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Issue - meetings

Corporate Plan 2024-2028 Update

 

 

Meeting: 24/09/2025 - Council (Item 42)

42 Corporate Plan 2024-2028 Update pdf icon PDF 535 KB

Purpose

To seek Council adoption of a refreshed Corporate Plan for the period 2025 through to 2028.  While the extant Corporate Plan was agreed last year, there have been significant changes nationally and locally which are reflected in the refreshed plan.

 

Recommendation

Cabinet on 4 September 2025 resolved to recommend to Council to:

  1. Adopt the Corporate Plan 2025-2028, subject to any agreed modifications
  2. Delegate authority to the Chief Executive Officer, in consultation with the Leader, to finalise the design.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The purpose of the report was to seek Council adoption of a refreshed Corporate Plan for the period 2025 through to 2028.

 

The report was introduced by Councillor Mike Evemy, Leader of the Council.

 

The Council had updated its priorities to reflect changing national and local contexts, including the proposed Local Government Reorganisation and the new Local Plan for the district. A new priority, “Planning for the Future,” was added to guide sustainable development, housing, and transport, acknowledging that the Council may not exist in three years.

Other priorities included maintaining high-quality, reliable services amid uncertainty; tackling the climate emergency by reducing emissions, promoting biodiversity, and greening operations; delivering affordable and suitable housing while addressing empty homes and homelessness; and supporting a resilient local economy, including high streets, the visitor economy, and sustainable business growth.

 

Councillor Cunningham asked the Leader to clarify the differences between the updated corporate plan and the previous version, noting that they seemed very similar. The Leader explained that the last plan had dated from January 2024 and that the new version removed some previously delivered items while introducing new priorities, including “Planning for the Future.” He highlighted that the updated plan provided clear direction for officers, assigned accountability to named Members, and included achievable delivery dates, ensuring it was both practical and actionable.

 

Councillor Layton seconded the report and reserved the right to speak.

 

The Chair then moved to the debate.

 

Members of the Conservative Group raised concerns that the Corporate Plan appeared uninspiring, underwhelming and rushed whilst not showing how outcomes would be measured to ensure success.

The Cabinet Member for Health, Cultures and Visitor Experiences highlighted the two key areas of his portfolio, the Creative Cotswolds and the Community Safety Partnership which were claimed to be inspirational in their delivery.

 

Members agreed that housing and community resilience was key to responding to the climate emergency and urged the Council to confirm that the registered housing providers were planning on updating older housing across the district.

 

Councillor McKeown, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Digital, confirmed that the figures included in the Corporate Plan reflected the reduction in CO2 of Cotswold District Council activities.

 

A Member stressed that housing alone does not build communities and called for better follow-through on infrastructure, environmental issues, and unfinished developments, emphasising the importance of the inclusion of “Planning for the Future” in the Corporate Plan.

 

Councillor Layton rose to second the resolutions and noted that the document served both to set aims and priorities for councillors and, importantly, to ensure officers were clear on them. The Local Plan was highlighted as central to much of the Council’s work, underpinning areas such as climate change, housing, registered providers, and community support.

The Chair invited Councillor Mike Evemy to sum up. It was noted that keeping staff informed and engaged during the LGR process would be essential to maintaining continuity of services. It was also highlighted that the Local Plan would play a key role in shaping  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42

Meeting: 04/09/2025 - Cabinet (Item 128)

128 Corporate Plan 2025-2028 refresh pdf icon PDF 520 KB

Purpose

To seek Cabinet’s endorsement of a refreshed Corporate Plan for the period 2025 through to 2028. 

While the extant Corporate Plan was agreed last year, there have been significant changes nationally and locally which are reflected in the refreshed plan.

 

Recommendation (s)

That Cabinet resolves to:

  1. Review the appended Corporate Plan 2024-2028 and agree any modifications
  2. Subject to modifications, agree to recommend to Full Council that the Plan be adopted.
  3. Delegate authority to the Chief Executive Officer, in consultation with Leader, to finalise the design.

Additional documents:

Decision:

The purpose of the report was to seek Cabinet’s endorsement of a refreshed Corporate Plan for the period 2025 through to 2028.The refreshed Corporate Plan reflected significant national and local changes since last year’s agreement on the extant Corporate Plan.

 

Councillor Mike Evemy, Leader of the Council, introduced the item.

The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Mike Evemy and seconded by Councillor  Patrick Coleman.

 

RESOLVED that Cabinet

  1. Reviewed the appended Corporate Plan 2025-2028 and agreed that the quotes attributed to Councillors would be reviewed.
  2. Subject to the modifications of the councillors’ quotes discussed, agreed to recommend to Full Council to adopt the Corporate Plan.
  3. Delegated authority to the Chief Executive Officer, in consultation with Leader, to finalise the design.

 

Voting Record:

8 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstentions.

 

 

Minutes:

The purpose of the report was to seek Cabinet’s endorsement of a refreshed Corporate Plan for the period 2025 through to 2028. The refreshed Corporate Plan reflected significant national and local changes since last year’s agreement on the extant Corporate Plan. The previous update had been agreed in January 2024, but a further refresh was required following the Government’s announcement on local government reorganisation and the potential abolition of the authority on 1 April 2028. Cabinet emphasised the importance of producing a more succinct plan, removing actions already achieved, and focusing on priorities to be delivered before reorganisation.

 

Councillor Mike Evemy, Leader of the Council, introduced the item.

Cabinet considered the refreshed Corporate Plan, introduced by the Leader and presented by the report author. It was noted that the report had been subject to scrutiny by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 1 September 2025.

 

Key changes to the extant plan included the introduction of a new priority, preparing for the future, which was linked to LGR, and the embedding of the Local Plan across all six existing priorities. It was confirmed that the final plan would combine the text and action plan into a single designed document, with photographs and member contributions to make it more accessible and engaging. Members would be consulted individually on attributed quotes before publication.

 

During discussion, members commended the clarity and accessibility of the document and welcomed the incorporation of Cabinet Members’ top three priorities. Minor drafting amendments were suggested. Members highlighted the importance of climate action, including fleet renewal, and the need to hand over a “clean council” to the successor unitary authority. The aspiration to prepare for the future and to build a lasting legacy for the Cotswolds was strongly supported. Members also noted that financial sustainability had been taken into account in preparing the plan.

 

Cabinet resolved to recommend the Corporate Plan 2025–2028 to Council on 24 September 2025, subject to modifications to member quotes and minor drafting amendments, and delegated authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader, to finalise the design.

 

The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Mike Evemy and seconded by Councillor  Patrick Coleman.

The proposal was put to the vote and agreed by Cabinet.

 

Voting Record:

8 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstentions.

 

 

 

Meeting: 01/09/2025 - Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Item 224)

224 Corporate Plan 2024-2028 Update pdf icon PDF 522 KB

Purpose

The extant Corporate Plan was agreed last year and there have been significant changes nationally and locally which are reflected in the refreshed Corporate Plan.

 

Recommendation

That the Committee scrutinises the report and agrees any recommendations it wishes to submit to Cabinet on 4 September 2025.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The purpose of the report was to receive the refreshed Corporate Plan for the period 2025 through to 2028.

 

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Mike Evemy, and the Head of Economic Development and Communities, Joseph Walker, introduced the report and made the following points:

·         There had been significant changes including potential local government reorganisation (LGR) and the transfer of services back from Publica since the last Corporate Plan.

·         The plan assumed the Council would cease on 1 April 2028 (vesting day for new councils), though timelines may change depending on government delivery.

·         A new priority, planning for the future, was added to reflect LGR and the Council’s transformation agenda.

·         The updated plan focused on achievable actions, streamlined business-as-usual items, and aligned with current circumstances.

 

In questioning and discussion, the following points were noted:

·         The phrase “business focused” in the Council values was questioned. The intent was to convey professionalism, efficiency, and value for money, and it was agreed to review the wording to better reflect this.

·         The “Preparing for the Future” section was discussed in relation to local government reorganisation. The challenges for rural communities, including reduced councillor representation, were acknowledged, with ongoing work outlined to address these, including member briefings and engagement with town and parish councils.

·         The importance of community leadership and the viability of local services in a unitary authority context was emphasised. It was acknowledged that while engagement with town and parish councils was possible, non-statutory services risked being deprioritised once absorbed into a larger authority. Careful consideration of which services to hand over was highlighted as a key focus in preparing for the future.

·         The importance of the farming community in the Cotswolds was noted for its economic contribution and role in addressing climate and ecological challenges. Officers would consider recognising farmers in future planning and the Council’s transition work.

·         The current fleet replacement programme was discussed. It was acknowledged that vehicle replacement must balance financial cost, carbon impact, service continuity, and future opportunities under local government reorganisation.

·         The impact of tourism on certain communities, particularly Bourton-on-the-Water and Bibury was highlighted, with concerns about “over-tourism” affecting residents’ quality of life and access to local services. It was acknowledged that while tourism supported the wider economy, the effects were uneven and some villages experienced significant impacts. Measures such as a car park levy had been introduced to mitigate pressures, and the Council continued to support community well-being through local initiatives and voluntary organisations.

 

 

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