Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 8^th February 2023.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 8^th February 2023 are confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The opportunity is given to members of the public to put questions to Cabinet Members. A question may be rejected if it:

(i)         Is not about a matter for which the local authority has responsibility or influence; or

(ii)        Is illegal, improper, defamatory, frivolous or offensive; or

(iii)    Is substantially the same as a question which has been put at a meeting of the Council, Cabinet or Committee in the past 6 months; or

(iv)   Requires the disclosure of confidential or exempt information; or

(v)    Is related to confidential staffing matters; or

(vi)   Is relating to the personal affairs or conduct of individual Members or Officers.

To ask a question at this meeting, please submit it to democratic.services@gloucester.gov.uk by 12 noon on Friday 3^rd March 2023 or telephone 01452 396203 for support.

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 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.

Questions must be submitted to democratic.services@gloucester.gov.uk by 12 noon on Friday 3^rd March 2023. Responses to questions will be published in an addendum to the agenda by 12 noon on the day of the Cabinet Meeting.

There were no questions to the Leader or Cabinet Members.

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure providing an overview of progress made against the Cultural Strategy for the period April 2022 to March 2023.

RESOLVED that the report is accepted and progress against the objectives and actions is noted.

Cabinet considered the report of the Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure that provided an overview of progress made against the Cultural Strategy for the period April 2022 to March 2023.

The Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure reminded Members that the Cultural Strategy was not just for the Council but for the whole city including the Gloucester Culture Trust and other organisations.  He expressed his pleasure in the positive delivery report (Appendix 1) as every single area had been improved upon, and that the events staged had become more diverse and numerous.  The Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure advised that the progress would continue with the National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) status awards (3.9 Objective 7) which would bring a slight shift towards young people. He drew Members’ attention to the improvements revealed in the resident’s survey (4.2) and commented that these demonstrated that people were noticing that Gloucester is on the up.

The Cabinet Member for Environment emphasised the huge amount of both internal and external investment being brought in to enable cultural events across the city and that there were opportunities for people to get involved wherever he looked.

RESOLVED that the report is accepted and progress against the objectives and actions 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 3 of 2022/23.

RESOLVED that the Quarter 3 Performance Report 2022/23 at Appendix 1 of 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 3 of 2022/23.

The Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources underlined some of the improving and declining trends.  She noted that the report had been considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (27 February 2023 Minute 104).

The Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure pointed to the rate of increase in Museum of Gloucester/Tourist Information Centre footfall (Appendix 1 CD & VE-1).  He commented that this reflected the shift towards people accessing tourist information online and drew Members’ attention to the increase in visitors to visitgloucester.co.uk (Appendix 1 TM-6).  The Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Strategy placed the increase in homelessness preventions (Appendix H-4) within the context of the vital work done by the Housing Team to help residents.  She took the opportunity to encourage people finding difficulty with their rent to contact the team so that they can find ways to assist.

RESOLVED that the Quarter 3 Performance Report 2022/23 at Appendix 1 of the report is noted.

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources seeking Members to recommend that Council approves the Capital Strategy 2023-24.

RECOMMENDED that the Capital Strategy be approved.

Cabinet considered the report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources that sought Members to recommend that Council approves the Capital Strategy 2023-24.

The Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources outlined the background to the report (3.1, 5.1).  She reminded Members that this strategy necessarily overlapped various other strategies and plans in order to serve the objectives of the Council.

RECOMMENDED that the Capital Strategy be approved.

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources seeking that Members recommend that Council approves the Treasury Management Strategy and the prudential indicators, and notes the Treasury activities.

RECOMMENDED that the Treasury Management Strategy be approved.

Cabinet considered the report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources that sought Members to recommend that Council approves the Treasury Management Strategy and the prudential indicators, and notes the Treasury activities.

The Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources highlighted the key features of the report including the recommendation to continue to operate within an under borrowed position (3.2).  She advised that the strategy enabled flexibility for either debt rescheduling or new long term fixed rate borrowing while allowing the Council to benefit from lower interest rates on temporary borrowing. 

The Cabinet Member for Environment expressed his gratitude to the Director of Policy and Resources and the Financial Services Manager for their detailed explanation of the Strategy and the Council’s position to Members before the meeting.  The Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Strategy added her own thanks and informed Members that she had found that session to have been highly useful.

RECOMMENDED that the Treasury Management Strategy be approved.

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources seeking Members to recommend that Council approves the Council’s Pay Policy Statement for 2023/24.

RECOMMENDED that the Pay Policy Statement for 2023/24 attached as Appendix 1 of the report be approved.

Cabinet considered the report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources that sought Members to recommend that Council approves the Council’s Pay Policy Statement for 2023/24.

The Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources summarised the report and drew Members’ attention to the details of the statement in the appendix.

RECOMMENDED that the Pay Policy Statement for 2023/24 attached as Appendix 1 of the report be approved.

RESOLVED that 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 Paragraph (3) of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 as amended.

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources, and the Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods seeking to secure approval to enter into a one year lease for Gloucester Feed the Hungry Community Interest Company to continue their work in the local community as a community coffee shop, food bank and donation centre for the homeless and vulnerable within the City.

Please note that Appendix 1 is exempt from disclosure to the press and public by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 as amended (information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person including the authority holding that information). If Members wish to discuss Appendix 1 Cabinet will first need to consider resolving to exclude the press and public before doing so.

RESOLVED that:

(1)       delegated authority is granted for the Investment Manager, in consultation with the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods to complete a one year lease for 24 The Oxbode for Gloucester Feed the Hungry CIC

(2)       it is noted that the lease will have mutual provisions for breaking the lease giving not less than 3 months’ notice on either side.

Cabinet considered the report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources, and the Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods that sought to secure approval to enter into a one-year lease for Gloucester Feed the Hungry Community Interest Company (CIC) to continue their work in the local community as a community coffee shop, food bank and donation centre for the homeless and vulnerable within the City.

RESOLVED that:

(1)       delegated authority is granted for the Investment Manager, in consultation with the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods to complete a one year lease for 24 The Oxbode for Gloucester Feed the Hungry CIC

(2)       it is noted that the lease will have mutual provisions for breaking the lease giving not less than 3 months’ notice on either side.