Skip to main content

Issue - meetings

The Retail and Hospitality Sectors in the Cotswold District

 

 

Meeting: 02/02/2026 - Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Item 298)

298 The Retail and Hospitality Sectors in the Cotswold District pdf icon PDF 577 KB

Purpose

To report on the health of and the challenges faced by the retail and hospitality sectors in the district.

 

Cabinet Member

Councillor Tristan Wilkinson

 

Lead Officer

Paul James

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The purpose of the report was to provide an overview of the state of the retail and hospitality sectors within the district.

 

The report was introduced by Paul James, Economic Development Lead, who highlighted the following points:

  • Findings showed multiple combined pressures on the retail and hospitality sector, although district vacancy rates remained comparatively low.
  • The report had been shared with County Economic Development colleagues and business groups.
  • Town centres initiative work was underway in Lechlade, Moreton-in-Marsh and Tetbury using UK Shared Prosperity Fund support and specialist consultants to analyse vacancies and barriers to occupancy.
  • Early findings indicated some vacant units had not been actively marketed.
  • The Council’s influence over national policy and taxation pressures was limited, but possible actions included lobbying government and reviewing pavement licence fees.
  • Concern was noted about the lack of confirmed replacement funding for the Shared Prosperity Fund and Rural England Prosperity Fund after the end of the financial year.

 

Councillor Lisa Spivey arrived at 16:15.

 

In questioning and discussion, the following points were noted:

 

  • It was suggested that the report gave insufficient attention to long-term community resilience, including the impacts of unsustainable tourism and environmental pressures. There were concerns raised that high tourism levels in some areas affected retail mix, affordability and year-round viability of shops providing essential services for local residents.
  • The officer explained that the report was intended as a high-level snapshot of the retail and hospitality sectors, which had been considered important for employment and local services, rather than a detailed resilience assessment.
  • The officer advised that detailed analysis of retail mix had only been undertaken in selected towns through targeted studies, and that wider consideration would be more appropriately addressed through the Local Plan process.
  • Clarification was provided that the reported 50% increase in shoplifting since 2020 referred to the number of incidents rather than value; Gloucestershire rates remained lower than many areas, and retailer cooperation and shared alert schemes were identified as key measures to help reduce theft.
  • Whilst the report focused on town centres, hospitality and retail businesses outside town centres also required support, particularly more isolated businesses. The UK Shared Prosperity Funding had enabled the Growth Hub to deliver district-wide outreach support but this service was at risk due to the existing funding ending, with some continued support potentially through recently approved strategic economic development funding.
  • It was clarified that the current town centre initiative covering three towns was already planned and funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and whilst it would produce recommendations for follow-up action, no additional consultancy work had yet been commissioned.
  • There were currently no plans for fully integrated development plans for town centres, but the Town Centre Studies in the report recommended establishing locally supported, place-based partnerships in each town to agree and lead improvements.
  • A draft version of the full report had been circulated to the relevant town councils for comment, and the final version would be published once amendments were made.
  • A feasibility study into a Business Improvement District  ...  view the full minutes text for item 298

 

Related Pages