Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 14^th July 2021.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 14^th July 2021 are confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

There were no public questions.

To receive any petitions or deputations provided that no such petition or deputation is in relation to:

·         Matters relating to individual Council Officers, or

·         Matters relating to current or pending legal proceedings

There were no petitions or deputations.

Any Member of the Council may ask the Leader of the Council or any Cabinet Member any question without prior notice, upon:

·       Any matter relating to the Council’s administration

·       Any matter relating to any report of the Cabinet appearing on the summons

·       A matter coming within their portfolio of responsibilities

Only one supplementary question is allowed per question.

There were no questions to the Leader of the Council or Cabinet.

To consider the report of the Leader of the Council seeking membership of the UK100 network – bringing forward the City Council’s net zero carbon commitment by five years, to 2045 – and the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy.

RECOMMENDED to Councilthat:

(1)       Gloucester City Council joins the UK100 Local Authority leaders’ group and international Race to Zero commitment in advance of the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), to be held in the City of Glasgow

(2)       as a condition of UK100 membership, Gloucester City Council bring forward its 2050 net zero target to 2045

(3)       Gloucester City Council becomes a signatory to the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy.

Cabinet considered the report of the Leader of the Council that sought membership of the UK100 network – bringing forward the City Council’s net zero carbon commitment by five years to 2045 – and the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM).

The Leader of the Council reminded Members that Gloucester City Council had declared a Climate Emergency in 2019 (Council 11^th July 2019 minute 21.6). He commented that it made sense to take the proposed actions in advance of the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) commencing 31^st October.  The Leader of the Council outlined both the advantages and commitments of joining the UK100 Network and GCoM.  He emphasised that these would include bringing the net zero carbon emissions target forward from 2050 to 2045 and help demonstrate the Council’s ambition to be at the leading edge of reducing carbon emissions.

The Leader of the Council drew Members’ attention to the recommendation of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (6^th September 2021 minute 25.10) contained in the appendix to the report.  He asked the officers present for reassurance that the information requested regarding the funding models of the UK100 Network and GCoM would be available at the Council Meeting on 23^rd September 2021.  The Climate Change Manager confirmed that it would be.  He presented a summary of the funding models of both organisations and stated that membership would be free of cost.

RECOMMENDED to Councilthat:

(1)       Gloucester City Council joins the UK100 Local Authority leaders’ group and international Race to Zero commitment in advance of the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), to be held in the City of Glasgow

(2)       as a condition of UK100 membership, Gloucester City Council bring forward its 2050 net zero target to 2045

(3)       Gloucester City Council becomes a signatory to the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy.

To consider the report of the Leader of the Council presenting the draft Council Plan 2021-2024 and seeking approval to commence the required consultation process.

RESOLVED that:

(1)    the draft Council Plan 2021-2024 is approved for public consultation

(2)    the timetable for the development and finalisation of the Council Plan 2021-2024 is noted.

Cabinet considered the report of the Leader of the Council that presented the draft Council Plan 2021-2024 and sought approval to commence the required consultation process.

The Leader of the Council highlighted the overarching vision `Building a greener, fairer, better Gloucester’ and outlined the three key priorities (3.4).  He detailed the next steps to be taken (8.1), including public consultation, to progress the plan.  The Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Strategy drew Members’ attention to the recurring theme of addressing inequality throughout the draft plan (appendix 1) and related it to work being done in housing.  He took the opportunity to thank the Head of Communities and her team for their achievements so far which he attributed to innovation and partnership working in the spirit of the draft plan and looked forward to what they will achieve in future.  The Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources expressed gratitude to the Policy and Governance Manager and the Policy and Development Officer as well as the Senior and General Management Teams for their comprehensive efforts to map a coherent journey forward.  She further reminded Members that the draft plan was just an initial outline with the detailed plan to come following the consultation process.  

RESOLVED that:

(1)    the draft Council Plan 2021-2024 is approved for public consultation

(2)    the timetable for the development and finalisation of the Council Plan 2021-2024 is noted.

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources informing Members of the Council’s performance against key measures in Quarter 1 of 2021/22.

RESOLVED that the Quarter 1 Performance Report 2021/22 at Appendix 1 to the report is noted.

Cabinet considered the report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources that informed Members of the Council’s performance against key measures in Quarter 1 of 2021/22.

The Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources summarised both the improving and declining trends revealed in the report and drew Members’ attention to the narratives that provide context to the data.  The Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Strategy stated that it was important to highlight positive performance such as the increasing number of major and minor planning applications decided on time (appendix DM-2, DM-3).  He noted that this improvement had been achieved despite COVID-19 and staff shortages and thanked the Planning Team for their achievement.  The Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure advised that the red performance indicator status of the Museum of Gloucester/Tourist Information Centre (appendix CD & VE-1) reflected difficult circumstances out of the control of officers rather than the effort they had put in which would take time to have significant positive impact.  He further commented that the very positive increase in visitors to the visitgloucester.co.uk website (appendix TM-6) demonstrated how the work of officers had got many more people interested in Gloucester and what is going on in the city. 

The Cabinet Member for Environment commented that the format of the report, and the Pentana software that generated it, made it relatively quick and easy for Members to monitor their portfolios.  The Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Strategy reiterated the usefulness of Pentana in making both Members and officers more effective.

RESOLVED that the Quarter 1 Performance Report 2021/22 at Appendix 1 to the report is noted.

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources seeking Members to note year-end forecasts and financial pressures on the Council during the 1^st Quarter ended 30^th June 2021.

RESOLVED it is noted that:

       (1)               the forecast year-end position for the financial year is currently an increase to the General Fund balance of £173k against a budgeted increase of £123k

       (2)               the details of specific budgetary issues identified by officers and the actions being taken to address those issues

       (3)               the current level of Capital expenditure as shown in Appendix 2 to the report

       (4)               the financial implications of COVID-19 and the level of economic recovery from the effects of the pandemic will continue to be monitored and reported alongside any grant funding provided to mitigate the spend or lost income.

Cabinet considered the report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources that sought Members to note year-end forecasts and financial pressures on the Council during the 1^st Quarter ended 30th June 2021.

The Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources highlighted some of the major headlines from the report including a £173,000 increase to the General Fund balance exceeding the budgeted increase by £50,000 (4.2).  She reminded Members that COVID-19 continued to impact all portfolios including her own.  Although the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources warned that even the smallest percentage change in housing subsidy and benefit payments in a quarter would have a significant impact to the final outturn due to the large sums involved (5.5), she nonetheless expressed cautious optimism at this early stage for the year end position. 

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Strategy noted the £240,000 favourable position in his own portfolio (5.13).  He commented that this was testament to great work going on behind the scenes.  The Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Strategy informed Members that £27,000 had been collected in penalty notices issued to landlords and that more would follow as while the majority of private landlords were good the small number who were not would be pursued.  The Cabinet Member for Environment drew Members’ attention to the favourable position of his portfolio due to increased income from recyclable materials (5.18).  He informed them that just three years ago this income was £350,000 for the whole year compared to the £319,000 for the first five months of 2021-22 alone.  The Cabinet Member for Environment further advised that improved collections and sorting had contributed to a yearend forecast of £209,000 to the favour on the waste contract as opposed to a £500,000 deficit in previous years.  He stated that this would be the first year the waste contract would not have to be topped up, and credited much of this improvement to the work of the former Corporate Director Jonathan Lund.

RESOLVED it is noted that:

       (1)               the forecast year-end position for the financial year is currently an increase to the General Fund balance of £173k against a budgeted increase of £123k

       (2)               the details of specific budgetary issues identified by officers and the actions being taken to address those issues

       (3)               the current level of Capital expenditure as shown in Appendix 2 to the report

       (4)               the financial implications of COVID-19 and the level of economic recovery from the effects of the pandemic will continue to be monitored and reported alongside any grant funding provided to mitigate the spend or lost income.

To RESOLVE that:

the press and public be excluded from the meeting during the following item of business on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public are present during consideration of this item there will be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 as amended.

Agenda Item No. Description of Exempt Information

12       Paragraph 3: Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

RESOLVEDthat the press and public be excluded from the meeting during the following item of business (Agenda item 12) on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public are present during consideration of this item there will be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 as amended.

To consider the report of the Leader of the Council seeking to extend the authority to agree leases at these properties.

RESOLVED as per the recommendations in the confidential report.

Cabinet considered the report of the Leader of the Council that sought to extend the authority to agree leases at these properties.

RESOLVED as per the recommendations in the confidential report.