Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Council Meeting held on 22 May 2023.

To receive from Members, declarations of the existence of any disclosable pecuniary, or non-pecuniary, interests and the nature of those interests in relation to any agenda item. Please see Agenda Notes.

(a)       Call over (items 9-14) will be read out at the meeting and Members invited to reserve the items for discussion.

(b)       To approve the recommendations of those reports which have not been reserved for discussion.

The opportunity is given to members of the public to put questions to Cabinet Members or Committee Chairs, provided that questions do not contravene the provisions set out Council Procedure Rule 10(2).

To ask a question at this meeting, please submit it to democratic.services@gloucester.gov.uk by 12 noon on Friday 7 July 2023 or telephone 01452 396203 for support.

A period not exceeding three minutes is allowed for the presentation of a petition or deputation 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

To receive announcements from:

a)         The Mayor

b)         Leader of the Council

c)         Members of the Cabinet

d)         Chairs of Committees

e)         Head of Paid Service

a)    Leader and Cabinet Members’ Question Time (45 minutes) 

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 Council’s summons

·       A matter coming within their portfolio of responsibilities

b)    Questions to Chairs of Meetings (15 Minutes) 

Questions and responses will be published at least 24 hours before the meeting. Supplementary questions will be put and answered during the meeting, subject to the relevant time limit.

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Strategy seeking adoption of the Gloucester City Council Local Development Scheme (LDS) 2023-2026, which outlines the timetable for preparing statutory development plan documents in the city.

To consider the report of the Head of Paid Service concerning various proposed changes to the Council’s Constitution.

To consider the report of the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee setting out the work and achievements of the Committee during 2022-23.

Council is asked to note that Councillor Hyman has replaced Councillor Trimnell on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

To consider the report of the Head of Paid Service seeking the designation of a S151 Officer, in accordance with Section 151 of the Local Government Act 1972.

In accordance with Part 4 of the Constitution, Council is asked to note the urgent decision of the Managing Director to purchase Microsoft Licensing for all on premise servers, M365 applications, and security products. The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s agreement was obtained to waive the call in period and the decision record has been circulated and can be viewed on the Council’s website.

1.    PROPOSED BY COUNCILLOR FIELD

“This council

Acknowledges the climate emergency our planet is experiencing

Recognises that loss of insects and pollinators will be disastrous for ecosystems

Believes that planters in built up areas can benefit pollinators, enhance neighbourhoods and be a boon for residents’ mental health.

Council therefore resolves to:

Identify locations for planters in Gloucester City

Work with partners, local businesses, and residents' groups, to pay for and maintain them once installed

Continue to identify and maintain wildflower sites

Speak to the county council and Stagecoach about installing ‘Bee Stops’ at some bus stops in the city

Encourage other ideas to support pollinator planting.”

2.    PROPOSED BY COUNCILLOR HILTON

“This council notes that on the 8th of June 2023 the government withdrew its Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill from the parliamentary process.

This council notes that the Conservative Party’s 2019 manifesto set out a series of commitments on animal welfare policy.

The Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill aimed to address a number of these commitments in a single legislative step.

Amongst the pledges in the manifesto the Conservative government stated that:

• We will crack down on the illegal smuggling of dogs and puppies.
• We will end excessively long journeys for slaughter and fattening.
• We will ban keeping primates as pets.

This council records its regret that the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill has been withdrawn.

Council agrees to write a letter to the Secretary of State Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and the two MPs representing the city of Gloucester to express regret that the government has abandoned its manifesto pledge by withdrawing The Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill."

3.    PROPOSED BY COUNCILLOR O’DONNELL

“We note that safety around schools are getting ridiculous with drivers not caring where they park is increasing, often on blind bends, there has also been a child from a local high school knocked off his bike on Cotswold Road, because of the parked cars blocking view. We have cars speeding down roads near schools showing no care about people even children crossing the road. Therefore, I would like to motion that schools and community centres to be given the authority to issue fines themselves, and the money put back into said community - the problem is it requires a change in the law, which neither City nor County Council has the power to actually make happen.

Therefore, this Council agrees to write to the relevant Cabinet Member at the County Council asking them to do more to prevent illegal and unsafe parking outside schools and community centre in order to stop a lot of the anti-social drivers.”

4.    PROPOSED BY COUNCILLOR A. CHAMBERS

“Every elected member and employee of this Gloucester City Council – along with our partner agencies- is a corporate parent to the children in care in our City.

We are all responsible for providing the best possible care, safeguarding and outcomes for the children who are looked after in our City. Whilst obligations mainly fall under  ...  view the full agenda text for item 26.