Cabinet - 24 September 2025

The Cabinet resolved that the minutes of the 30 July 2025 meeting were correctly recorded and authorised for signature by the Chairman. No declarations of interest were made. The Leader thanked Ms Kate Shields for her service as Chief Executive of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board and wished her well on her departure.

In response to the approaching winter, the Leader highlighted the Household Support Fund and the Council’s community‑partner network as sources of assistance for residents facing high energy costs, unsafe homes or other essential needs. Members were asked to circulate the “Winter Wellbeing” information on the Council website. The Leader also announced that, from September 2026, Cornwall will automatically enrol eligible families in the Free School Meals programme, a change expected to benefit up to 1 800 children, return roughly £900 000 to family budgets each year and generate an additional £2 million of Pupil Premium funding at an estimated cost of just over £100 000 annually.

A public question was raised by Mr B Egerton concerning alleged over‑charging on bus “tap‑and‑cap” fares. The Portfolio Holder for Transport confirmed that a technical review had identified and resolved the zoning error that affected a small proportion of journeys (0.019 %). Most refunds have been issued; a minority remain under review. The holder thanked Mr Egerton for his persistence and noted that the issue will continue to be monitored.

The Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Resources briefed Cabinet on the current financial outlook. With delayed guidance from the Chancellor’s Spending Review and the Fairer Funding Review, the Council anticipates a need for recurrent savings of £45 million‑£70 million to achieve a balanced three‑year budget for 2026/27. Strategic principles were reaffirmed to prioritise visible improvements, place‑based service delivery and value‑for‑money spending. The Medium‑Term Financial Plan is projected to deliver 88 % of its savings target, and the Capital Programme is slightly underspent due to the removal of the Camelford Bypass project.

The Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Public Health presented the Director of Public Health’s Annual Report on child poverty, which identified over 27 000 children living in relative poverty and called for coordinated action across housing, transport, health, education and other sectors. The report will inform the newly established Babies, Children and Young People Poverty Action Group and support implementation of the national Child Poverty Strategy. Finally, the Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care and Health Partners secured Cabinet approval to progress a tender for specialist residential provision for working‑age adults with complex needs, outlining a cost‑neutral, eight‑year contract that returns commissioning control to the Council and includes review points after two and three years.