Agenda and minutes

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.

42.1    There were no declarations of interest.

To declare if any issues to be covered in the Agenda are under party whip.

43.1    There were no declarations of party whipping.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on Monday 4^th November 2024.

44.1    RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on Monday 4^th November 2024 were approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

The opportunity is given to members of the public to put questions the Chair provided that questions do not contravene the provisions set out Council Procedure Rule 10.01.

To ask a question at this meeting, please submit it to democratic.services@gloucester.gov.uk by 12 noon on Wednesday 27^th November 2024 or telephone 01452 396203 for support.

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

45.1    There were no public questions.

The opportunity is given to members of the public to present a petition or deputation provided that any such petition or deputation does not contravene the provisions set out Council Procedure Rule 11.01.

To present a petition or deputation at this meeting, please provide the subject matter to democratic.services@gloucester.gov.uk by 12 noon on Wednesday 27^th November 2024 or telephone 01452 396203 for support.

46.1    There were no petitions or deputations.

To consider the report of the Leader of the Council presenting the draft Corporate Plan 2025-2028.

47.1    The Leader of the Council, Councillor Hilton, introduced the draft Corporate Plan 2025-28, and stated that it set out the proposed strategic direction of the council over the next 4 years. He confirmed that it had been developed in consultation with Officers to include existing workstreams and new aspects of policy.

47.2    Councillor Hilton outlined the key objectives of the plan, namely to strengthen civic pride in Gloucester, provide more affordable homes, deliver a zero-carbon council by 2023 and to improve the biodiversity of local parks and public spaces. Further objectives included the encouragement of new development and regeneration in the city, transforming council services, and ultimately to make the city of Gloucester an exciting and attractive place to live.

47.3    Councillor Hilton highlighted that the new Corporate Plan would provide a more intensive workload for council staff, with 25% more actions proposed than that of the previous Council Plan. He noted that the plan was currently in the process of a 6-week public consultation, and was before the Committee as part of that consultation. Councillor Hilton further advised Members that the final Corporate Plan would return to Cabinet on 15^th January 2025, and would be put to full Council for approval on 30^th January 2025.

47.4    The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Resources, Councillor Wilson, added that this was a high-level strategic plan and expressed that it was ambitious in some areas, particularly around increasing commercial income and affordable housing targets. 

47.5    Councillor Pullen asked for clarification as to how much of the plan had been driven by the administration, and how they had achieved a balance with input from Officers. Councillor Hilton explained that an away day had been held between Cabinet and Officers during the early development of the Draft Corporate Plan, however the document had been largely driven by the policy agenda outlined in the new administration’s manifesto. Councillor Hilton further noted that the Draft Corporate Plan sought to see through and deliver some of the ongoing projects from the current Council Plan, such as the Forum development.

47.6    In response to a query from Councillor Castle regarding whether the Cabinet had identified any lessons which could be learnt from the current Council Plan, Councillor Hilton noted that it was clear that the council had suffered as a result of reduced budgets, however it was hoped that there would be more support for Local Government from Central Government. He further noted that the Draft Corporate Plan did not include end dates unlike the current Council Plan. This was to take into account external events which could have an impact on delivery timescales, such as the Covid-19 pandemic and cyber attack of 2021.

47.7    Councillor Walker asked whether there were any specific actions included in the current Council Plan which had not been carried forward into the new Draft Corporate Plan. Councillor Hilton responded that there were no uncompleted actions in the current Council Plan which had not been carried forward. He noted  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47.

To receive the latest version of the Committee’s work programme and the Council’s Forward Plan.

48.1    RESOLVED – That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee NOTE the Work Programme.

Monday 9^th January 2024 at 6.30pm in Civic Suite, North Warehouse.

Monday 6^th January 2024 at 6.30pm in Civic Suite, North Warehouse.