Agenda item

To consider the report of the Leader of the Council providing an update on the delivery of the activities as outlined in the Council Plan 2022-24, to build a greener, fairer, better Gloucester.

82.1    Councillor Cook introduced the report and informed Members that it provided an update on the delivery of key projects and commitments outlined in the Council Plan 2022-24 which was approved unanimously by Council in January 2022. He reminded Members that the Council Plan included three priorities to help achieve the City Council’s vision of a greener, fairer, better Gloucester, namely building greener, healthier and more inclusive communities, building a sustainable city of diverse culture and opportunity and building a socially responsible and empowering council.

82.2    Councillor Cook stated that the Council Plan set out 45 actions split equally across the three priorities. He noted that of these actions, 6 had been completed, 34 actions were expected to complete on time and 5 actions were currently delayed.

82.3    In terms of progress made in implementing the Council Plan priorities, Councillor Cook referred to the opening of the Learning Hub at the Forum in August 2022, the Kings Square regeneration project which had been completed and opened back in Spring 2022, the seamless transition to the new waste partnership with Ubico and the successful bid for capital investment funding from Arts Council England for improvements to cultural venues in the city. Councillor Cook felt that all of these achievements ought to be celebrated.

82.4    The Chair asked Councillor Cook to expand on plans to implement the 5 delayed actions. Councillor Cook explained that in relation to the development of Wessex House, the site was currently being used as a construction compound for the forum development and an options appraisal for the site was due to be commissioned within the current quarter to inform a planning application. Councillor Cook confirmed that the Home Improvement Agency would be implemented through a series of key steps throughout the coming year. With regard to the Matson and Podsmead regeneration, Councillor Cook explained that officers were working with Gloucester City Homes (GCH) on the Podsmead regeneration scheme however there were limitations with the Matson regeneration as GCH did not have the funding to progress the scheme as originally planned. He noted that the other delayed actions delated to the digital strategy which had been delayed as a result of the cyber incident experienced by the council in December 2021.

82.5    Councillor Hilton requested further information regarding the development of Wessex House and asked for estimation as to when a report was likely to be brought forward on the options appraisal for the site. Councillor Cook confirmed that the options appraisal was likely to take place during the first quarter of the year and that officers would be very willing to discuss the matter with ward Members and hear their views.

82.6    Councillor Pullen referred to the key action to set up an in-house Home Improvement Agency to support vulnerable and disabled residents to remain in their homes and queried whether Gloucestershire County Council were expected to have any involvement as the responsible authority for adult social care. Councillor Cook confirmed that he would check this with officers in the Housing team and that Councillor Pullen would be provided with clarification in due course.

82.7    Councillor Gravells expressed the view that Home Improvement Agencies were very helpful in facilitating changes and queried whether consideration could be given to a jointly funded scheme with the County Council. Councillor Cook noted that the issue causing the delay was expected to continue until March 2023 and that there would be grater clarity on how the project would be implemented thereafter. He commented that if there were opportunities to seek funding alongside the County Council then officers would look to pursue them.

82.8    In response to a query from the Chair regarding the recruitment of a Food Inclusion Officer, Councillor Cook confirmed that this position had been filled internally.

          RESOLVED – That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee NOTE the report.