members regarding the agenda items.