Agenda item

Council Plan Extension – Priorities and Actions for 2020/21

To consider the report of the Leader of the Council seeking approval for the proposed actions and priorities that are set out for the one year Council Plan extension in 2020-2021.

 

Attached for information: the recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in respect of the above.

Minutes:

17.1    Councillor Cook moved and Councillor Watkins seconded the motion.

 

17.2    Councillor Cook outlined the recommendations and informed Members that its purpose was to continue projects already in progress as well initiate new ones. He highlighted some of the higher priority projects including the delivery of new homes, the establishment of a climate change strategy as well as a social value policy and the delivery of a successful festival and events programme. Councillor Cook also indicated that he would be amenable to discussing accepting parts of the amendment tabled by Councillor Hilton.

 

17.3    Councillor Hilton moved and Councillor Field seconded the following amendment:

 

          Add these three clauses

 

·       Start and finish a stock condition survey to determine the number of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) in the following wards, which are most affected by such conversions namely, Kingsholm & Wotton, Barton & Tredworth, Moreland and Westgate. The purpose to gather data to consider introducing an Article 4 Direction to require planning permission for the conversions of family homes into HMOs for six persons or less.

·       Implement the council's unanimous decision to approve the motion to acquire 67/69 London Road for a housing regeneration project as approved unanimously by members on 21st May 2018.

·       Work with Gloucestershire County Council to improve facilities in Gloucester for pedestrians and cyclists, with the aim of encouraging a modal shift towards active travel, namely cycling and walking.

 

Change these clauses to read

 

3.    Develop sustainable programme for Kings Square, and improved coordination of a low- carbon impact festivals and events programme across the City that is diverse, inclusive and innovative.

 

4.    Seek clarity on the process and timescales for City of Culture, but accept the recommendation of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which agreed overwhelmingly that no further work should be carried out on a bid during the life of this council. and explore whether future candidate city status would complement and help drive the City’s wider ambitions for culture, events and festivals, history and heritage, social and capital investment, digital and climate action.

 

17.4    Councillor Stephens moved and Councillor Pullen seconded the following amendment to the amendment tabled by Councillor Hilton:

 

 

·       Start and finish a stock condition survey to determine the number of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) in the following wards, which are most affected by such conversions namely, Kingsholm & Wotton, Barton & Tredworth, Moreland and Westgate. The purpose to gather data to consider introducing an Article 4 Direction to require planning permission for the conversions of family homes into HMOs for six persons or less.

·       Implement the council's unanimous decision to approve the motion to acquire 67/69 London Road for a housing regeneration project as approved unanimously by members on 21st May 2018.

Reaffirms the Council’s commitment to the redevelopment of 67 – 69 London Road for a housing regeneration project as listed in the draft City Plan. It further commits to:        

i)   Obtaining an independent valuation as to the site value

ii)  Seek Counsel’s opinion as to the likely success of any application for a Compulsory Purchase Order to secure the site; and

iii) The likely cost of any such order

iv) That the above be presented to Cabinet as soon as is practicably possible

·       Work with Gloucestershire County Council to improve facilities in Gloucester for pedestrians and cyclists, with the aim of encouraging a modal shift towards active travel, namely cycling and walking.

 

Change these clauses to read

 

5.    Develop sustainable programme for Kings Square, and improved coordination of a low- carbon impact festivals and events programme across the City that is diverse, inclusive and innovative.

 

6.    Seek clarity on the process and timescales for City of Culture, but accept the recommendation of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which agreed overwhelmingly that no further work should be carried out on a bid during the life of this council.

 

 

17.5    Councillor Hilton accepted the amendment to the amendment.

 

17.6    Councillor Hilton stated his belief that research should be done to examine the possibility of needing permission for any conversions of properties to Homes in Multiple Occupation. He further stated that the part of amendment in relation to acquiring 67-69 London Road was a request that this be revisited. Councillor Hilton also drew to Members’ attention that local authorities had been awarded £250m to improve the take up of walking and cycling and that this should be reflected in the Council Plan.

 

17.7    Councillor Field expressed his thanks to Councillor Morgan for the invitation to join the cultural committee and that it was positive to have cross party representation alongside Councillor Hampson. With regard to the potential City of Culture bid, he stated that he had spoken with colleagues elsewhere who had been involved in successful bids. Following these discussions, he suggested the priority should be establishing a good programme of events and then perhaps consider a bid.

 

17.8    Councillor Cook stated that he did not accept the amendment in its entirety but would accept:

 

·       Work with Gloucestershire County Council to improve facilities in Gloucester for pedestrians and cyclists, with the aim of encouraging a modal shift towards active travel, namely cycling and walking.

 

AND

 

 

          5. Develop sustainable programme for Kings Square, and improved coordination of a low- carbon impact festivals and events programme across the City that is diverse, inclusive and innovative.

 

17.9    Councillor Gravells stated, in relation to the bringing forward the count of HMOs, that a count had always been planned for 2021 and that the budget to do it now was not there.

 

17.10  With regard to 67-69 London Road, Councillor Cook noted that the motion to which Councillor Hilton had referred asked for the acquisition to be considered which had been done.

 

17.11  Councillor Morgan stated that he was opposed to the amendment regarding a City of Culture bid and that there were no plans to use significant amounts of officer time. He stated that if the Council’s partners in the culture sector believed that Gloucester would not consider a bid at all, it may adversely affect organising an appealing cultural offer.

 

17.12  Councillor Stephens suggested that background work be conducted for a City of Culture bid to examine the best way forward. He stated that Members had been told that if there was not cross party support there would not be a bid. He further stated that such support did not currently exist and, as such, a bid should not be progressed.

 

17.13  In summing up, Councillor Cook stated that there would be costs for seeking Counsel’s opinion in relation to examining the prospect of success in a Compulsory Purchase Order application. With regard to the City of Culture amendment, he stated that if the Council were to rule out a bid entirely, it may dissuade potential funders from supporting Gloucester’s festival and events offer.

 

17.14  The following part of the amendment was put to the vote and was lost:

 

          Start and finish a stock condition survey to determine the number of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) in the following wards, which are most affected by such conversions namely, Kingsholm & Wotton, Barton & Tredworth, Moreland and Westgate. The purpose to gather data to consider introducing an Article 4 Direction to require planning permission for the conversions of family homes into HMOs for six persons or less.

 

17.15  The following part to the amendment was put to the vote and was lost:

 

          Reaffirms the Council’s commitment to the redevelopment of 67 – 69 London Road for a housing regeneration project as listed in the draft City Plan. It further commits to:        

i)        Obtaining an independent valuation as to the site value

ii)        Seek Counsel’s opinion as to the likely success of any application for a Compulsory Purchase Order to secure the site; and

iii)       The likely cost of any such order

iv)       That the above be presented to Cabinet as soon as is practicably possible

 

17.16  The following part to the amendment was voted on and was lost:

 

Seek clarity on the process and timescales for City of Culture, but accept the recommendation of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which agreed overwhelmingly that no further work should be carried out on a bid during the life of this council.

 

17.17  Councillor Stephens moved and Councillor Coole seconded the following amendment:

 

          Priority 3 (13) in the Council Plan Extension Priorities for 2020/21 be amended to read: “work with partners to improve the health and wellbeing of our population, in particular through the development of the Blackbridge site and other community initiatives.

 

17.18  Councillor Cook stated that he did not accept the amendment.

 

17.19  The amendment was put to the vote and was lost.

 

17.20  RESOLVED that:- the one year extension to the Council Plan and the priorities and actions outlined in Appendix A as amended to add: •        

 

Work with Gloucestershire County Council to improve facilities in Gloucester for pedestrians and cyclists, with the aim of encouraging a modal shift towards active travel, namely cycling and walking.

 

AND

 

Develop sustainable programme for Kings Square, and improved coordination of a low- carbon impact festivals and events programme across the City that is diverse, inclusive and innovative.

be approved.

 

         

 

 

Supporting documents: