Cambridgeshire County Council is preparing for a new round of investments in children’s services after the Children and Young People Committee reviewed the draft 2026-27 business plan and budget. The proposals, supported by a majority of committee members on 20 January, aim to continue funding essential social care, fostering and adoption services, as well as education and transport provision for young people across the county.
The draft plan includes targeted funding increases, such as £10.4 million for children entering care, £3.8 million to support home-to-school transport, and £406,000 to boost direct payment packages for children and young people with disabilities. Other priorities include reducing reliance on agency social workers, improving access to benefits for families as the Household Support Fund ends, and delivering a three-year Travel to Learn programme to promote safe, independent travel for learners.
The draft business plan and budget have been examined by multiple committees and will continue through the council’s consultation process. Feedback from residents, town and parish councils, trade unions, and local businesses will be considered alongside committee recommendations before the Strategy, Resources and Performance Committee meets on 29 January to finalise proposals for Full Council debate on 10 February.
The council anticipates a challenging financial year, with projected increases in costs driven by a growing population and higher demand for children’s and adult social care. Social care will continue to account for nearly two-thirds of spending, alongside commitments to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) services, home-to-school transport, and highways maintenance. Despite careful planning, the council faces a remaining £6.4 million budget gap for 2026-27.
Cllr Edna Murphy, Chair of the Children and Young People Committee, emphasised the council’s approach: “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.
“A majority of the budgeted spending discussed today is for services that the council has a statutory duty to provide. Nonetheless, I’m pleased that we continue to look beyond our statutory duty wherever possible, operating with a whole family approach so that interventions are considered holistically across the needs of the household.”
Cllr Murphy added that the committee supports proposals that balance cost reduction with targeted investment in prevention-focused services. She highlighted ongoing financial pressures, including a national lack of funding for SEND services, which could add an additional £22 million in challenges for the council in 2026-27.
The committee has also recommended that the council explore whether extra funding could help families transition from the ending Household Support Fund to the Government’s new Crisis and Resilience Fund.
Residents can view papers from the committee meeting and watch the session on Cambridgeshire County Council’s website and YouTube channel. The council plans to invest a total of £1.2 billion in services across the county next year, aiming to deliver value for money while supporting children, young people, and families through targeted interventions and ongoing statutory services.
