Agenda and minutes

The Cabinet received an update on the new One Council approach to communication and engagement with residents. It was noted that, alongside delivering services in a challenging financial environment, the Council was seeking to improve how it communicated, listened to and involved residents in decision-making. The approach would focus on clearer and more consistent communication, highlighting service achievements and challenges, and demonstrating how the Council worked collectively to support communities. Members were also informed of the launch of Community Voices, a new ongoing resident engagement programme that would enable residents to participate in consultations, surveys and community assemblies on key issues such as the budget, local plan, waste and recycling services. The initiative aimed to ensure that residents’ views were heard at an earlier stage and help shape future decisions, strengthening transparency, trust and community involvement. Members were encouraged to promote participation in Community Voices.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors D Clark and R Vernon.

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests, other registerable interests, and non-registerable interests in any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 4 June 2026.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 4 June 2026 be agreed as an accurate record and signed by the Chair.

In accordance with the Cabinet Procedure Rules, a total period of 15 minutes is allocated for members of the public to put questions to Cabinet on any matter relating to this agenda. Each member of the public will be allowed up to two minutes each to speak, and the Chair will have discretion to vary this where they consider it appropriate.

Members of the public wishing to speak are required to provide notice of this at least three clear working days’ in advance of the meeting.

There were no public speakers.

A period of 15 minutes is allocated for questions to be put to Cabinet Members by Members of the Council on matters relating to this agenda. A maximum period of two minutes will be allowed for each Member wishing to ask a question. The Chair will have discretion to vary this requirement where they consider it appropriate. Members wishing to ask a question at the meeting should provide 3 clear working days’ notice.

Councillor M Stewart, as a Ward Member for Adlington, asked a question regarding Item 11, the proposed sale of land at Adlington Industrial Estate. Referring to the report and accompanying plans, he sought clarification on the proposed access arrangements to the site from the Poynton Relief Road, specifically how vehicles would exit the site and rejoin the road network. He asked whether traffic would be directed via the B5092 and the southern roundabout on the Poynton Relief Road or whether a new roundabout was proposed. Councillor Stewart highlighted concerns raised by residents in Poynton that additional development and associated highway infrastructure could increase congestion on the Poynton Relief Road, undermining its intended purpose as a relief route and potentially leading to increased traffic through Poynton village centre, with consequent impacts on local roads and public realm improvements.

In response, Councillor M Warren stated that the design and specification of the site access/egress to the Poynton Relief Road had not yet been formally agreed.  The purchaser would engage with the Local Planning Authority through a pre-application submission in order to establish the appropriate access arrangements, which would ultimately be determined as part of that process. The purchaser had indicated that the proposed access was unlikely to differ materially from the previously suggested ‘ghost island T-junction’ arrangement put forward by Cheshire East Highways. 

The Leader confirmed that Members who had not registered to speak within the required 3 clear working days’ would receive a written response to questions they had submitted.

To consider a report on the Medium-Term Financial Strategy.

Cabinet considered the report setting out the baseline financial assumptions, key principles and timetable to support the development of the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS).

Members noted the ongoing financial challenges facing the Council, including a forecasted funding shortfall of £15.271m for 2027/28 and continued reliance on savings, transformation activity and strong budget management to achieve financial sustainability and reduce dependence on Exceptional Financial Support.

RESOLVED (unanimously):

That the Cabinet

1.    Note the predicted shortfall for 2027/28 and the requirement to close the financial gap to remove the Council from a reliance on Exceptional Financial Support.

2.    Note the budget assumptions underpinning the Medium-Term Financial Strategy for 2027/28 - 2031/32, for planning purposes (Table 2 of the report).

3.    Note the high level MTFS timeline for setting the 2027/28 budget as set out in Table 3 of the report.

4.    Approve the approach for residents and stakeholder engagement beginning in August 2026.

To consider the Final Outturn for 2025-26.

Cabinet considered the report on the Council’s final financial outturn for 2025/26, which set out the overall revenue, capital, reserves and Dedicated Schools Grant position.

Members noted that the Council had delivered a balanced outturn position through the use of Exceptional Financial Support, but that a net revenue overspend of £18.510m represented an ongoing financial challenge.

RESOLVED (unanimously):

That the Cabinet

1.    Note the factors leading to a Net Revenue Overspend of £18.510m against a revised budget of £422.175m (4.4% variance).

2.    Note the in-year forecast capital spending of £122.180m against an original capital budget (at out-turn) of £208.491m (41.4% variance).

3.    Approve the Supplementary Revenue Grant allocation above £500,000 up to and including £1,000,000 as per Annex 1, Section 3, Table 1 of the report.

4.    Recommend to Council to approve the Supplementary Revenue Grant allocations over £1,000,000 as per Annex 1, Section 3, Table 1 of the report.

5.    Note the approved Capital Virements up to £250,000 as per Annex 1, Section 4, Table 3a of the report.

6.    Note the Capital Virements above £250,000 up to £500,000 to be approved in accordance with the Council’s Constitution as per Annex 1, Section 4, Table 3b of the report.

7.    Approve the Capital Virements in excess of £500,000 up to £5,000,000 as per Annex 1, Section 4, Table 3c of the report.

8.    Note the Supplementary Capital Estimates up to £100,000 as per Annex 1, Section 4, Table 4a of the report.

9.    Note the Supplementary Capital Estimates above £100,000 up to £500,000 to be approved in accordance with the Council’s Constitution as per Annex 1, Section 4, Table 4b of the report.

10. Approve the Supplementary Capital Estimates above £500,000 up to £1,000,000 as per Annex 1, Section 4, Table 4c of the report.

11. Recommend to Council to approve the Supplementary Capital Estimates over £1,000,000 as per Annex 1, Section 4, Table 4d of the report.

12. Note the Capital Budget Reductions as per Annex 1, Section 4, Table 5 of the report.

13. Approve the Reserves in Annex 1, Section 5, and note the available reserves.

14. Approve the transfer of the final combined 2025/26 balance of £3.259m from Transformation Reserves to the General Fund balance.

To consider the report on the Waste Strategy and Residual Waste Disposal Contract.

Cabinet considered the report on the future Waste Strategy and the procurement of a new residual waste disposal contract. Members noted the need to review and update the Council’s approach in light of national policy changes, including recycling targets and new legislative requirements, and the importance of securing a cost-effective, resilient and sustainable disposal solution beyond the current contract.

RESOLVED (unanimously):

That the Cabinet

1.    Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Place in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Sustainability and Waste Management to:

a.    Take all necessary actions to undertake the strategic commissioning exercise.

b.    Take all necessary actions including engaging specialist legal, financial and technical support to reprocure the municipal waste disposal contract to provide continuity of access of suitable disposal facilities as part of the Council’s duty as the Waste Disposal Authority.

c.     Take all necessary actions to produce a revised Waste Strategy to 2035 including a detailed waste compositional analysis to provide up to date information on waste and recycling performance to date and carryout any required consultation.

To consider the report on the Asset Management Strategy.

Cabinet considered a report on the Asset Management Strategy for 2026–27, noting its alignment with the Council’s Transformation Plan and the adoption of a corporate landlord approach to ensure more efficient and effective use of the Council’s assets.

Cabinet welcomed the report, and recognised the scale of the Council’s property portfolio and the importance of rationalisation, disposal and improved management to support service delivery and financial sustainability, and endorsed the strategy to guide future asset management activity.

RESOLVED (unanimously):

That the Cabinet

1.    Endorse the proposed Asset Management Strategy 2026-27 and the approach to a whole council ‘service driven, property enabled’ Corporate Landlord, as a key enabler for our transformation.

2.    Delegate authority to Executive Director for Place, in consultation with the appropriate Cabinet Member(s), to review and update the Corporate Landlord policies to respond to changes in guidance and to ensure best practice.

3.    Delegate authority to Executive Director for Place, in consultation with the appropriate Cabinet Member, to develop and implement any required rationalisation and co-location opportunities to support any service transformation and the Corporate Landlord approach.

To consider the report on the disposal of land adjacent to Adlington Business Park, Adlington.

Cabinet considered the report on the proposed disposal of land at Adlington Business Park, noting the outcome of the marketing exercise and that a preferred bidder had been identified following a competitive process. Members acknowledged that the disposal would deliver a significant capital receipt and support the delivery of employment development in line with the Local Plan.

RESOLVED (unanimously):

That the Cabinet

1. Delegate authority to the Executive Director Place in consultation with the relevant Cabinet Member to dispose of the Site on terms and conditions to be agreed in consultation with the Director of Law and Governance and the Executive Director of Resources (S151).

2. Delegate authority to the Executive Director Place, in consultation with the Director of Law and Governance and the Executive Director of Resources (S151); to complete all legal documentation required to complete the disposal of the site.