Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Civic Suite, North Warehouse, The Docks, Gloucester, GL1 2EP

Contact: Democratic and Electoral Services 

Items
No. Item

73.

Declarations of Interest

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.

 

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

 

74.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 170 KB

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 8th December 2021.

 

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 8th December 2021 are confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

 

75.

Public Question Time (15 minutes)

 

The opportunity is given to members of the public to put questions to Cabinet Members or Committee Chairs provided that a question does not relate to:

 

·  Matters which are the subject of current or pending legal proceedings or

·  Matters relating to employees or former employees of the Council or comments in respect of individual Council Officers.

 

To ask a question at this meeting, please submit it to:

democratic.services@gloucester.gov.uk by Friday 7th January 2022 or telephone 01452 396203 for support.

 

Minutes:

There were no public questions.

 

76.

Petitions and Deputations (15 minutes)

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

 

Minutes:

There were no petitions or deputations.

 

77.

Leader and Cabinet Members' Question Time (15 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 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 7th January 2022. Responses to questions will be published in an addendum to the agenda by 12 noon on the day of the Cabinet Meeting.

 

Minutes:

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

 

78.

Council Plan 2022-24 pdf icon PDF 129 KB

To consider the report of the Leader of the Council presenting the draft Council Plan 2022-2024 for approval.

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

RECOMMENDED that the draft Council Plan 2022-2024 is approved by Council.

 

Minutes:

Cabinet considered the report of the Leader of the Council that presented the draft Council Plan 2022-24 for approval.

 

The Leader of the Council outlined the vision and priorities set out in the report and drew Members’ attention to the public consultation (Appendix 2).  The Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources thanked the Policy and Governance Manager and Policy and Development Officer for their hard work.  She extended her gratitude to all officers at every level for their critique.  The Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources further commented that it was a plan of which everyone should be proud whose key themes resonated in the public consultation and stood to put the administration on the right path forward. 

 

The Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure placed Priority 2 `Building a Sustainable City of Diverse Culture and Opportunity’ (Appendix 1) within the context of Gloucester’s many diverse communities.  He stated that it was an exciting time for the city and looked forward to progressing inclusivity for everyone.  The Leader of the Council congratulated all officers for a plan he believed to be of noble ambition that would contribute to the common desire to make Gloucester a better place.

 

RECOMMENDED that the draft Council Plan 2022-2024 is approved by Council.

 

79.

Gloucester Commission to Review Race Relations Final Report pdf icon PDF 140 KB

To consider the report of the Leader of the Council presenting the work and findings of the Gloucester City Commission to Review Race Relations as set out in their final report with a set of recommendations that attempt to improve the lives of, and enhance opportunities for, Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities within the City.

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED that:

 

(1)       the breadth of work of the Commission is noted and Commissioners, partners, members of the community and individuals who contributed to the work are thanked

 

(2)       a lead role is taken, working collaboratively with other public sector organisations, in implementing the four Calls to Action that the Commission considers must be delivered at a Gloucestershire system level, that is:

 

a)    the establishment of an independent, permanent, funded and high-profile legacy institution for Gloucestershire

 

b)    setting out a Gloucestershire wide vision for workforce equality in the public sector; putting in place measures to monitor workforce equality (including pay), and deliver some workforce equality initiatives at a county-wide level, most importantly a Gloucestershire ‘stepping up’ programme for aspiring leaders from racially minoritized backgrounds.

 

c)    commit to putting in place measures and driving the required changes in culture and mindsets to ensure the collection and use of comprehensive and high-quality ethnicity data in planning and delivering public sector services, including commissioned services.

 

d)  acknowledge the existence of racism, prejudice and micro-aggressions in Gloucester and Gloucestershire, and commit to and step up individual and organisational leadership to tackle these with confidence and clarity.

 

(3)       a publicly available progress report on the implementation of findings and calls to action resulting from the work of the Commission is issued by 31 January 2023.

 

 

Minutes:

Cabinet considered the report of the Leader of the Council that presented the work and findings of the Gloucester City Commission to Review Race Relations as set out in their final report with a set of recommendations that attempt to improve the lives of, and enhance opportunities for, Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities within the City.

 

The Leader of the Council gave Members the background to the Commission and its report (Appendix 1).  He highlighted the evidence received, the seven conclusions it reached and particularly the four `Calls to Action’.  The Leader of the Council noted that the findings encompassed the wider county and advised Members that he would raise them within the Leadership Gloucestershire group.

 

The Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources reminded Members that the Commissioners were volunteers.  She thanked them and especially the Chair for their dedication.  The Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources further asked that other district councils and agencies within Gloucestershire be encouraged to contribute financially to addressing the Calls to Action as they are countywide.  The Leader of the Council reassured Members that he would apply pressure.  He informed them that although he did not anticipate immediate results, he nonetheless expected no resistance as the issues raised were relevant in rural as well as urban areas. 

 

The Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure commented that knowledge and understanding are vital to breaking down barriers between ethnic groups.  He emphasised the importance of interacting with all communities.  The Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods reiterated the thanks expressed to the Commissioners.  He advised Members that he looked forward to working with communities to progress inclusivity and promote cohesion.

 

RESOLVED that:

 

(1)       the breadth of work of the Commission is noted and Commissioners, partners, members of the community and individuals who contributed to the work are thanked

 

(2)       a lead role is taken, working collaboratively with other public sector organisations, in implementing the four Calls to Action that the Commission considers must be delivered at a Gloucestershire system level, that is:

 

a)    the establishment of an independent, permanent, funded and high-profile legacy institution for Gloucestershire

 

b)    setting out a Gloucestershire wide vision for workforce equality in the public sector; putting in place measures to monitor workforce equality (including pay), and deliver some workforce equality initiatives at a county-wide level, most importantly a Gloucestershire ‘stepping up’ programme for aspiring leaders from racially minoritized backgrounds.

 

c)    commit to putting in place measures and driving the required changes in culture and mindsets to ensure the collection and use of comprehensive and high-quality ethnicity data in planning and delivering public sector services, including commissioned services.

 

d)  acknowledge the existence of racism, prejudice and micro-aggressions in Gloucester and Gloucestershire, and commit to and step up individual and organisational leadership to tackle these with confidence and clarity.

 

(3)       a publicly available progress report on the implementation of findings and calls to action resulting from the work of the Commission is issued by 31 January 2023.

 

 

80.

Exclusion of the Press and Public

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

 

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

 

Minutes:

RESOLVEDthat the press and public be excluded from the meeting during the following item of business (Agenda item 10) 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.

 

81.

St Oswalds, Eastgate Centre and Kings Walk Leases

To consider the report of the Leader of the Council seeking to approve the granting of new leases for properties in St Oswalds retail park, The Eastgate shopping centre and Kings Walk shopping centre.

 

Decision:

RESOLVED as per the recommendations in the confidential report.

 

Minutes:

Cabinet considered the report of the Leader of the Council that sought to approve the granting of new leases for properties in St Oswalds retail park, The Eastgate shopping centre and Kings Walk shopping centre.

 

RESOLVED as per the recommendations in the confidential report.