Draft business plan and budget proposals that would see continued investment in household recycling centres, flood protection systems and the council’s renewable energy schemes were scrutinised and unanimously supported by Environment and Green Investment committee members – who today (Wednesday, 21 January) put forward their views for consideration by the Strategy, Resources and Performance committee on 29 January.
The Environment and Green Investment committee has a significant role in overseeing the council’s role in enhancing and protecting the local environment and delivery of the county’s waste disposal arrangements. All of these will support the achievement of the council’s proposed ambition to support a green and sustainable county.
This is why the council has included the following in the draft business plan:
- £4.28m of capital investment is included for the new upgrades for the Household Recycling Centres due to be built at March and Milton during 2026/27.
- £53.9M of continued investment in services including waste disposal, flood risk management, nature and biodiversity management, management of existing renewable energy schemes, supporting economic growth, alongside the support of the council’s ambitions relating to carbon reduction.
At its meeting in December, members of the Strategy, Resources and Performance Committee began debating the draft business plan and budget. This plan has now been scrutinised by the Environment and Green Investment committee.
The feedback from all the council’s January policy and service committees, as well as feedback from our online public consultation and the views of town and parish councils, other local and public authorities, business representatives and trade unions will be debated again by the Strategy, Resources and Performance committee when it meets at the end of January. This committee will then put forward the final draft business plan and budget for debate and decision at the Full Council meeting on 10 February.
Cambridgeshire County Council’s 2026-27 business plan and budget will identify where to spend £1.2billion to deliver services and support for residents and communities across the county.
Next year, there is a projected significant increase in costs due to a growing population and increasing demands – particularly in children’s and adults’ social care. Nearly two thirds of our spending goes towards social care, while other major areas of spending include Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), home to school transport, and highways maintenance.
For 2026/27, we have a remaining budget gap of £6.4million that we need to address. That means we must continue to make difficult choices about where we can generate additional income, as well as where we invest and where we make savings.
Councillor Ros Hathorn, Chair of the Environment and Green Investment Committee at Cambridgeshire County Council, said: “We are making sure the council stays financially sustainable by taking a prudent, long-term approach to business and budget planning that is informed by our residents’ priorities, so we can keep investing in and prioritising core services.
“The increasing financial challenges also means we need to get the most out of every pound we spend whilst delivering services across the county.
“However, it’s still really important that we continue our journey to a green and sustainable Cambridgeshire. We know from our Quality of Life survey that residents are concerned about climate and environment issues. By prioritising investment in services and infrastructure such as our household recycling centres and carbon reduction projects we are responding to these concerns and putting further steps in place to mitigate against the impacts of climate change on our county.
“Government has recognised it needs to respond to the SEND crisis nationally but has yet to share what that will mean for councils, schools or parents and carers. The lack of Government funding for these vital public services means that for 2026/27 the council will face a further £22 million in financial challenges than were identified in February 2025. That means further and even more difficult decisions about how to allocate resources and balance its budget will be required.
“We are committed to ensuring the council delivers value for money in the services it provides. That is why this committee supports the proposals today.”
The views of all policy and service committees, the views of residents, partners and business representatives, and the details from the Local Government Finance Settlement will be put before the Strategy, Resources & Performance Committee on 29 January so it can make a final recommendation on the business plan and budget to Full Council, which meets to debate and agree this plan on 10 February 2026.
More information on the council’s proposals for the coming year: Council considers next stage for the budget proposals and refreshed vision
You can read the papers from today’s committee meeting on our website and rewatch the meeting on our YouTube channel.
