Decisions

To award the Horsbere Emabankment Stabilisation works to Slimbridge Wetland Plants Ltd trading as JPR Environmental.

Agree to make a direct award for up to £1,720,000 under Negotiated Procedure without prior notice to GARAS, to enable the urgent mobilisation of Gloucestershire’s contribution to the UK’s Afghan Locally-Employed Staff Resettlement Programme.

RESOLVED that:

(1)  it is confirmed that householders continue to be primarily responsible for the protection of their own property;

(2)  it is confirmed that householders at frequent risk from flooding continue to be primarily responsible for being prepared in advance of the onset of flooding;

(3)  it is affirmed that the Council’s primary roles in relation to flood management in the city are:

a)    source of advice to householders to make appropriate provision for protecting their property in the event of a flooding incident and find alternative methods of protection such as flood barriers and other physical measures;

b)    to manage and maintain watercourses within its own ownership;

c)    through production of appropriate strategic planning policies and enforcement of planning conditions related to flood management and

d)    during and after a flooding incident, to provide support as requested/appropriate by the lead flood agencies (Environment Agency and Gloucestershire County Council) in this area;

(4) the policy statement outlined in Appendix 1 of the report is adopted.

RESOLVED that the Strategic Risk Register and the planned risk management arrangements for 2021/22 is noted and endorsed.

RESOLVED that:

(1)  the report is accepted and progress against the objectives of the Cultural Strategy noted

(2)  the City Council submits a bid to the Cultural Investment Fund

(3)  should the eligibility criteria be met, the City Council submits an expression of interest to the Arts Council England Cultural Development Fund round 2 and submit a full bid should the City Council expression of interest be successful

(4)  authority is delegated to the Head of Culture, in consultation with the Section 151 Officer and Council Solicitor, to

a)    submit bids to the Cultural Investment Fund and Arts Council England Cultural Development Fund round 2

b)    enter into any grant agreement required by the grant providers

c)    enter into any necessary agreements with the cultural partners referred to in paragraph 3.3 of the report to facilitate the submission of the applications for funding

(5)  that an expression of interest for Gloucester being UK City of Culture 2025 be submitted by Gloucester Culture Trust is fully endorsed and supported.

RESOLVED that:

                    (1)         it is noted that:

a)         the year-end position for the financial year 2020/21 is a decrease to the General Fund balance of £122k against a budgeted decrease of £48k

b)         the General Fund balance has decreased from £1.501m to £1.379m at the end of 2020/21

c)          that the level of earmarked reserves has increased by £9.738m to £13.771m, including the creation of an £8.929m Section 31 Grant Repayment Reserve

d)         the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on the Council year end position

                    (2)         the transfers to and from earmarked reserves as detailed in the table in section 6 of the report is approved.

RESOLVED as per the recommendations in the confidential report.