Cabinet - Wednesday 23 July 2025, 10:00am - Gloucestershire County Council Webcasting

Cabinet
Wednesday, 23rd July 2025 at 10:00am

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Seat 11 - 0:01:52

Good morning everyone.

I make it 10 o 'clock with the church bells chiming in the background.

So welcome to our cabinet meeting this morning.

I'm very welcome to all of you in the room and anybody watching online.

First of all, we have item number one, which is apologies.

Stephen, do we have any apologies for absence?

No. Lovely. Thank you very much.

minutes of the previous meeting so has any comments or edits to the

minutes from the previous meeting I'm not seeing any hands raised so we'll

take those as an accurate account of that meeting thank you very much do we

have any declarations of interest on any agenda items today again not seeing any

hands up, we're rattling through. We come now to questions at cabinet meetings and

we have received a number of written questions in advance, some

three from the members and several from the public, although I see nobody here

today who would be wanting to ask a supplementary question. No? So we thank

you members and officers for responding to those and for any members of the

public watching or indeed councillors then the responses are published and on

our website and should you wish to follow up on any of those then we are

available to do that via written correspondence. So we move now into the

decisions of the meeting and

Going straight into item number five

which is

Councillor Paul Hodgkinson's to

Present and that's the tendering of support services for refugees and asylum seekers

Thank you

Seat 10 - 0:03:59

Thank you very much. Good morning everybody

So today we're being asked to approve as a cabinet a new way of organising how we support refugees and asylum seekers in

Now this is a necessary decision.

It's one that's not just about logistics, but it's about leadership, it's about our

values and about how we respond to difficult questions in what is an increasingly divided

climate.

So I want to be clear about this.

This is a subject that has of course become more politically charged than ever before.

And across the country and even here in our own communities, we've seen rising tension

around migration and asylum.

But the reality is this.

People are arriving in Gloucestershire and have

arrived in Gloucestershire having fled war zones,

persecution, and unimaginable hardship.

Since 2015, we've welcomed nearly 400 refugees through

the UK resettlement scheme and nearly 200 Afghan citizens.

Over 1 ,000 people have come to us from Ukraine,

And around 600 asylum seekers are currently living in our districts while they wait decisions from the home office

So these are not just numbers on a spreadsheet. These are families. These are children

These are people who want to rebuild their lives and contribute to our society

But the support contracts that have made this work possible the arrangements with local charities and partners are ending in

2026 so we can't carry on as we are we need a new more flexible approach that can meet the demands of the future

So what we're proposing here is a system that allows us and our partners to commission refugee

and asylum support services more quickly and more effectively.

Instead of having to start from scratch every time, we'll have a list of approved organisations

we can call on to provide the help that's needed, whether that's housing advice, whether

that's language support, mental health services or simply help navigating life in a new place.

And what this will do is it will allow our district councils the NHS the police and others to do the same

So we work together not just in silos and if heaven forbid

Another global crisis unfolds which it surely will will be in a much stronger position to respond

Rapidly and responsibly. So what we're planning is a total spend of up to 12 million pounds over the lifetime of this arrangement

That's not a fixed cost. It's a ceiling not a target

We'll only spend what's needed and all of it will come from existing grant funding

So it's really important to stress that this is not new money from the council's core budget

It's funding that's already been allocated from the central government

I the UK government through national schemes such as the UK resettlement scheme the Afghan

settlement programme and homes for Ukraine. That means no extra burden on local

taxpayers and no diversion of funds from frontline services. So I urge you to

support the proposal, let's be organised and let's be prepared. Thank you.

Seat 11 - 0:07:09

Thank you Paul. Colleagues did you have any questions on this paper?

I think I would like clarified. And then any comments on this?

And Siobhan, did you want to add anything? No, lovely.

Well, I think then we can look at the recommendations as set out.

And I would ask for a show of hands for all those in favour of this

and the recommendations. Thank you, that's unanimous. Paul, I think we're back to you

on the next item, which is the tackling domestic abuse strategy. So thank you.

Seat 10 - 0:08:00

Thank you. So this morning what I'm asking Cabinet to do is approve the adoption of the

Gloucestershire Tackling Domestic Abuse Strategy for the next three years, i .e. 2025 to 2028.

This is a strategy that sets out a clear, ambitious and collective plan to address what

is really one of the most serious and devastating issues facing our communities today.

Because domestic abuse is not a distant issue affecting someone else, somewhere else, it's

actually here in Gloucestershire.

It affects people in every town, every village, every workplace and in the past year alone,

Gloucestershire Constabulary has recorded a 32 % increase in domestic abuse related crimes

compared to the previous year.

And it accounts now for nearly one in five of all crimes

reported across Gloucestershire.

So let's just let that sink in.

One in five of all reported crimes in Gloucestershire

is domestic abuse.

And this isn't just about statistics,

because behind each number is a person, often a woman,

sometimes a man, always someone whose life has been turned

upside down by abuse, control, and fear.

And this strategy is our response.

It's shaped by the voices of people who've survived domestic abuse.

It reflects what they've told us that they actually need, because they want to be heard,

they want earlier support, they want systems that work together, and they want perpetrators

held to account.

So the strategy, as you see in the documents here, rests on five key priorities.

First of all, prevention and early intervention.

Secondly, working across multi -agencies.

In other words, all our partners like the police, health and housing.

Workforce development is number three.

In other words, equipping frontline professionals to spot the signs, ask the right questions

and support quickly.

Fourth, high quality support services, both in the community and in safe accommodation.

Fifth, tackling perpetrators, because if you want to truly break the cycle, you have to

confront abusive behaviour at its source.

And to support delivery of this, the Council received £1 .4 million each year through the

domestic abuse grant, now part of the local government finance settlement.

So this is not just about women and girls, though they are most often affected.

It's about all victims, including men and boys and children who experience abuse in

their homes.

And this strategy recognises them all.

Children are named as victims in line with the Domestic Abuse Act.

It also links to our response to serious violence, which we talked about at last week's Council

meeting, our white ribbon accreditation, which we are very proud of, and the Government's

commitment to halving violence against women and girls in the next decade, which was also

announced last week.

And I want to pay particular tribute to the excellent work of campaigners nationally,

like Lib Dem MP Josh Baburinde, whose efforts have led to a new category in law for domestic

abuse related offences. This is a crucial step in closing loopholes that previously

allowed abusers to avoid proper scrutiny under early release schemes. And it's thanks to

voices like his that survivors are being heard at national level and local level. There's

also a strong focus for those who are most often overlooked in this. Older victims, LGBTQ

victims and victims from minority communities.

So in summary, this strategy is for everyone.

Please let's approve this strategy and let's ensure

that Gloucestershire is a place where no one must

live in fear in their own home.

Thank you.

Seat 11 - 0:11:44

Thank you, Paul.

Does anybody have any questions about the strategy?

No.

I mean, I'd just like to jump in because I saw this in an earlier draught format when I

was sitting on the Adult Social Care and Communities Scrutiny Committee and I have to say I think

it is absolutely excellent.

I think it's also, what I particularly like about this is that it's very clearly laid

out and easy to access and so I think that's really, really positive written in plain English

with clear outcomes and objectives which I think are really really important in

strategies. Can I just ask about the work that we've done with our partners on

developing this strategy and who's been involved in that?

Seat 14 - 0:12:38

Yes so thank you for the question it's a multi -agency partnership I co -chair it

I chair it with a vice chair from Gloucester City, Ruth Saunders who leads the housing

partnership across the county.

So really recognising that housing is a key part of providing support for people experiencing

domestic abuse.

The multi -agency partnership has all of the statutory sector partners on it, so obviously

Police and Crime Commissioner, Police, the NHS providers, the Integrated Care Board and

And then we have VCSE representation as appropriate and our provider of our domestic abuse support

service also attends the operational groups that sit beneath that.

In addition, the voice of the victim is really important and we employ a consultation officer

alongside the Office of Police and Crime Commissioner and that consultation officer works really

closely with a range of people who have experience of domestic abuse and make sure that their

views are heard, taken into account and addressed properly in the strategy.

Seat 11 - 0:13:43

Fantastic, and I think that's really good to hear because as we know, tackling really

big problems like this is something that we have to do collectively and with our partners,

so it's really good to see that that work has gone into not just preparing the strategy

but also then ongoing work. So thank you for all that. Colin.

Seat 10* - 0:14:02

I just want to reiterate what's in here really about co -production and we will

hear more and more of this as we go through and I think it's really

important that in coming up with strategies you're listening to the

people most involved yeah that's what co -production is it's actually producing

you know a policy and a way forward with everybody else this won't be the only

of the time that we we hear about co -production and we've heard it used

before I think it's worth highlighting that that it's so much better when you

Seat 11 - 0:14:45

can do it in that sort of way. Thank you so colleagues if there are no other

comments or questions I would ask you to look at the recommendations poll they

We are on, flicking through, trying to be paperless.

Sorry, I don't have a printer.

Yes, I'm sure the recommendations are as per the document.

Thank you.

Oh, lovely. Thank you. So that is to approve to adopt the strategy 2025 -2028.

Thank you. Can I see a show of hands for that? Excellent. That's unanimous all approved.

Thank you very much. We now move to not to Paul.

Now we move on to item number seven, which is the adult social care operating model

delegated functions and

Over to cancer Kate is Mara on this. Thank you. Good morning. Thank you

Seat 36* - 0:15:58

I'm asking cabinet to approve a new adult social care operating model with regard to delegated functions

Councils are required by law to provide a number of essential services like occupational therapy

support for people leaving hospital and mental health social work.

These are currently provided on our behalf by the NHS and these services are the ones known as delegated services.

Now although we have outsourced these to be supplied by the NHS, we remain responsible and accountable for them.

The Care Quality Commission told us in January that our adult social care requires improvement.

We want to see everyone in Gloucestershire who needs help from adult social care receive

excellent support when they need it.

We are sure that the staff providing delegated functions do a brilliant job for our residents,

but we need to, we can't evidence this in a way to satisfy the CQC at the moment.

And we need these systems to work better, move faster and connect more directly with our communities.

So from September 2026, Gloucestershire County Council will directly provide key services that we currently outsource,

including occupational therapy,

reablement support, supported housing

and mental health social work.

By delivering these services ourselves,

we'll be better placed to join them up,

to build teams around individuals

and to spot problems early rather than waiting for crises.

We'll be able to offer the kind of care

that helps people live at home, stay healthy

and retain their independence for longer,

care, to live gloriously ordinary lives.

In May we published our Liberal Democrat Manifesto for Gloucestershire, promising to transform

care by investing in prevention, valuing frontline staff and putting residents first.

These aren't just nice ideas, they are essential principles as we face major challenges in

adult care.

This isn't a new idea I'm bringing to you.

These changes have been made by other councils and we know that they work.

We know that this will lead to better oversight, better data and better value for public money.

£24 .9 million of public money.

The budget for these services is not changing.

We have no plans to reduce spending on staff.

But by focusing on prevention delivered in people's homes, we will save money in the

long term by reducing hospital admissions and long -term care needs.

When we spend the public's money, that's money from yours and my council taxes, we must deliver

public value.

I know that staff are anxious about the changes ahead.

Not some staff will transfer from NHS employment to the council and we'll support them through

that process with care and clarity. Their roles, their rights and their terms will be

protected. This isn't about disruption, but transformation. We want to build services

that are modern, well managed and focused on what matters to residents. And it's worth

remembering why this matters so much. Our population is ageing fast. In 20 years, the

people aged 85 and over in Gloucestershire is expected to rise by over 80 % and if we don't hack

now the pressure on hospitals, care homes and families will grow unsustainably. This decision

helps us to prepare. We are serious about delivering on our promises to improve services

for Gloucestershire to support our workforce and get the very best from every pound we

spend. So I encourage colleagues to support these proposals. Let's show that Gloucestershire

County Council is ready to lead, ready to modernise and ready to make the changes that

our residents need under this Liberal Democrat administration. Let's help all of our residents

Seat 11 - 0:20:35

to live gloriously ordinary lives. Thank you. Thank you Kate. Yeah thank you and I

think you know there's been you know there's been quite a lot of public

scrutiny on this item in particular. We had a number of questions on it so thank

you for unpacking that and sort of really bringing home those messages and

reassuring both us here in the chamber and anybody watching there. I think you

know the key messages that I took out from this is that you know that we

understand that that staff will be anxious at this time but that we want to

make sure that we support them throughout this process but that and I

think as well that service delivery and ensuring that really good quality of

continued good quality of service is really really important for our

residents but I think most importantly for us especially as elected members is

having that assurance and being able to face the public and say that we are

spending the public money well but also making sure that we can

assure ourselves that those statutory duties are being discharged. So thank you

for unpacking that. Do we have any questions on this item?

No, no we've discussed it at Cabinet previously. Joe.

Seat 6 - 0:21:48

Yeah, a comment more than a question. Thank you Kate. I mean you're new to local government but you're doing a tremendous job.

and I think this is a great report and I think really it represents a sensible strategic

reform of how we deliver adult social care in Gloucestershire and I think we know that

the current arrangements fragmented, slow and I think it's fair to say lacking in grip

aren't fit for purpose and so it's absolutely fundamental that we do this and indeed we've

been told haven't we that improvement is required so this is a really good start.

I think what I'd say is we know that money is really, really tight, don't we?

And it's clear here that we're not just throwing money at the problem.

In fact, I'd say quite the opposite.

You know, we're taking existing resources, nearly 25 million pounds,

and ultimately we're using them more effectively.

And I think, you know, the key thing is that it will end in better oversight,

clearer accountability and, you know, absolutely certain

that will mean better outcomes for residents.

and I think by bringing in services like occupational therapy and mental health

social work back under our control we're creating the conditions actually for

more joined -up care earlier interventions in a system that

prioritises prevention over crisis which you know in this context is absolutely

key I think yeah you said it as well this

aligns not only with our manifesto commitment to improve local services but

with a much broader principle that you know local government should be smarter

are not just bigger and I think that's key,

particularly in the current context.

We should invest in what works,

we should reform what doesn't,

and we should absolutely be disciplined

with taxpayers' money,

because that's what this is, it's taxpayers' money,

and we mustn't forget who we're here to serve.

So, you know, it's a great report, Kate,

hit the ground running, it's really, really good.

It's pragmatic, it's costed,

and I think fundamentally it will deliver

a lasting improvement in a service which matters so much.

So, no credit to you,

and yeah, I'm looking forward to supporting it.

Lovely, thank you, Jo.

Can you just turn your microphone on, Jo, thank you.

Seat 11 - 0:23:53

And yeah, thank you, I had some really,

really good points there.

And I think whilst we have officers in the room,

not just Sarah Scott as lead on this,

but also Ben Dict and Amanda over there.

I don't know if anybody else, no, Emily's not here.

But yeah, thank you very much

because I know this has been a difficult transition for you

to look at and to go through.

I know that there's been a huge amount of work gone into this,

not just in putting this report together in the last few months,

but indeed, over the last couple of years.

So thank you very much for all the work

that you've done on that till now.

And we look forward to supporting you

as you transition over the next year,

because we know that this is, I think,

in the report sets out quite clearly that framework

for that transition, that it isn't just something

that will happen quickly overnight,

but has to be done properly with good consultation,

especially, as you said, with the staff

that are providing those services.

So really, really important, and we look forward

to hearing not just about that transition,

but then into the future, off to next year,

about how that feeds into the overall improvement journey

that you are on, and that service delivery.

So thank you very much to you and your team.

So colleagues, I would ask you to support,

show your support for the recommendations on this

that we give approval to provide the services

that are currently provided by Gloucester Health and Care

NHS Foundation Trust from September 2026.

Those are outlined there.

That we continue with Gloucester Health and Care NHS Foundation

Trust to provide the following services from September and that's the approved

mental health professional service and we delegate authority to the Chief the

Executive Director sorry of adult social care well -being

communities and for the other recommendations there in three and four

and actually before we move to vote on that I think actually is important that

we note the incredibly important work in that partnership with Gloucestershire

Health Care Trust. I know they've been a very valued partner and will continue to

be as we move forward with this so let's not forget them in any of this and

I think it's really important that we acknowledge the very good work that they

do across the county for our communities. So can I see a show of hands to approve

the recommendations. Thank you very much that is approved unanimously. We now move

on to item number eight the provision of additional budget to deliver residual

waste bulking and transfer services in the Forest of Dean and Cotswolds

districts so I turn to Councillor Martin Horwood to unpack some of this and

Present this report. Thank you Martin

Seat 8* - 0:26:52

Thank You leader and this isn't the report I would have chosen as my my first to present to cabinet colleagues

We have been left something of a dirty bomb by our

predecessors

This relates to the contracts for transferring residual waste un recycled waste

from the

Districts that are further away from our javelin park

waste facility to that facility so that's Cheltenham and Tewkesbury the forest and the

Cotswolds and this contracts process was set in train by the previous administration one

contract for Cheltenham and Tewkesbury and two more for the Cotswolds and the Forest

of Dean respectively. Now the outcome of this contracts process has not been fantastic from

the council's point of view these are big contracts the lots two and three of them worth

worth nine million pounds over seven years.

And we have ended up in a situation where only the

single incumbents in each case have ended up as bidders.

And the expected cost of these contracts is expected

to break the agreed budget by 250 ,000 pounds every year

going forward.

Now, we couldn't, as the new administration,

legally interfere in that contract's process once it

was in train, our only option was to stop it and start again

if we wanted to make changes.

In practise, since the Cheltenham and Tewkesbury contract

ran out on the 4th of July and the Forrest and Cotswold

contracts run out in January, we did not, in practise,

have time to reset that whole process.

So we are where we are.

And in fact, the key decision today

is not actually even so much to award the contracts.

That's we're delegating that to the senior officer involved

But to provide for that two hundred and fifty thousand pound a year overspend

The way this is going to be funded after some

thought internally

The first call will be on any surplus income from the energy from waste facility at Javelin Park

After that from any underspend or other income generated within the environment and waste

Directorate and as a last resort to call on a new source of funds from governments

Which is the EPR or extended producer responsibility, which is going to give us five million pounds this year and

We don't know how much in in future years and that's basically a tax on

those who are producing the waste on the producers of packaging and so on and so it's

quite appropriate in a way that that money is is allocated to our

attempts to reduce waste and recycle and so on. But I'm sure cabinet colleagues

had they had that kind of spare money available would have chosen other things

to spend it on rather than transporting rubbish around Gloucestershire. We could

have started on fixing the potholes, we could have spent it on special

educational needs, there are a whole range of calls that we would have loved

to have spent that money on. But we are where we are. I have asked to be added

into this cabinet decision today three additional commitments though that I

I hope will make this more palatable for colleagues.

The first is to aim to reduce the cost

and get this back within budget within five years.

And the way to do that is by the most obvious

and environmentally friendly method,

which is to reduce the volume of waste that we generate.

And so we will aim to get it back within budget,

save money, but also help the environment

by reducing that residual waste stream

from those four districts.

And we'll obviously be working with district colleagues

moving into perhaps unitary status to do that.

Secondly, we will work with the contractors to move towards net zero greenhouse gas emissions

in the actual operation of these contracts.

That wasn't bolted into the contracts, but actually I'm very hopeful that both contractors

are looking to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions anyway, and so we should be able

to work with them productively to work towards net zero.

And finally, we're going to look into alternative future arrangements, consistent again with

unitary status.

We'll have to work with district colleagues on this too, to look at ways, look into the

future when these contracts run out themselves, that we have a system in place that will reduce

costs, minimise environmental impact and achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions in operation,

and that we do not end up in this kind of situation again.

So I hope with those three additional commitments I would commend to colleagues the five recommendations

Which are on pages

169 to 170 of your papers and I'm sure you've read all of them up to that point

And I commend that recommendation to colleagues. Thank you leader

Seat 11 - 0:31:43

Thank You

Martin

Colleagues did anybody want to ask a question about any of this or indeed make a comment?

Roger.

Seat 8 - 0:31:57

Yes, I'm very pleased that you've gone into this and

And

looked at not just the immediate issue before you but trying to improve the situation going forward particularly in terms of

reducing costs and reducing the amount of

residual waste in the first place and I

I think this is the way that as an administration we want to sort of look at things as not just

to accept things as they are, but let's see how we can improve them.

So that's I think very much of importance.

Thank you.

Seat 11 - 0:32:36

Thank you, Roger, and a really excellent point there.

And in fact, I was going to add just something similar along the lines of the fact that we

really have come in as a new administration really wanting to look at contract management.

and I think that you've unearthed, as you said, some of those immediate issues.

I think first and foremost that there was not enough time to look into any other alternatives,

and I think where we have one contractor providing a service,

we really are part of a monopoly, let's face it, with very, very little wiggle room,

and that's somewhere where I don't think that we want to be.

So I think in the future, I think your recommendation, your addition to ensuring

that we do look at how we manage that into the future is really, really

important because yet again, we say it's taxpayers' money, we want to make sure

that we're getting, you know, really good bang for our buck, getting every very,

very good value from that and when we're forced into decisions such as this when

we've only got one option then we really are unable to really deliver on that.

I think, you know, and I'm pleased and I knew that you were to mention it but of

and you were very, very keen when we looked at the actual title of this

portfolio that it was about waste reduction. So a very, very important

message there is that actually what we really want to be doing exactly as you

said is to see less waste being generated altogether, not only reducing

the costs but also reducing our environmental footprint and the way that

we can really sort of look towards tackling climate change and taking that

very seriously and I see that as a duty that we all have, not least when we are seeing

every single day the effects of climate change on our weather patterns. So I think I thank

you for that. Did the yeah, so thank you, Martin. Colin, did you know?

So colleagues, as Marcia said, page 169 to 170, the recommendations there. Can I see

a show of hands to approve those recommendations? Thank you very much. That is approved. And

Seat 6 - 0:35:06

2034 Councillor Joe Harris. Thank you. Thank you Lisa. And it's an honour and a privilege

to come and introduce my first cabinet report. I have to say when you called me and said

can you come and see me and said I want you to be the cabinet member for highways I did

wonder what I'd done wrong you know considering I got you involved in politics and encourage

you to stand I thought that's a nice reward isn't it? But no I

wouldn't have accepted if I didn't think change was possible quite frankly and

you know we pledged to fix our roads in our manifesto in May and that's what

we're doing. Let's be honest people are sick of potholes, they're sick of the

mess and they're sick of roads that look like they've been bombed. That ends now

and it ends today. We're gonna fix it and we're gonna do it the right way. Under

the Conservatives our roads have become a disaster. Everyone knows it, everybody's

saying it, you only have to go and speak to people on the doorstep and today

we're doing something big about it. Today I'm asking Cabinet to give the go -ahead

to find a new company to resurface Gloucestershire's roads from April next year.

And that's it in plain English. It's the start of our journey to fix our

roads in Gloucestershire. We're preparing to bring in a contractor to take on the

big job of resurfacing our roads properly, efficiently and to a high standard for the

next four to eight years. And it's a huge investment in our roads. It's one of the biggest

investments we've ever had in our roads. It's worth up to 192 million if it runs the full

length of a contract. Contract will run for four years with an option to extend it for

another four years. If the contractor we choose do a good job, we'll keep them for eight years.

If not, they're out, we will fire them.

Residents across Gloucestershire are fed up.

Potholes, rough surfaces, quick fixes that fail within weeks,

it is not good enough and I'm very clear about that.

That's why back in May, our manifesto, as I alluded to,

made a promise to fix our roads.

We said we'd stop the scattergun approach to repairs

and bring in some common sense back to how resurfacing is planned and delivered.

And let's make no bounds about it,

resurfacing is the best way to fix our roads and that's exactly what this report is about.

Not more of the same but a fresh start.

Let me share some of the detail with you.

The current resurfacing contract runs until March 2026 and under the new plan will tender

for a company to deliver road resurfacing across the whole county starting in April

2026.

Again it will run for four years with an option to extend it for four years but only if the

the company performs well. Performance really, really matters here. This isn't a case of

awarding a contract and forgetting about it. If the work isn't good enough, we won't extend

it. It is as simple as that. We're also protecting public money. Prices in the contract will

be tied to national construction cost measures, so we're not getting ripped off if material

prices go up and down. We've spoken with other councils and contractors and the message is

longer contracts do get better results. They give companies the confidence to

invest in local staff, local kit and to plan work sensibly, not in short -term

bursts. We also want to see real social value, that means things like local jobs

and apprenticeships, that's absolutely critical. A greener approach using

materials that help us reduce carbon emissions and of course requiring every

bidder to show how they cut their carbon and support Gloucestershire's aim to be

absolutely fundamental and applaud the work that Martin's doing as we start this journey.

This isn't about fixing the roads, it's about fixing the system that fixes the roads.

We're keeping control of which roads are resurfaced and when.

That will sit with our team here in the council, not the contractor.

So decisions will reflect real local need in divisions across the county.

We'll also keep tough performance cheques in place.

If the contractor starts slipping or something goes wrong, we will have powers to step in and put it right.

People just want the work done and they want it done properly.

This is about getting the basics right, investing wisely, planning ahead and putting the public first.

The timeline is tight but I do believe it's manageable.

We'll start the tender process in November, choose the preferred company by February and spend March getting ready for a smooth start in April 2026.

And to be clear if we don't act now we risk not having a contractor in place when the current one ends and no roads

being resurfaced

We're not going to let that happen

We promised a better approach to roads in May and this is the first step in us delivering on that promise

So I asked cabinet today to support this recommendation so we can move forward and get this contract right for our communities for our highways

Teams who do such a great job and for every single road user across Gloucestershire

Let's raise the bar, let's get on with it and let's make Gloucestershire's roads great again. Thank you.

Thank you Jo and I hope that you are really enjoying this role as cabinet member for highways.

Seat 11 - 0:40:17

I knew you'd be great at it and that's why I asked you to take it on.

I've got a couple of questions if I could jump in first.

So you mentioned some of the key things which we are concerned about and I just wondered whether you could just talk a little around those.

So the first one is around performance management.

And you said, you know, if the chosen contractor

was not going, delivering what we wanted to do,

then we would move them on and get rid of them.

So how will we be able to keep a grip

of that performance management,

which I totally agree is really, really important.

And I think what our residents would expect us to be doing

as the people who are deciding how to spend their money.

and then the second one was it was around the prioritising process so you

talked about how we would have a prioritisation programme for the roads

that needed doing and how that's done because I'm sure like you or like me you

will have many emails asking about particular roads that residents would

like to see resurfaced and it was just could you talk a little under that

Seat 6 - 0:41:22

prioritisation process thank you yeah well you've meant you know auditing is a

challenge I think for the council and it's something that I've asked officers to start

looking at options on and I hope to bring something to full council in September by

way of announcement on that. I think it's fair to say we don't do auditing particularly

well or clearly we have safety teams that go out and inspect affections but what they're

working to is the council's safety policy. What we're talking about is poor standard

of work and repair. And I think to our current contractors credit actually the standard of

our road resurfacing works are very good indeed. I think what we have a concern about is the

wider issue around those sort of day to day repairs and we have to get a grip with that.

So I've asked officers to go away, look at how we beef up enforcement and how to bring

something back in the next couple of months. And it might be it might well be that we need

to look at employing a few more staff to undertake auditing.

I think that's really key.

I think what you've got in me as well, Lisa,

is somebody that, yes, likes to take a strategic view,

but also likes to get underneath the detail.

And I think it's fair to say when it came to auditing

and feedback from the cabinet member previously,

I don't feel like the challenge was always there.

I think my role as cabinet member, yes,

is to support our teams, go and see the work they're doing,

and applaud them because they do a great job.

But where things don't go wrong, speak truth to power

and highlight where we can do better

and demand that we do better actually.

I think that's absolutely key.

So the auditing of this is a much wider piece of work

that yes, will of course affect this contract

but needs to affect highways more generally.

On your second point about which roads are prioritised,

then at present we have a very data -led system.

So clearly we're gonna prioritise those main roads

where we get lots of traffic and data.

But as you keep telling me, Lisa,

we have lots of roads in the county

that aren't up to scratch

and will never be top of a priority list.

So I think what we need to do over the course

of the next few years is have a deep dive

into those policies that we have.

If we feel that not enough credence is being given

to perhaps roads that aren't A or B roads,

then we need to reflect that in policy ultimately

because our officers are working to the policy

that they've been given.

But the fundamental point is whatever we do, if we want real investment into our roads,

we are going to need to find more money from somewhere.

So my challenge to cabinet colleagues is you've all written to me with schemes in your divisions

that require attention.

I'm asking you then to look in your departments, see what money you can free up and we can

spend it on the highways.

So that ultimately is the challenge.

This is one of cost.

As I said, this will help us, you know, it will help us fix the roads, but it will be the process in which we fix the roads.

Ultimately, we need more cash for our highways.

So, you know, that is my plea to colleagues. If we want more road works done, if we want more resurfacing, if we want more repairs, we need more cash.

And, you know, I'm going to be banging on Angela Rayner's door. I met with her on Monday through the LGA.

We've been absolutely clear, we need more funding for councils.

It's all very well talking about fairer funding.

What we need is more cash in the system for local government

to do the things that residents want us to do.

So there you go, Lisa.

I hope I've talked around those a bit, but I hope I've answered them.

Seat 11 - 0:44:46

You have indeed.

And I think that last point you made about more money into the system

is a really, really important one.

I think that's something that I'll be taking on as well as leader

in that sort of lobbying role.

I know that you do that already very well via the local government association

and the role that you have in that.

But I think it is incumbent on us as well

to make sure that government really understand the challenges that we face.

And in fact, yesterday we had somebody from Department of Health and Social Care

in one of the meetings we had yesterday,

and there were a number of times where Joe Walker did a bit of soft lobbying

to make sure that they understand,

because I think the government have some ideas.

They sit in Westminster, and actually we are the ones literally on the ground

delivering those services.

And where the roads are concerned,

We know that nationally there is a massive massive deficit in the amount of money that is required to bring roads up to the standard

Which we expect and let's let's not forget that this is not just about roads and travelling around us by economic development

It's about ensuring that we can carry on

Delivering services and making sure that our county functions and thrives very well

So thank you for all the work that you're doing on that job, but we will be continuing that did you want to say something?

Seat 6 - 0:45:58

If I may, you've mentioned the challenge nationally,

and it is worth putting into context.

The LGA estimates that just to stand still as a sector,

we need a 17 billion pound injection of cash for councils,

just to stand still and maintain our road networks

across England.

So the scale of the challenge is huge,

and ultimately, we need very quickly

some answers or solutions, because it

feels like the country is in a real state

when it comes to infrastructure and it's not good enough.

Seat 11 - 0:46:29

Thank you. Colin.

Seat 10* - 0:46:33

Just wanna highlight a couple of points really

and it relates to the previous item,

but it is about the way in which contracting has been done

and the way in which contracting will be done.

And I think it's a really important step forward

and along with just a better way

of establishing the contracts,

it's the management of those contracts afterwards and

I have felt over the years that once contract is

Awarded that's it. That's a bit of an oversimplification

but

Actually some of those contractors contracts needed proper management

We need to understand how they're working and it's not just on the price and the delivery of what they're doing

It's also managing things like the social value

what is coming in in terms of social value.

And one of the things I want to start doing is,

that's often been reported as a cash equivalent.

Actually, we need to know how many apprentices,

you know, what difference has it made?

Because I think there's a really good storey there.

The other thing that is being introduced slowly

and some of our bigger contracts,

which this will be one of them,

is actually having a discussion every now and again.

every few months with the contractor to say how are things going, how is it going for

you as a contractor, this is how it's working for us.

And I think that dialogue between council and contractor is really important and that

will be being introduced and introduced more widely.

I mean, I've got a personal thing about you calling it audit, I think it's just straightforward

inspection, inspection of what's going on on the roads and that's what it is.

You know, I suppose having a background in in terms of councils with all day

It kind of just doesn't chime and then an inspector is what we want and people understand what an inspector does they inspect the work

That's a personal issue and you can decide on the name at some other time

But I think the way in which we're doing these contracts now and going forward is so much better and that will apply

to a number of items on today's agenda and I think it's a much better way of working.

Seat 6 - 0:48:53

On that point around contracts then, yeah, absolutely.

We have to, you know, our officers will go and negotiate on our behalf but we need to be very clear about what we want in that.

You know, my criticism of the previous administration is they negotiated bad contracts because, you know, they were a bit absent at the wheel.

it was a case of ticking a box and going yeah we've done that and as you say you

know not scrutinising it when it happens actually the most important part I think

of any contract is monitoring how you're doing you know if the output's crap then

you know it's not good enough is it it's simply not good enough so you're right

and in terms of yes I agree auditors jargon so I don't know what we call them

the roads police or you know who knows but we can have a brainstorming session

I'm sure.

Thank you.

Martin.

Seat 11 - 0:49:38

Seat 8* - 0:49:40

Yeah, I just want to strongly support Councillor Harris in his mission, actually, and I want

to say two thank yous.

The first is for sorting out the Le Campton Road.

I have a hunch that might not have been his personal intervention that secured it, but

who knows?

I mean, it looked like, parts of it looked like a moonscape before the election, and

it is now looking pristine and beautiful.

So thanks to him, but I'd extend that to the GCC officers and team who helped to deliver that and schedule that.

And it's one small example of how we are getting to grips with this.

But secondly, I'd like to thank him for his focus on quality as well as cost.

And I think we all understand that he can't fix all the potholes overnight, and he's wise never to have promised that.

but I think his determination to fix the system and that laser focus on quality

which is something that is highlighted to me constantly locally not just the

number of potholes or the you know the extent of the the work that needs to be

done but actually in the past some of the quality of the work that's been done

and the way that hasn't been followed up and I think he's absolutely right to

focus on that and I really applaud that and support it thank you

Seat 6 - 0:50:55

And you know if I can just pay tribute to our officer core actually because they're the people that carry out the work on our

behalf you've got Colin sat behind you and

Jason and you know, there's a lot of there's a lot of experience there and I found that to be pragmatic

helpful and ultimately no officer at this camp

No officer actually go I think goes into public service because certainly don't want an easy ride, but you know to do a bad job

But what they need to expect from the politicians is leadership and clear direction.

I'm still getting to grips with a lot of it, a lot of technical jargon, but I hope over the course of the next few months, the next year or so,

we're going to be able to build a really good relationship that ultimately allows us to deliver for Gloucestershire,

and allows us to make good on our manifesto commitment to do what we can to fix our roads and fix as many of them as possible.

So no, we've got we've got a really really good team. There's always things that can be improved. They'd be the first to

Admit that but they do a really good job in difficult circumstances. We've just got to try and find some more money guys

Seat 11 - 0:52:01

Excellent well on that note

We I draw your attention to page

177 the recommendations to delegate

To just such officers to conduct a competitive process in respect of the contract

of the structural maintenance works to award the contract to the preferred

tenderer and then point recommendation 3 to determine whether to exercise the

extension options at the relevant time. So can I look for a show of hands to

approve that? Thank you that is approved. So we now move on to item number 10 which

which is the Honeybourne CycleLink scheme,

the scheme promoter responsibilities

and contract procurement.

Roger, over to you.

Can you break this down for us

and put it into plain English?

Seat 8 - 0:53:00

Right, I will do my best.

Thank you, Chair.

And it's more transport and highway related subjects.

I'm very pleased to be presenting this report

on this Honeybourne CycleLink.

This is something which the public have been campaigning for for a long time and is much needed.

And it would be fair to say, before we get into too much detail, that generally transport links to Cheltenham Spa Station have been very poor.

and thanks to not only Beeching but Brunel nobody would have actually cited

the station exactly where it is now if they'd been planning a town but we are

where we are and in and improving those

communications we are already working on on busses and the frequency is about to

double between Chatham and Spa station and the town centre on the DBAS and I

I think some credit should be given to my predecessor,

Phil Robinson, though he was not surrounded by a great team,

he did work very, very hard on some of these issues

and to some good effect to get the BSIP money

that we've about spent.

So in terms of the walking and cycling,

the current links are poor.

You have to walk down a very busy road and it's quite a long walk to get to the a40

and

Same with the cycling there is no direct link between the honey born cycle line and the

cycle path on the a40

So so this will give you that link where people will be able to walk or cycle

straight out of the station car park and under the a40

and then come up to either go on a bus or on a cycle to Gloucester or wherever

they're going. We're looking at a cost of 2 .4 million pounds and the reason for

the caveats in the recommendations is that some of that has got to be

finalised but it won't be long coming we think so it's a mixture of GCC capital

funding s -106 funding and still funding but it's and also a grant from the DFT

cycle rail funding of nine hundred and fifty thousand pound which is the

largest item and once that's confirmed then we will be able to go ahead and do

that pretty soon. We'd be expecting to do that during 2026 and give us a much needed

link that isn't there now. So I move this to be accepted.

Seat 11 - 0:56:20

Lovely. Thank you, Roger. It's great to see more being put into that

cycling infrastructure across the county as we know it's incredibly important not just

To you know make our cycling a safer way to get around

But also again and more people that are on bikes rather than in cars improves our carbon emissions

And it's very good for health and well -being. So I'm really pleased to see this come forward

Colleagues, did you have any questions in particular on this item?

any comments

Yes, thank you.

Seat 10* - 0:56:57

Apologies for this.

Brunel didn't cite the station where it is.

Brunel's station was in the town centre.

Sadly, it was a terminus station and that's the reason that was shut and Lansdowne was opened.

Yeah, you are absolutely correct, of course.

Seat 8 - 0:57:13

Seat 11 - 0:57:17

Always good to get a bit of history at cabinet meetings, so excellent.

Thank you for that. So, if there are no further comments or questions on this,

thank you very much Roger for presenting this item that indeed when your

explanation for all think that was really really very useful. So I draw

colleagues attention to the recommendations on page 189 of the

can I see a show of hands to approve those recommendations and move forward

to this thank you very much think that is unanimous we now move then on to item

number 11 the adoption of Gloucester County Council's local development guide

2025 and I invite councillor Julian Took to present this item thank you chairman

Seat 9 - 0:58:17

Good morning. My first paper to cabinet is a tad dry. I have to say but really really important

So it's an update of an operational document, which is pre -existing

Hasn't been updated since 2021 but needs updating now. So why is it important?

so the local development guide sets out how GCC will work with the local planning authorities and

and developers to ensure that we have the right infrastructure at the right times to support sustainable development.

It's not legally binding, but it is a material consideration in planning decisions and helps guide funding decisions.

So why is it so important? Well, it's really important that we are clear to developers and

local planners about what is needed on infrastructure and how much it might cost.

So the guide outlines where GCC may seek developer contributions to mitigate the impact of new

developments, and it aims to give real clarity, transparency, and consistency to negotiations

with developers, so reducing planning delays.

Each development inevitably has to be assessed on its own merits, but this does set out expectations.

So what does it cover?

Well infrastructure planning actually underpins so much of the work that we do

as a council so it needs to be funded. So obviously if you have a big new

development you need highways we may need to make sure that the roads aren't

blocked and we have the right roads to mitigate against that.

But goes much broader than that so for instance flooding is an issue that we

know is a very present one due to climate change, Martin Horwood, my colleague

will be very aware of that.

So we do need to have the funding to support the local flood authority and provide guidance

on managing flood risk.

Education, you can't have new housing without the schools to go with them.

You need to have the new libraries to go with them.

You need to have waste being dealt with properly.

As I say, those funding considerations go broad.

They touch every area of what we do really, so they cover health as well.

adult social care that needs to be in place, digital connectivity, that's a key part of

what I'm trying to do.

In order to be really digital as a county we need to have the connectivity there, fire

and rescue and guards and communities.

To get to the point we are with this document we have gone through a consultation process

so we had two rounds of consultations, so we had public engagement which happened between

July and September 24 and we had targeted stakeholder consultation in February 2025.

So we've worked with the public but we've also worked with the planning authorities

on this.

Ongoing engagement is happening with the local planning authorities for the county planners

officers group to ensure that we're really kind of collaborative about this.

So this matters.

It may be operational.

It may feel a bit dry. But as I say this funding is really key to what we do as a council

So I'm asking the cabinet to approve the local development guide

2025

sometimes there will need to be supplementary garden guidance notes for complex or

Site specific topics. So I'm asking cabinet to delegate authority for those to be created

And we'll make sure that the guide is routinely updated and monitored by this system

Director of Planning and Economic Development,

and myself as the cabinet member.

Well, Julian, I think you've given,

Seat 11 - 1:02:02

you know, you've undersold yourself

in saying this was very dry.

It wasn't dry at all.

That was, you know, excellently presented.

And actually what I think is really important here

is that, you know, whilst the title may seem quite dry,

actually this is one of the things

which is one of the most important things to our residents.

I'd say, you know, after the roads

and the schools and health, we know that infrastructure first and that

common sense approach to development is absolutely vitally important. It's

just something that absolutely makes sense and we should definitely be

promoting that and actually we should be definitely making sure that that happens.

I again see that as part of our roles as the elected representatives here

in the county to make sure that exactly as you say that alongside new

developments, new housing, new business areas etc that we do get that

infrastructure. So I think this is actually one of those really really

important papers that we have to consider for our on behalf of our

residents and actually was one of the key pledges in our manifesto was that we

were really there and as those guardians to make sure that as housing comes in

as business areas are developed, that the roads are there, that the schools are there,

that the healthcare facilities are there, et cetera.

So I think this is a really, really important paper and actually brought it to life brilliantly.

So thank you very much for that.

Colleagues, did you have anything that you would like to add to this?

Martin.

Seat 8* - 1:03:38

Yes, I do have a couple of questions, which relate to particularly sections on page 215

and 218 which relate first of all to active travel and sustainable transport and how that's

an important part of this new framework and secondly flood risk assessments and how we

have a role as the lead flood authority to scrutinise development and the flood risk

assessments relating to them.

And those are very, very welcome, those commitments.

But I think I'm probably not alone in finding that historically we have not always found

County Council to be fantastically active on new developments and we have

ended up in my division certainly but in other places I know with new estates

that don't seem to be permeable to cycling and walking for instance and

where residents are very concerned in areas like Warden Hill in my division

downhill that all this new development is not gonna equal may increase flood

risk and they want this to be done not only in terms of our policy on paper and

frameworks like this but actually in terms of enforcement and objecting to

planning applications where they don't meet those criteria and I think our

residents want us to be really activists in enforcing this kind of framework as

well as just setting out these these very ambitious sort of standards so I

just want a little bit of reassurance from my colleague that we're not only

You're gonna have this framework in place, but they're really going to enforce it and expect to take an active role in enforcing it

Seat 9 - 1:05:22

Well, wait, thank you councillor Hallwood for your point because I think it's a really important point

We should be clear that it's the planning authorities that make the decisions about the housing first and foremost

however

This document is saying we need to be involved

We need to speak at planning authority and we need to stand up for those sorts of things that you're talking about

So your point is a good point to this noted. So, thank you

Seat 11 - 1:05:51

Yeah, thank you, I would echo what you've said Martin and as somebody who had a lead

Portfolio on flooding and sewage pollution at Cotswold District Council

so I can sort of speak to that.

And I couldn't agree with you more about how important it is

to ensure that we get really good collaboration

and that enforcement on these issues,

because without that,

we will not see good sustainable development.

And I think really, really important that we,

as an organisation,

make sure that we are working really closely.

And I think whilst we are in a two tier system,

that does potentially create some issues.

And as we move towards unitarization,

that hopefully will become easier,

But really really important that we all talk to one another to ensure that what is delivered is actually fit

Not just for now, but for the future, I think importantly so thank you for those points

If there were no other comments or questions, I would ask then for us to

recommend as per page 201 of the document pack that we approve the

adoption of the Local Development Guide and that we delegate authority to the Executive

Director for Economy, Environment and Infrastructure in collaboration with a cabinet member to

prepare an approved topic specific Local Development Guide supplementary guidance when it is required.

Can I see a show of hands for that? Thank you very much. Approved unanimously.

We now move on to item number 12, the creation of additional school places at Severin Banks

Primary School and Henley Bank High School. So Linda Cowan, thank you very much.

Seat 6* - 1:07:35

Thank you, Chair. Rather marvellously after the last item, here is something that is absolutely

spot on in terms of making sense to our communities. So let me begin by saying what this is really

about. It's about our children, their future and our duty to get the basics

right. Because today we're not just talking about bricks and mortar, we're

talking about opportunity. So the report that I'm bringing today is about

ensuring that every child in Gloucestershire has a place at a good

local school. That's it, nothing fancy, nothing complicated, just making sure

there's a seat at a desk for every child who needs one. So we've seen growth in two communities,

Lydney in the Forest of Dean and Brockworth in Gloucester. New homes, new families and

more children needing school places and needing school places close to where they live. And

we could sit back and wait for the problem or we could act now and today we are choosing

to act. At Seven Banks Primary in Lydney we're planning proper expansion, new

classrooms, better facilities, more early years places and indeed building on an

area where we've also put effort and energy into a family hub so we can

provide support for parents before the child's born and all the way through to

secondary school. A real investment in the forest of Dean. We've secured over

five million pounds through developer contributions and government grant funding to get this done.

So that's not money from the public purse, that's money from developers and money directly

from government. So the work will start soon and new places will be ready by 2028 which

is where we project they'll be needed. And at Henley Bank High School in Brockworth we're

working with the Greenshore Learning Trust to create new space for secondary school students

including a vitally needed new sixth form area,

which again means that students who live locally

can go to a school close to where they live.

Again, we're using money from housing developers to pay for this

and we're making sure that it delivers real value for the community.

This isn't about spending for the sake of it.

It's about planning ahead, using money wisely

and making sure we're building not just homes

but the services and the infrastructure people need alongside them.

It's about better homes and better lives for everyone.

And it's exactly what we promised to do.

Our Liberal Democrat manifesto makes it clear.

Infrastructure first, not houses now and services later.

We know it's what the public want.

Roads, schools, public transport, they need to come alongside development, not years behind

it.

And today we're delivering on that promise.

And that's about building sustainable communities.

We said we'd hold developers to account.

We said we'd make sure our schools were equipped for the future.

We said we'd give young people the best start in life.

And this is what it looks like in action.

Of course there are risks, delays, costs, changing numbers, but we've looked at them carefully.

We've put in the cheques and the safeguards.

We've got the teams ready to act if things shift.

And importantly, we've made sure that both schools and the councils and trusts behind them are working together with us.

That's what good public service should look like.

Joined up, forward thinking and focused on people because they're the people who matter.

Because for every statistic in this report there's a child, a child whose future depends on whether we step up and get this right.

Right first time because every child only has one chance. So let's get it right.

Seat 11 - 1:11:22

Seat 6 - 1:11:25

Seat 11 - 1:11:26

Well, Linda, thank you so much. You seem to have I think you're definitely getting the

prize for bringing the most positive reports to cabinet, not just this one, but also last

month. So, I mean, this is just absolutely brilliant. What a great report and what great

news for the county and for its children. I think, you know, I think that's the most

important thing. As you've said, this isn't just statistics, isn't numbers, it's actual

lives and you know if we don't provide a good place for our child to have a good

solid education then what chances really do they have so I'm absolutely delighted

that this is coming to us now and obviously going to fully and whole

heartedly support that and again linking back to the previous item I think it's

just plain common sense again to ensure that we have those places alongside

development that we have school places for children before becomes a crisis and

and how delightful to actually be able to say that we are here doing that and not just

dealing with things as they become out of control and therefore more costly, etc for

us to deal with and not planning for it. So excellent that this is being planned and that

the work is happening now to provide that when needed and as you said in 2028. So thank

you very much and thank you to officers who've been working on this and making sure this

happens. Ben, did you want to say something?

Seat 42 - 1:12:44

Yeah, I did. As the member for Brockworth, I was absolutely delighted that Henley Bank

is being given the chance to expand. Brockworth, as many people will be aware, has taken at

least its fair share of development. Numbers are going up really quickly in where people

live and the pressure on services is great. So it's a really great development. We're

and the new school.

And in terms of Henley Bank, I just thought I'd read out

briefly from their officer report,

because this is just what Brockworth needs.

Henley Bank is rated good by Ofsted.

It's an inclusive school.

People are taught to celebrate difference

and live out school values.

This develops their sense of community and belonging.

So that's exactly what we need in Brockworth as it grows.

And I'm delighted and yeah,

very grateful for you bringing this.

Thanks, Linda.

Seat 11 - 1:13:38

Thank you. Joe.

Yeah.

Seat 6 - 1:13:40

I think it's I think Ben's mentioned Brockworth and well done. I know this is an area that you've been you know

Really keen to develop so well done for the lobby that you've done on this and it's a real win

I think it's also worth saying that you know the Forest of Dean I think

It's a beautiful area. It's a great it's a great place, but you know

Hidden behind that is often

some of the worst poverty in the county.

And I think actually that's a stain on the county,

it really is.

So we've got a big job as a council working with partners

in the Forest of Dean at the district council there

and in communities to try and level up the county

to rehash that phrase.

And I think actually this is a great start.

This is a real investment into the Forest of Dean

at Seven Banks Primary in Lydney.

and you know I couldn't be more proud that one of the first things that we're

doing as an administration is a real meaningful investment into the Forest of

Dean because you know it's such a wonderful place, fantastic communities

there and for many years they have deserved a lot better than what they've

got under the last administration so this is a real investment and a real

win for the Forest of Dean and I'm incredibly proud it's one of the first

Seat 11 - 1:14:59

things that we're doing as administration. Thank you Joe, I think

really important points there. Colleagues, did you want to add anything? No? Well, fantastic,

yes, thank you very much. I'm sure that we will look at page 247 for the recommendations.

So we are approving the proposed change to the Children and Families Capital Programme

to set aside money to make sure that this happens.

And that we delegate authority to the assistant director

of asset management and property services

in conjunction consultation with the cabinet member

to appoint a contractor to supply consultancy support

in developing the planning submission,

in designing building and handover

of the new school building,

and the award of the call of contract

described in the recommendation 2a. And thirdly, that we delegate authority to the Executive

Director of Children's Services in consultation with the cabinet member to enter into a funding

agreement with Greenshaw Learning Trust to make sure that this project for the additional

classroom accommodation at Henley Bank School happens. So colleagues, can I see a show of

for that approval. Lovely, thank you very much. Excellent, we look forward to seeing

that in these new schools places coming forward. We now move to item number 13 and it's back

to Councillor Paul Hodgkinson, this time on the procurement of suicide bereavement support

services for residents of Gloucestershire. Thank you Paul.

Yeah, thank you.

Seat 10 - 1:16:47

So today what I'm asking for is cabinet's approval to secure a new and improved suicide

bereavement support service for Gloucestershire.

It's basically one that builds on what we do in the existing provision.

It strengthens what already works well and most importantly it meets the growing and

changing needs of our community.

So obviously this is a deeply sensitive subject.

The impact of suicide is devastating.

Families, friends, colleagues, even people who witness suicide,

all can be profoundly affected.

And some of us lost a colleague on this council to suicide some years ago.

And we know that the loss is sudden, it's often traumatic,

and it can leave people struggling with grief, with guilt,

isolation and psychological distress.

And all the evidence nationally, and our own evidence,

tells us that those bereaved by suicide are themselves at risk, increased risk of depression,

hospitalisation and sadly even suicide as well.

So there's an awful impact to all this.

Now since 2022 Gloucestershire has had a dedicated support service in place and in that time

over 120 people have accessed the service.

We've seen first hand how it helps people cope, it helps people recover and it helps

people feel less alone and service users have reported feeling better able to manage not

only their own lives but also in terms of clinical measures show a clear drop in psychological

distress after using the service so that is good.

So not only is it compassionate care it's also something that's an effective intervention.

But the need doesn't stop with the immediate family and this is what this report addresses.

National guidance now rightly expects these services to reach further to

children, to young people, to friends and colleagues, to communities who might

actually require more tailored support. So such as ethnic minority groups, again

LGBTQ plus individuals and those who witnessed suicide. And in terms of

funding we've got new and recurring funding from the NHS England, so £78 ,000

mental health budget.

So we now have the means financially to meet the expectation.

So the proposal you've got in front of you outlines a new contract to begin in April

2026 with an initial three -year term and then options to extend for up to seven years in

total.

And that gives us the stability then to attract high quality providers and the flexibility

to adapt as the service evolves.

So approving this contract today means more people will get timely and compassionate support.

It also means we'll be meeting our obligations under the National Suicide Prevention Strategy and the NHS Long -Term Plan.

But most importantly, it's a step towards reducing further harm and preventing more deaths.

So we need to be clear here, choosing not to act would mean turning our backs on people in their darkest moments.

people who often don't know where else to turn.

It's about dignity, it's about care, and it's about doing what's right.

So I ask you, therefore, to support the recommendations in this report

and ensure that no one in Gloucestershire has to face suicide bereavement on their own.

Thank you.

Seat 11 - 1:20:17

Thank you, Paul. A really, really important report and a very highly emotive subject.

So thank you for bringing this and you know, we'll obviously be wholeheartedly

supporting this I think that it's incredibly important and part of as you know, and

We have always said and part of our manifesto was about care and as liberal Democrats

It's very very important to us to make sure that all of those who need care are in

I can get that and access it. So I think this is a very important

very important report and a really important service, more to the point. So thank you for

bringing this and to all those who are carrying that out, actually to those in the frontline

staff who are doing this very important role. Colleagues, do you want to make any comments?

Linda?

Seat 6 - 1:21:12

I just wanted to make one comment. I'm so pleased to see you bring this to Cabinet.

and the bit that's rarely spoken about is the risk to those who have experienced bereavement of suicide themselves.

I've rarely heard it talked about and I think perhaps that's something you should take responsibility for, making people more aware of, so thank you.

Seat 11 - 1:21:33

Seat 10 - 1:21:34

I think you're absolutely right actually. As I said, the impact can be devastating, not only to the immediate family but for others involved too.

So this, I think, seeks to help address that point.

Joe.

Seat 11 - 1:21:48

Seat 6 - 1:21:49

Yeah, thank you, Paul.

You know, I know this is a issue

you feel particularly passionate about.

We can't discuss this, can we,

without remembering our friend and colleague, Jack Williams,

who was a county councillor here with us

and tragically took his own life in 2000.

and 18, I know that hit us incredibly hard as a group.

It was a very difficult time.

And clearly his loved ones, how do you even process that?

So I think this is a, if I may,

this is a fitting tribute to him, this report.

and I think it's absolutely invaluable that we support those who are left behind

because while time moves on, actually for people's loved ones, for friends, for family,

people still remember there's still a hole in their life.

And sure, people process that in different ways,

but we all know somebody affected by suicide and we have to have a process in place to support them.

Not only for the benefit of the people dealing with this shock, but actually also to remember the people that have tragically taken their lives.

So, you know, incredibly difficult subject and, you know,

thank you for bringing this forward and thank you to your

officer colleagues for pulling together what is a really good report.

And, you know, I sit here today, I think of our colleague, Jack,

who we lost and I hope this is a fitting tribute to him

in really awful circumstances.

Seat 11 - 1:23:46

Thank you, Jo, and I think a really important reminder there

of those who we have lost through suicide.

So thank you.

colleagues, I would ask you then to look to page 259 of our PAC recommendations, one to

five set out there, and I'd ask you to approve those recommendations. May I see a show of

hands please. Thank you very much. So we now move on to item number 14 and back to

Councillor Ismar. Now this is the provision of pathway to beds in Gloucestershire

care homes and I think they're the most biggest question there Kate is what is a

pathway to bed. Thank you.

Seat 36* - 1:24:46

Thank you. Right, a pathway to bed. Let me tell you about Mrs Smith. I suspect we probably

all know Mrs Smith. She had a fall a couple of months ago and she broke her hip. And she

got fabulous care from everyone at the Gloucester Royal Hospital. And she was visited several

times by the OT and the physio. And a week later, she was medically ready for discharge.

But she was still too frail to go home.

She didn't need to stay in hospital.

What Mrs Smith needed was somewhere safe, caring, temporary where she could recover.

And she was discharged to a pathway to bed in a local nursing home.

So these beds offer short term residential and nursing care for people like Mrs Smith,

people who are ready to leave hospital, but they're not quite ready to go home.

They provide a supportive environment while individuals recover and crucially while their

needs for continuing support are assessed.

In Mrs Smith's case she needed some physio and some occupational therapy to get her back

on her feet and a short term package of domiciliary care for when she first got home.

Mrs Smith spent four weeks in her Pathway to Bed.

stays can be up to a maximum of six weeks.

People are then discharged home with the package of care

that they need, or if necessary, admitted

to long -term residential or nursing care.

Funding for pathway two beds is slightly weird.

Gloucestershire County Council arranges the pathway two beds,

but the funding for those six weeks comes through from the NHS.

The current contracts will end between October 25 and February 26, so we need a plan to make

sure that there's no disruption to care or to hospital discharges.

We're proposing a two -year contract with the option to renew for an additional year involving

multiple care providers.

This time scale has been chosen as it allows continued good quality service provision while

while the future relationships between local government

and healthcare are established,

and it gives us time to develop

an appropriate longer -term model.

This approach allows us to embed clear quality

and performance standards,

ensuring consistency and accountability across providers,

and to meet our duties under the Care Act 2014,

which asks us to support a strong, high -quality care market

and enable timely hospital discharges.

It also reduces our reliance

on expensive last minute placements

and allows us to plan more effectively.

Mrs. Smith was placed in a care home

some distance from her own home

and got a little bit muddled without visits

from familiar faces.

By using a range of nursing and residential homes

for pathway two beds,

we aim to be able to place people close to their own homes

while they recover. This will make it easier for friends and family to visit,

reducing distress and confusion and help locality teams to arrange the local

support and activities people need for the best chance of successful discharge.

Locality teams have excellent knowledge of the voluntary and community -led

provision in their own areas. In short, this proposal supports better outcomes

for people, better value for money and a more stable care system. And I ask Cabinet to approve

this new procurement framework and to allow us to award call -off contracts under it as

needed. Thank you.

Seat 11 - 1:28:32

Excellent. Well, thank you. I think I now understand what a pathway to bed is. So that

was perfect. Thank you very much for that explanation. And I think the contextualisation

there was really, really useful. Colleagues, do you have any questions around this particular

item? No? Excellent. Well, then I would draw attention then to the page 277 of our document

pack with the recommendations set out there and items one to four and ask for

a show of hands to approve and this recommendation excellent thank you very

much and thank you for putting that into plain English Kate will get you to do

that on many occasions. So we now move on to item 15, the M5 Junction

10 improvement scheme, procurement of associated professional services and works. Julian, back

Seat 9 - 1:29:48

to you on this. Again a tad dry, but I will do my best to

make it interesting. What this is really about is about making sure that we have the right

mechanisms in place, structures and agreements in place to deliver the infrastructure that

is needed to support housing.

So Gloucester City Council, Cheeksbury Borough Council and Cheltenham Borough Council have

done a great job on their JCS which outlined significant strategic development proposing

around 9 ,000 new homes and 100 hectares of employment land in the north and northwest

of Cheltenham.

Unlocking these developments requires infrastructure and specifically it requires improvements

around M5 Junction 10 to support increase of motorised and non -motorised traffic.

How will this be funded?

Well, significantly the funding will come from the Housing Infrastructure Fund, which

is a fund that has been set up by the government as a grant, which supports projects that infrastructure

projects that support the delivery of housing targets.

So we have got funding from there.

We also, from them, totaling of 249 ,131 ,000, and we have funding to cover M5 Junction 10

improvement scheme, the Arlecourt transport hub, and the A38 stroke A4019 junction improvements

at Coombe Hill.

We also have the development order in place the DCO which was a really big

landmark for us for the M5 Junction 10 improvement scheme and that was approved

by the Secretary of State on the 4th of June. So that's all really good news

we've got significant funding we've got the DCO in place. What do we need to do

now? Well we need to get two contracts in place so Atkins Realis have engaged with

us since 2019 and have been integral to the scheme, providing planning, design and contract

management services.

While their previous contract has expired, continuity of services offers real strategic

advantages to us due to the deep institutional knowledge that they have.

The council has transitioned to a new professional services contract with WSP UK Limited.

Certain work streams will continue with Atkins -Royale, but new services and contract supervision will

be delivered through WSP as well.

It's worth saying that these are call -off agreements, so it means we have a menu of

services and we can contract on those things individually, call off the agreement, whatever

we want.

In addition to the professional services, the delivery of the scheme will require agreements

with utility and telecom providers to relocate or protect infrastructure.

Now obviously there's a cost to all these things.

So in terms of the key service packages, we're talking about two million for continued services

with Atkins Realis and two million a year for services via WSP UK limited and 10 million

for the utility relocation.

So to reiterate all those are covered by the existing housing infrastructure funding

So we'd like to go ahead with this

We are totally committed to M5 Junction 10. It has to happen

This is really key to making it happen. So I would ask you to support me

to proceed with procuring further services from both Atkins -Reyes

and WSP and commission statutory bodies to support the scheme delivery. This

ensures compliance with funding and timeline requirements importantly so to

keep that funding we have to get on with it essentially. Thank you.

Seat 11 - 1:33:51

Brilliant, very good and very clearly explained. You know probably slightly

drier than the other one but you know I'm gonna be really honest but I liked

how you sort of broken down really what call off means I think to the public

that also can seem a bit kind of abstract but understanding that and

seeing that as a sort of menu of options I really like the way that you

explained that so thanks Julian for that and again I think you know just to

reinforce and or reiterate your point about how important this project is to

the county as a whole I think we really can can't say enough just what a

brilliant opportunity this will be for not just housing development but for

that employment land in particular and if we want to see Gloucestershire grow

and thrive I think this isn't just about tarmac it's about much more about that

about lives and we've talked a lot about that today and how we can support that

and getting infrastructure first and making sure that this all happens is

incredibly important for the future of Gloucestershire so thank you for this

and I know that it's being tough for our officers here and there's been long

amount of a negotiation and going back and forth not with just our partners

here but nationally etc so thank you to to those of you in the back row there

and for all that you've been doing on that Julian you want to come back in.

Seat 9 - 1:35:16

Yes I was just going to add my thanks to Colin Chicken team. I think they've got

considerable funding through and they've really pushed this project so thank you.

Seat 11 - 1:35:27

Excellent. So colleagues, do you have anything you wanted to clarify in any of this? Any

comments? No. Well, then I think we should then go with Julian's recommendation. As set

out on page 297 of the document pack, I won't go through it all. It's quite wordy. So I

I would ask that you approve the recommendations as set out there,

one, two, A, B and C.

Can I see a show of hands, please, for that?

Excellent. Thank you very much.

And again, good luck with that project.

I'm sure we'll be hearing much more about it as it progresses.

So, we move now on to Item 16,

and to Councillor Ben Evans,

who is going to talk to us about the youth justice plan.

So thank you, Ben.

Thanks, Lisa.

Seat 42 - 1:36:25

So what I'm asking from Cabinet is to approve a report which is on page 315 of the pack.

What's it all about?

Well, if you're aged between 10 and 17 and you are convicted of a criminal offence, then

you enter the youth justice system.

The reason for that is that if you're under 18 your brain and your behaviour patterns are still developing

and so we put a lot of effort into ensuring that children and young people get support so that they hopefully don't offend again

and can begin to make better choices with their life.

It's also, the other reason we do it is that if you look at the cohort of young people who are in the Youth Justice System

They tend to be young people.

They're characterised by having had

a lot of additional challenges in their life

as they grow in there.

So I'd ask cabinet to approve the report.

It's a part of a three -year, 25 to 28 plan, which sits

within the children's services.

Why the plan about making Gloucestershire a great place

for all children and young people

to live lives of choice and opportunity.

We have a statutory duty to produce this report,

which means the statutory duty means that we have to do it,

so that's part of the reason,

but it's also really good for us to be able to take stock.

The Youth Justice System in Gloucestershire,

we're the lead partner, but it's a partnership.

It's not just us on our own, so obviously the police are involved with us

and support in its health, children's social care,

education, the courts, National Probation Service,

restorative Gloucestershire, and the national body,

which is called the Youth Justice Board, are all partners

and all contribute to this.

And funding -wise, we're funded directly from central government

to provide these services.

And then statutory partners also contribute in kind,

or actually financially.

In the last year the youth support service has come back in house, so we had commissioned it out but it's come back in.

That's been managed I think really successfully. It's a bit of a bumpy thing when you sort of 2p staff in but I commend staff for managing that really well.

What the report says, there's quite a lot in there which I obviously won't read all through,

But the sort of highlight which I want to emphasise is there were 78.

Our first time entrance into the youth justice system is lower

than the average for England and for the southwest.

So that means we're performing well through lots

of different things that we do.

And the figure for the last quarter is 78 per 100 ,000.

I find that really difficult to visualise.

But what I think it means if my math is correct is that one

in every 1 ,250 children is entering the youth justice system.

So the reason I'm emphasising that is that's one 10 to 17 year old per pretty big secondary school.

Our kids in this county are doing really well and if you read the paper sometimes you might think that young people are committing crime and up to no good.

They're not in Gloucestershire. They're doing really well and so we're talking about a very well performing service and a very well performing group of young people.

and I think it's my job to really emphasise that.

The next three years are going to build on the overarching

aims we've had in the previous three.

So I'll just quickly run through them.

Support in our workforce, this is integration back into GCC.

The implementation of the Child First framework

into our delivery, absolutely important

that we keep an eye on that these young people are

children still.

The science is that your frontal lobe doesn't develop in boys until you're 25 or 30, the

bit that deals with consequences.

These are children very much.

The third one I think cabinet colleagues will be really, and colleagues on scrutiny, will

be really pleased to hear because there is still disproportionality in who enters the

youth justice system, particularly around race and ethnicity, and that is a key priority

building on a report from last year and scrutiny have really challenged officers around this.

So I'm sure they'll be pleased that's a key priority.

To improve health and wellbeing of children within the youth justice system and to ensure

an effective response to victims of crime, including children, because again, children

and people are disproportionately victims of crime.

So I would ask that cabinet approves the report.

It's a positive report, it's part of our positive storey for children's services, which we're

moving in a really positive direction.

And the fact that they're now sitting within that with the strong and positive leadership

we have can only be a good thing.

Seat 11 - 1:41:25

Excellent.

Thank you, Ben.

I think there's a couple of those highlights that you mentioned, in particular, that the

children entering the criminal justice system are often the ones that are you

know have been subject to all sorts of kind of interventions or other things in

their lives is a really really important factor and I think you know when we look

at you know the the child as a whole it's looking at all of the factors which

build to that are incredibly important I know that whole work that and James has

been doing and her entire team to make sure that you know child -centred

approach is really really changing the lives for our children in this county so

thank you for all the work that's been going on in that. I would just point out

to colleagues that whilst we are being asked here at cabinet to approve the the

actual plan that we then have to bring this to County Council to the full

Council itself because it is something which again is a collective

responsibility for all of us as councillors in the full council to then

the council. Ben will be representing this at a meeting of full council in the

coming months. So colleagues were there any questions or comments on this

Seat 8* - 1:42:56

at this point? Martin then Joe. Yes I'd just like to really welcome this report

And there are two things I'll just highlight.

One is that restorative Gloucestershire are involved in this process, and I really liked

in the report that there is quite a lot of mention of restorative justice, which of course

works for the victims of crime, not just for the people we're trying to steer down a better

path.

And there is even mention in the report of child victims of crime, which I think is really

important and a much neglected area.

So that was really pleasing to see.

The other thing which I suppose could be a bit of a footnote was item 13 in your report

Which is on climate change and ecological implications and actually this is something

Which could in elsewhere be a bit of a tick box exercise that you say you've done the climate impact assessment

but in this report there is a very conscious set of

suggestions on how

This process which is not, you know, very obviously an environmental issue

Is talking about opting for suppliers who exhibit sustainable practises when procuring related services requesting staff and users to walk cycle car

share or utilise public transport

sites being encouraged to be appropriately insulated and utilise renewable energy systems and items only to be purchased if

Necessary egf existing items cannot be repaired and are no longer fit for purpose. I think that's an exemplary

set of

recommendations for teams that aren't directly involved in environmental work

But in the way that I hope I emphasise at Council recently all our work can help to address

climate change and can help to prioritise things like reuse and recycling rather than

Waste production. So I don't know who the officer was who was responsible for those paragraphs, but if you can find out who they are

Please do give them a pat on the back

Great work

Can I come back to that?

Seat 42 - 1:44:46

Seat 11 - 1:44:47

Yeah, so I'll definitely pass that on to officers.

Seat 8* - 1:44:49

Seat 42 - 1:44:50

I mean, it's a tremendously well -written report throughout.

And I think I'm right in saying that Fiona Walker and Rob

England have produced the report,

so I will pass that back to them.

I think when you're working, particularly with children,

this environmental issues cannot be a footnote.

It is the thing that matters if you ask them about anything

outside their immediate circle.

And so, yeah, I'll certainly feed that back.

Thank you. Joe, did you want to come in?

Seat 11 - 1:45:17

Seat 6 - 1:45:19

Thanks, yeah, for the last couple of years, last few years, I sat on the police and crime board

and we've had reports back and we have looked into the way children and young people are treated

particularly when they go into custody and I think it's fair to say there's inconsistency there

or there has been, certainly. So how have you found engagement with the police on this?

are they as enthusiastic as you have been in terms of pulling this together because

ultimately a key player in this are the police and I know there are instances where I've

been horrified at the way the police have perhaps handled issues around children and

young people whether that's you know making details of you know children in custody public

or whether that's the way children and young people are treated when they enter custody.

in Quedrelie. So how have we found relationships with the police because that's a really important

plank of this.

Seat 42 - 1:46:19

Well in terms of managing the relationships with the police I'm going to defer to Anne

if that's alright who leads on that for us.

Seat 21 - 1:46:30

Yeah thanks very much. So the police are obviously members of our Youth Justice Service, they

set on our management board.

And you would have seen more recently their commitment

to improving services to protect children.

We operate as good partners in that space.

So we both support and challenge

when things are inappropriate.

And I think we've got quite a mature

and sensible relationship and a journey to go on.

So we keep striving for excellence for our children.

Seat 11 - 1:47:04

Thank you for that. So colleagues, if we, as I just mentioned, the recommendation is

that we recommend this to full Council, so we accept it here and then we'll present it

at full Council. So can I see a show of hands for that recommendation? Thank you very much.

that is approved and recommended and we look forward to that coming to council

in the coming months. So ploughing on through our very big agenda today,

item 17 the grounds maintenance services for schools and corporate properties in

Seat 10* - 1:47:50

Gloucestershire and over to the deputy leader Councillor Colin Hay. Okay so I

This is just about grass cutting and other bits and pieces.

It is a contract we have to develop.

There's nothing extraordinarily new about this.

It is again a contract, which is a call -off contract.

In other words, it's put there in place and schools can take or leave whatever parts of

the contract they might want.

There's a fair amount of detail in there.

It also means that other organisations, so NHS colleagues, can actually make use of this

contract.

And, of course, by including wider people, you make the contract more attractive for

people to bid for those contracts, and it's split up into the six areas of the county

so that we can...

So it's split up into six contracts.

I can't say an awful lot more about it.

It is, frankly, what it is.

But it does need to be approved here.

And it will go through the rigours that we've said with any of the contracts that we're

doing in terms of the quality of it.

We'll be asking for the social value in there and all the other things and monitoring that

contract.

And of course all of the recipients or all of the people drawing down services from that

contract will have the opportunity of saying how well that's going.

So as I say, it isn't the most exciting thing on today's agenda, but we still need to approve

it and can I ask for that approval.

Seat 11 - 1:49:41

Any questions?

Yes.

Well, thank you.

Con you ploughed through that very quickly

Colleagues do we have any questions or comments?

on this item we seem to be very much our

agenda seems to be very full today of

framework and contracts and and

Call -offs, so I'm glad that we sort of established in reality what that is

No excellent well then

recommended by

Councillor Hayle, we have the recommendations on pages on page 375 of

the document pack. Again I won't go through it all in detail but can I see

a show of hands to approve this as per the recommendation? Thank you. We now move

on to item number 18 which is safety enforcement cameras contract, yet another

contract and we're back to councillor Roger Wyborn for this one. Thank you

Seat 8 - 1:50:46

chair as you say more contracts and more highways but an important one on

safety cameras and I get it that safety cameras are more popular with some

members of the public than with others but it's a very important subject and

the reason it's a very important subject is that we are seriously concerned as a

County Council about the level of fatal and serious injuries on some of our roads and

particularly some of our long distance A roads, which is where these cameras will be mainly

or entirely going to.

It's worth explaining how the funding works for cameras because there is a misapprehension

that the County Council puts them up as a revenue raising exercise and the only purpose

of them is to catch the motorists.

In fact the County Council gets no revenue from fines on speed cameras at all, even if

it gets a certain amount of revenue in other areas but no revenue before

speeding fines if the police decide as they sometimes do that the driver would

benefit from instead of paying a fine going on a speed awareness course

instead which they still have to pay for but they don't get the points on their

licence. What happens then is that the money is then retained and the first

chance of it is to pay for the maintenance of the camera system on the

road and then a certain amount of money is left over which allows the

authorities to fund another camera or something like that. So there is

element of self funding in it as it progresses and the whole sighting of

cameras and rationale behind it is to is to is to improve safety and we are now

I've been for a little while focusing on average speed cameras rather than single

point cameras even though average speed cameras are a lot more expensive because

they are hugely effective in the work that they do and it's been being

demonstrated that the level of serious and fatal accidents will come down. So

that's the reason we're doing it and I don't think I've got anything else to

say the funding stream is explained in the in the paper and so I propose.

Seat 11 - 1:53:54

Excellent, thank you Roger. I have to say that you know sort of as you pointed out

in your covering speech there that I think you know the misconception around

cameras and who does what and what money you get it is one that the public

Doesn't always understand. So thank you for clarifying for clarifying that a

pool

Seat 10 - 1:54:18

Yeah, thanks for bringing this Roger. It was just comment actually because in in my division

County Council division has been the new road safety speed cameras installed between seven Springs

For those who know it the Kilkenny and the Frog Mill. So that stretches between the April 3 16

you know 40 and a lot of us including the parish council's lobbied for extra road safety

measures for quite some time because of the accident rate and sadly the death rate on

those roads and people are really the local people and not necessarily the people who

have been caught speeding but the local people are really really pleased about this as a

new intervention and as a road that I regularly drive I've noticed just how much slower everyone

is going because as you rightly said it is the average speed cameras which pretty

much most people adhere to because just like on the A417 at the moment you

know as an individual you're most likely to get caught if you speed so it's a

really good deterrent I think and so I'm really welcome this and actually really

interested to see where else these things might be rolled out to improve

Seat 11 - 1:55:31

safety. Yeah really really good point and I would totally agree from that average

speed

Seat 8 - 1:55:40

Just say that obviously that the a436 is very much on our radar no pun intended

but I'm not going to commit in public to exactly which I

Rose that they're going to go on but

There won't be surprises and it will be the roads which are really causing

us a lot of difficulty over

over serious accidents and fatalities.

Seat 11 - 1:56:08

Thank you.

Colleagues, if there were no further questions

or comments on this item,

then I would direct your attention to page 387,

where the recommendations are set out,

one, two, three, and four.

Again, for brevity, I will not read them all out.

They are lengthy, but I would ask

that you show your hand to approve the recommendations as set out.

That is unanimous. Thank you very much.

Right, we're back to another framework procurement item.

So over to you, Colin, this time I think it's around phones, is it?

Seat 10* - 1:56:52

It is around phones.

The title is, as a number of mine are,

Quite meaningless in lots of ways

This is the equivalent of you

Retendering your broadband and telephone and

The wires that connect it to your home

we're a bit bigger than that and

There's lots of wires lots of switching

Almost all of those wires switches and connectivity have been replaced

very recently and BT have been doing that replacement in the earlier contract.

So this really is to extend that contract, go out again.

Anyone else I think would find it difficult because they would want to put their own wires,

switches and everything else in place.

This one I think makes a certain amount of sense.

this call -off contract again because of actually these things change over time

so it's it's to basically to continue working with BT not had the problems

it's all all all new don't make sense to change and it I just recommend it I

can't really say an awful lot more about it you know we all know what it's like

looking at our telephone chargers and stuff. Well anyway that's where we are.

Seat 11 - 1:58:25

Thank you Colin. I like the fact you say it's like re -tendering your digital or broadband or phone

contracts. I'm not sure I've really tendered mine before. Anyways, colleagues can I ask whether

you have any questions or comments on this particular item, no. So as per page 399

of our document pack, the recommendations to cabinet as set out 1 and 2, I would ask

you as per Colin's recommendation to us today show your approval for those.

Lovely. Right, we're back to you Colin. This time it's paper clips and staplers. So it's

the re -procurement of the stationary contract. Thank you.

Seat 10* - 1:59:18

Part of my homework is to look at some of the titles that we give this stuff. You know,

it's stationary, what he immediately thinks is what Lisa's just said, bits of paper, staples,

paper clips etc. No, it is stationary and supplies. So it can be anything from you

know logoed items of clothing PPE it's all those supplies and this is to to

procure that over the period along with many other contracts we will be putting

in and asking about how would LGR affect the local government reorganisation?

How would that affect the contract?

Can the contract survive that?

What would be the adjustment?

Does it just carry on after the vesting day, et cetera?

So I think it's important that we're looking at these things in all of our contracts.

But at the end of the day, this is just buying the bits and pieces we need to run the organisation.

And so, you know, it's here.

I have to bring it to Cabinet.

And I need your approval to take it forward.

Well, I won't be taking it forward.

But our officers to take it forward and actually, you know, sign on the dotted line when it

comes to it.

but there will be some engagement on the way clearly

and we'll keep an eye on that contract.

There's little more to say I'm afraid.

Seat 11 - 2:00:54

Lovely, thank you.

Actually on this, I mean,

I just like to seek some reassurance

and I know that we're all sitting here

largely with laptops and not having printed out

agendas, et cetera.

So I would hope that, you know,

from a sustainability point of view

and in terms of reducing waste and use of items

that we are as an organisation moving towards that

and very, very mindful that when we don't need to print out

bits of paper or indeed use stationary, et cetera,

that we are doing that, which not only means

that those items don't have to be produced

in the first place, we don't have to buy them

and they don't have to be ultimately recycled

or disposed of.

So I'm hoping that that is where we are as an organisation.

Can you reassure me on that colleague?

Seat 10* - 2:01:48

I can, and I think next time this comes up,

it will be, the title of it will be more explicit.

I can't think of the words at the moment,

but we'll figure something out by the next time.

So whoever bringing it, but no, it is, you know,

We, the IT systems that are being introduced now

are so much more effective and there will not be the need.

So, and I do pay tribute to the way in which the IT system,

which is so badly in need of being updated,

is, there's hiccups on the way clearly,

but we are getting there and we are having a system which is already paying dividends

in various services and the fact that we will be needing much, much less paper than ever

we did before. So you can have that assurance.

Seat 11 - 2:02:57

Thank you. So colleagues, if there were no other – oh, sorry, Martin.

Seat 8* - 2:03:02

Apart from congratulating him on using a procurement framework that seems to have originated in

Yorkshire, which is a famously, I don't want to use the word tight, but canny county, so

that's presumably promising in terms of cost control.

I have just got one question and it's on the theme of sort of jargon.

Can you just explain the concept of a call -off contract, which is in the recommendations,

because I haven't personally I haven't come across that phrase before but it

may be a very common one in contract. Julian was eloquent on a call -off

Seat 10* - 2:03:38

contract before so you have heard it and I can say

Seat 11 - 2:03:45

Seat 10 - 2:03:46

Seat 10* - 2:03:47

Seat 9 - 2:03:49

Seat 11 - 2:03:50

Seat 9 - 2:03:55

it's the menu of options. Yeah a call -off contract which has a menu of options

and the associated prices and you could decide to draw from that menu of options even when

you need the service.

Seat 11 - 2:04:06

Ala carte as opposed to menu feeks I think is what we would say. So you literally choose

or call off the bits that you want and pay for those at that time but the framework,

The menu is is there itself, but you're not automatically having everything on it

Linda Linda might have a better analogy

Seat 6 - 2:04:33

Just briefly is anything going to run hand -in -hand with this which is to encourage

everybody within the council to think about

and whether they actually really need it. Because that was obviously you giving the

undertaking is marvellous but you can't be there monitoring every paper clip so perhaps

we do need an internal comms initiative to encourage everybody to think twice before

they, because I've seen quite a lot of lovely things floating around which probably could

have been done without. So I think it's quite a lot of money, isn't it, and we could make

quite a dent in that if we thought twice about everything. That really relies on everybody

Having a hand in that I

Seat 10* - 2:05:20

Think it's worth bearing in mind that those are the figures in in terms of totals and it doesn't mean that

We're going to be buying everything so it's there and actually being able to piggyback on the work that somebody else has done

I Yorkshire in this case is is useful. It's very cost effective

in terms of

of what people ask for and what's procured out of this contract, I'd have to leave that

up to directorates and that message needs to get through.

And I think the message will get through because reference has been made earlier to the fair

funding formula.

We are going to have to save bucket loads of money.

And actually by it's all you know adding up all the small bits that you can save on

making things more efficient

We stand a much better chance of being able to protect more

Services by everybody and we've talked about this

This we want to hear from almost every member of staff in

in saying we could do this differently.

If we did it differently, we can save a bit of money here,

there.

And that's the kind of attitude that we need.

But I'm afraid it is difficult to put that

in the procurement part of this.

But it's absolutely the case that that's what we need to do.

Seat 11 - 2:06:53

Yeah, it'd be one of my core messages

about making sure that you treat every pound that's like your

and I'm taking good Scottish attitude to thriftiness

throughout the organisation.

But very, very good point.

I think really important.

Thank you, Linda.

So colleagues, if we have talked enough about elastic bands

and staples, I would ask that we look at page 407

of the document pack.

the recommendations set out there, one, two and three, and that we support Colin's recommendation for us to approve that.

Can I see a show of hands, please? Thank you so much.

And so, well, finally, we're getting there and getting through this meaty agenda today.

and we move to our final cabinet report, item number 21, the Gloucestershire Infrastructure

Seat 9 - 2:08:02

Investment Fund and we go back to Julian for that one. Thank you. Thank you chair. It's my

pleasure to present something which is really really positive and has been fantastic. So the

Gloucestershire Infrastructure Investment Fund is a loan fund that was created to unlock

sites across Gloucestershire that would have stalled or been constrained.

So supporting delivery of new jobs, homes and regeneration, all the nice things we want.

The fund was established using a capital grant of 7 .85 million, which was awarded to Gloucestershire

County Council from the government's Growing Places Fund.

The fund provides short -term loans to viable infrastructure projects where access to commercial

finance is difficult.

So it can really unlock potential that would have been hard to deliver otherwise.

How does it work?

Well, it operates as a revolving loan fund.

Loans are usually for up to three years.

Borrowers are expected to pay, repay once their project reaches a point where traditional

funding could take over or becomes available so you know we really are

offer opening up opportunities that wouldn't have been open elsewhere and

all associated costs including legal and appraisal fees are paid by the

applicants and that's really important so this is not a cost to the council

that's the message of that but what has it achieved well lots of things so it's

today projects those projects have been supplemented by over 134 million pounds

worth of private sector investment and it's helped to create or safeguard more

than 845 jobs it's covered a range of areas including things such as housing

developments business support care homes infrastructure and problem

improvements, sports and leisure facilities.

So real range of things.

Now what are we asking of you today?

So this used to be run by the local enterprise partnership,

but the local enterprise partnership came into GCC

in April 2024.

And so the governance of this is now transitioning to GCC.

It is no longer in an external body,

the local enterprise partnership.

So the new governance model retains most of the existing processes but brings decision -makers

decision -making within our structure. We need to have a governance model which is

suitable for our organisation and fits GCC. So key changes in the governance

model so there will be a new internal GCC group to assess applications on that

In that group will be myself section 1 5 1 officer and our director of economy economy and environment

Final loan decisions will be made by the director of economy

Environments, I'm getting tongue -tied in consultation with relevant officers members

New loans will need to be charged interest

So that's a key difference to grow the fund for future product for future projects

Uh, things that we need to get right and that we're looking at now, so there will be a stronger

focus on loan security, financial risk analysis, and compliance with UK subsidy control regulation.

And we're really focusing on those things now.

And what we're doing is we're studying what other councils are doing to learn from them

and build it in so the practise, we have best practise.

So what I'm asking the recommendation is that cabinet approve the new governance process and delegate loan approval authority to ensure that the fund remains an agile and effective funding tool.

Thank you.

Seat 11 - 2:11:54

Excellent. Well, thank you very much for that Julian. I've got Martins, got his hands up straight away with a question or comment.

Seat 8* - 2:12:04

Yes, I'd like to thank Councillor Tooke for this report.

I, as on all the reports, looked up the climate change impact assessment tool and discovered

actually that it wasn't produced for this report and I wonder if we should move towards

a situation, although there are special circumstances here, where actually that impact assessment

tool is produced for all reports.

There is a reassurance in the report, I'm pleased to say, that all the actual projects

actually benefiting from the loan fund will be looked at in terms of their environmental

impact.

But clearly, even the governance structure of how you approach the spending of tens of

millions of pounds of infrastructure spending could have enormous environmental and ecological

impacts.

they could have potential for climate mitigation but also for climate adaptation.

And I hope that will be part of the loan funds criteria moving forward.

So I just – I suppose I'm looking for a reassurance that the wording in the report

which says that climate change and ecological implications will be considered in the delivery

of projects will be robustly enforced by this administration because we have never believed

in growth at all costs.

We have always recognised that we have to operate within planetary and ecological limits in

The investment and projects that we do in economic development

Seat 9 - 2:13:33

Thank You councillor Hallward, I agree with you totally I'm

Completely as a green lived M. I am completely committed to taking the right actions around climate change and biodiversity

I would also like what we say about equality to be more robust in these sorts of reports to you

I think it's important that we have targets

You are the expert on your cabinet area

And I would love to work with you more closely on how we can measure these things and build it into our targets

Seat 11 - 2:14:08

Challenge from cancer over there and taking up my cancer took thank you

Seat 10* - 2:14:15

I just want to say this is one of those areas that local government, and in some cases national

government, actually do well.

It's where you can't get the money.

You can't unlock something which can be really valuable by going to the commercial sector

to banks and other loan facilities.

And so it is something that is left to us, and we can do it quite well.

and local government in particular, is there on the ground, can see what's happening, can

see what it can unlock.

And you've mentioned how much money has unlocked in the future.

And it is the issue that local government is undervalued for that.

And we see that government is going in the wrong direction and continuing to starve those

sorts of funds and I think that's a huge shame but it is something that we should

be very proud of and we do well.

Seat 11 - 2:15:23

Excellent thank you. Councillor Harris.

Seat 6 - 2:15:25

Yeah this is a really good report Julian. I think it covers all the bases. I think you know just a comment more than anything I think the local enterprise

partnerships for one of the real successes actually of the coalition

government. One of the things that came out of coalition government feels like a

long time ago doesn't it? Actually the last competent government we had I may

say. Actually Martin you were there weren't you? So yeah sorry. But no I

mean I just I think just to say that you know we've got a really strong record in

Gloucestershire of investment not only to move the structure but into local business that

supports the local economy and I think you know it'd be remiss of me not to

mentioned David Owen who's over there who did so much good work as Chief Executive of

the Local Enterprise Partnership.

I think David, he really did make a real difference leading that.

It was probably quite a culture shock when you had to come and join council side.

I think actually a reflection on that, I do think it was one of the foolish things the

last government did actually, bringing it in the control of a local authority.

We know the challenges that local authorities have around adult social care, around children

the social services, the ongoing funding crisis, the roads.

So it's one of those areas, isn't it,

is if we haven't got enough on our plate,

we're now being asked to make objective decisions

about local infrastructure, funding,

and supporting the local economy,

which actually I think was probably better done

by people that are absolutely rooted

in the business and economic community.

But that said, I think this is a really good framework

and foundation that will give us at least

part of the ability to do what the LEPS did for a decade or so.

And actually just a shout out to the LEP because after we exited the European Union it was

the LEP actually that managed to allocate quite a lot of funding to pick up some of

the slack from Regional Development Fund money that we'd lost from the European Union, at

least for a few years.

And I know here in Gloucestershire, particularly around apprenticeship skills and training,

that was something that the LEP did very very well after EU funding ceased. So you

know this is not an ideal situation. I think it is regrettable actually that

local enterprise partnerships are folded and it's now just been merged into

cases but this gives us a really good opportunity and foundation to crack on

and to hopefully make a difference in this case for infrastructure in

Gloucestershire but more generally around the business and economy

I think this gives us a good foundation to support it as much as we can.

So good luck Julian.

Thank you.

Seat 11 - 2:18:05

Linda.

Seat 6 - 2:18:07

Yes, I just wanted to say because obviously perhaps people who might be watching this

won't have ploughed through all these documents, but if we are really going to have ambition

and aspiration for this county and for our young people, then this is the way to do it.

And if you were to look at one example,

say, lost the services on the M5,

the fact that with the investment of three million,

they were then able to attract 20 million pounds

worth of investment, and most critically,

to create 400 jobs.

So that's really why this matters.

Seat 11 - 2:18:40

Yeah, before bringing you in, Julie,

and in fact, it was the point I was going to make

is that leveraging power, so what we can do with this money,

and I think you said, Julie, what was 132 million

has been leveraged and I think that is what our role is here. You know to your

point Joe what can we do here as local authorities in this position which is

perhaps not one that we would have chosen but I think that is that power

that where we are putting and directing funds is that we can then grow that and

make sure that it is really delivering on our key priorities and whether that's

the actual infrastructure itself or the wider economic development around

skills and jobs and business local business opportunities

I think that's something that you know as counsellors we will certainly be doing and I know that Julian and that's why I put you

In this cabinet role. I think you're doing an excellent job on that already so far

And I'm sure that you will continue to do that. But I know that you perhaps wanted to come back in on that as well

Seat 9 - 2:19:35

So I just wanted to come back on Councillor Harris's point

I think it's a fair point and it's well made

But at a time when government funding is being cut like mad when we're facing the fairer funding review

We don't have many levers that we can pull to increase the income that comes into this county and

Actually, this is a lever that we have some influence over because if we get the right housing in place increase the housing

We get more council tax if we get the businesses in place we get more business rates

So I think your point is a fair point, but I'm actually quite positive about having this role and about the fact that this is in this county, because it is a lever that we can pull, hopefully, to grow the pot that pays for all our caring services.

Seat 11 - 2:20:29

Excellent. Well said and good luck with that. We look forward to hearing back from all of

the hard work that I know you will be putting into this.

So colleagues, if there weren't any more comments on this, then I would draw your attention

to page 413 of the document pack with the recommendations set out there. An A, B and

C on this one. Again, I won't read them out but they are there and available for anybody

watching online to see in the published pack and colleagues and I would ask you

to show your hands to approve those recommendations. Excellent, thank you very

much. So we move finally to item number 22 appointment to outside bodies. There

are a number of outside bodies which are in my gift as leader of the council and

value to approve and actually what I have done is today I'm not going to

point to all of these outside bodies because there are a number there where I

want to get some further detail on what the role and remit is on those some of

them are slightly opaque at the moment and for example the Devon and

Severin inland fisheries conservation authority I just want to get some

further detail on that. So I'm going to park this item for the moment and bring it back

to a later meeting. So, yeah, there we are.

So on finalising and summing up for today's meeting, thank you very much. I know there's

been a lot of agenda items today and that is just a matter of the fact of coming in

as a new administration, getting up to speed with everything and making sure that we are

able to make these decisions and recommendations

in a meaningful way.

But I have to say, I'm absolutely delighted

that we have managed today to look

at some of our key priorities as an administration.

Today we've seen items on highways.

We've seen items on education and skills,

on infrastructure first.

That's been mentioned several times.

So on our schools and making sure

that our roads and highways and that infrastructure

is there so that we can build on the economic development

and growth here in the county but most importantly delivering services. We've

looked at caring and caring not just in the direct sense but also making sure

that we care for those that are affected by tragic events happening within our

communities. We've looked and talked a lot about contract management and you

know we came in and as an administration and a key and our manifesto was really

looking at that making sure that we are delivering good common -sense decisions

for the residents of Gloucestershire and that we do that with the public purse in

mind. So thank you very much. Oh and sorry cycling as well Roger missed that out and

road safety key key elements to everything that we want to be doing as

an administration. So and thank you colleagues and officers for all the work

that's gone into all of the items and reports today and I really hope that we

can over the coming months and years really deliver on those key objectives

for our residents in Gloucestershire. Thank you.

The end.

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Cabinet - Wednesday 23 July 2025, 10:00am - Gloucestershire County Council Webcasting

CabinetWednesday, 23rd July 2025 at 10:00am

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Seat 11 - 0:01:52

Seat 10 - 0:03:59

Seat 11 - 0:07:09

Seat 10 - 0:08:00

Seat 11 - 0:11:44

Seat 14 - 0:12:38

Seat 11 - 0:13:43

Seat 10* - 0:14:02

Seat 11 - 0:14:45

Seat 36* - 0:15:58

Seat 11 - 0:20:35

Seat 6 - 0:21:48

Seat 11 - 0:23:53

Seat 8* - 0:26:52

Seat 11 - 0:31:43

Seat 8 - 0:31:57

Seat 11 - 0:32:36

Seat 6 - 0:35:06

Seat 11 - 0:40:17

Seat 6 - 0:41:22

Seat 11 - 0:44:46

Seat 6 - 0:45:58

Seat 11 - 0:46:29

Seat 10* - 0:46:33

Seat 6 - 0:48:53

Seat 11 - 0:49:38

Seat 8* - 0:49:40

Seat 6 - 0:50:55

Seat 11 - 0:52:01

Seat 8 - 0:53:00

Seat 11 - 0:56:20

Seat 10* - 0:56:57

Seat 8 - 0:57:13

Seat 11 - 0:57:17

Seat 9 - 0:58:17

Seat 11 - 1:02:02

Seat 8* - 1:03:38

Seat 9 - 1:05:22

Seat 11 - 1:05:51

Seat 6* - 1:07:35

Seat 11 - 1:11:22

Seat 6 - 1:11:25

Seat 11 - 1:11:26

Seat 42 - 1:12:44

Seat 11 - 1:13:38

Seat 6 - 1:13:40

Seat 11 - 1:14:59

Seat 10 - 1:16:47

Seat 11 - 1:20:17

Seat 6 - 1:21:12

Seat 11 - 1:21:33

Seat 10 - 1:21:34

Seat 11 - 1:21:48

Seat 6 - 1:21:49

Seat 11 - 1:23:46

Seat 36* - 1:24:46

Seat 11 - 1:28:32

Seat 9 - 1:29:48

Seat 11 - 1:33:51

Seat 9 - 1:35:16

Seat 11 - 1:35:27

Seat 42 - 1:36:25

Seat 11 - 1:41:25

Seat 8* - 1:42:56

Seat 42 - 1:44:46

Seat 11 - 1:44:47

Seat 8* - 1:44:49

Seat 42 - 1:44:50

Cabinet
Wednesday, 23rd July 2025 at 10:00am