Shropshire Council has approved a new four-year strategy and confirmed a permanent leader following a vote by the Full Council on 14 May 2026. The Corporate Plan 2026-2030 aims to guide the local authority through a period of ongoing financial pressure, while the appointment of Tanya Miles as permanent Chief Executive provides long-term leadership stability.
Councillor Heather Kidd, the first Liberal Democrat to lead Shropshire Council since her party won a majority in the May 2025 elections, described the new plan as being rooted in realism and responsibility. She stated that the council must live within its means while working to build a stronger future for the county and its residents. This new direction follows a challenging year during which the council declared a financial emergency in September 2025 and secured £192.8 million in government loans to help manage its budget.
The council’s financial difficulties have been largely driven by the cost of social care, which accounts for approximately 75% of its total budget. In December 2025, the authority reported a forecast overspend of £53.2 million. To address these pressures, the new plan focuses on six key ambitions: achieving a sustainable financial position, improving road maintenance and transport, ensuring safe communities, supporting health and wellbeing, protecting the environment, and fostering a thriving economy.
Recent service updates include the repair of more than 30,000 potholes across the region’s 3,200-mile road network since May 2025. Additionally, the council has improved its budget monitoring compliance from approximately 40% to over 95% over the past year.
Tanya Miles, who has served as the council’s Interim Chief Executive for the past six months, steps into the permanent role with 28 years of experience within the local authority. Her career began in frontline social work, eventually progressing through children’s services and adult social care before she moved into senior leadership positions.
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