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Issue - meetings

Overview and Scrutiny Committee Annual Report for 2024/25

 

 

Meeting: 16/07/2025 - Council (Item 31)

31 Overview and Scrutiny Committee Annual Report for 2024/25 pdf icon PDF 551 KB

Purpose

To receive the annual report from Overview and Scrutiny for 2024/2025.

 

Recommendation(s)

That Council NOTES the report from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for 2024/25.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The purpose was to receive the annual report of the work of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee 2024/2025.

 

Councillor Gina Blomefield, Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee extended her thanks to Officers Andrew Brown and Julia Gibson for compiling a comprehensive Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report for 2024/25, which outlined the Committee’s work over the past year and the recommendations submitted to Cabinet. She noted the appointment of several new members to the Committee, including Councillor Joe Harris, former Leader of Cotswold District Council, Councillor Nick Bridges, who was elected in May, and Councillor Lisa Spivey, newly elected Leader of Gloucestershire County Council. She welcomed them to what she described as a strong and capable team, alongside returning Committee Members.

 

In addition to the matters detailed in the report, Councillor Gina Blomefield welcomed the recent clarification of the protocol between Overview and Scrutiny and Cabinet. Members were advised that, in view of this, Councillor Blomefield and the Vice Chair, Councillor Angus Jenkinson, would be meeting in the autumn with the Leader and a representative of Cabinet to explore ways of strengthening the working relationship between Overview and Scrutiny and Cabinet.

 

The improvements in the Committee’s performance as acknowledged in the recent Local Government Association (LGA) Peer Challenge report were highlighted, and the recognition of the Committee’s growing effectiveness was welcomed.

 

Councillor Gina Blomefield outlined key areas of scrutiny for the coming civic year. These included the Council’s preparations for the transition under Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) and the development of the new Local Plan. It was also confirmed that the Committee had invited Bromford, the district’s main housing association, and Freedom Leisure, which operated local leisure services, to report to the Committee in the year ahead.

 

The work of the task and finish group examining the impact of Inheritance Tax on Cotswold farmers was also mentioned. Special thanks were offered to Councillor Angus Jenkinson, for leading the group’s work during Councillor David Cunningham’s absence due to holiday. She noted the group’s considerable efforts, the volume of research, meetings, and interviews conducted with stakeholders in the farming community. She concluded by commending the final report as a significant piece of work which she hoped would receive broad support.

 

There were no questions for clarity.

 

Councillor Mike Evemy, Leader of the Council thanked Councillor Gina Blomefield for presenting the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report and for her leadership of the Committee. The value of the Committee’s pre-decision scrutiny work and constructive recommendations was acknowledged, along with its positive impact on governance and the Committee’s contribution to the Council’s overall effectiveness, as reflected in the recent peer review report.

 

Former Councillor Gary Selwyn was formally thanked for his service as Vice Chair over the past four years.

 

RESOLVED that Council NOTED the Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s Annual Report for 2024/25.

Meeting: 07/07/2025 - Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Item 199)

199 Overview and Scrutiny Committee Annual Report for 2024/25 pdf icon PDF 551 KB

Purpose

To receive the annual report of the work of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

 

Recommendation

That Overview and Scrutiny committee:

 

Recommend that the report be received by Full Council at the meeting on 16 July 2025.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The annual report detailing the role and work of the Committee was discussed prior to consideration by Full Council on 16 July 2025.

It was noted that the report omitted reference to the involvement of two Members in the County Council's scrutiny committees.

 

Councillor David Cunningham proposed accepting the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Annual Report and Councillor Michael Vann seconded the proposal.

 

RESOLVED: to APPROVE the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Annual Report.

 

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