Agenda and decisions

Extraordinary, Cabinet - Thursday, 6th August, 2026 6.00 pm

Venue: the Council Chamber - Council Offices, Trinity Road, Cirencester, GL7 1PX. View directions

Contact: Democratic Services

Media

Items
No.	Item
1.	Apologies To receive any apologies for absence. The quorum for Cabinet is 3 members. Additional documents: Webcast for 1.
2.	Declarations of Interest To receive any declarations of interest from Members relating to items to be considered at the meeting. Additional documents: Webcast for 2.
3.	Public Questions To deal with questions from the public within the open forum question and answer session of thirty minutes in total. Questions from each member of the public should be no longer than two minutes each and relate to issues under the Cabinet’s remit. At any one meeting no person may submit more than two questions and no more than two such questions may be asked on behalf of one organisation. The Leader will ask whether any members of the public present at the meeting wish to ask a question and will decide on the order of questioners. The response may take the form of: a) a direct oral answer; b) where the desired information is in a publication of the Council or other published work, a reference to that publication; or c) where the reply cannot conveniently be given orally, a written answer circulated later to the questioner. Additional documents: Webcast for 3.
4.	Member Questions No Member Questions have been submitted prior to the publication of the agenda. A Member of the Council may ask the Leader or a Cabinet Member a question on any matter in relation to which the Council has powers or duties or which affects the Cotswold District. A maximum period of fifteen minutes shall be allowed at any such meeting for Member questions. A Member may only ask a question if: a) the question has been delivered in writing or by electronic mail to the Chief Executive no later than 5.00 p.m. on the working day before the day of the meeting; or b) the question relates to an urgent matter, they have the consent of the Leader to whom the question is to be put and the content of the question is given to the Chief Executive by 9.30 a.m. on the day of the meeting. An answer may take the form of: a) a direct oral answer; b) where the desired information is in a publication of the Council or other published work, a reference to that publication; or c) where the reply cannot conveniently be given orally, a written answer circulated later to the questioner. Additional documents: Webcast for 4.
5.	Local Plan PDF 250 KB View the background to item 5. View the decision for item 5. Purpose To make a series of recommendations, principally relating to the Publication of the Local Plan for six weeks consultation in August and September 2026 and submission to the Secretary of State in December 2026 for independent examination. Cabinet will consider any recommendations and comments from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 3 August 2026. Cabinet will make recommendations to Council on 12 August 2026. Accountable Member Councillor Juliet Layton – Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning. Report Author Andrew Maxted - Head of Planning Policy and Infrastructure. Additional documents: 1. Draft Cotswold Distirct Local Plan - Cabinet Version , item 5. PDF 7 MB 2. Local Plan index of appendices and supporting documents , item 5. PDF 33 KB 3. Appendix A General Policy Requirements for Development Sites , item 5. PDF 57 KB 4. Appendix B Site Development Frameworks , item 5. PDF 36 MB 5. Appendix C Site Development Templates , item 5. PDF 1 MB There are a further 92 documents.View the full list of documents for item 5. Webcast for 5. Decision: The purpose of this item was to consider a series of recommendations relating principally to the Publication of the new Cotswold Local Plan for 2026-2043 (Regulation 19) for a six-week consultation from 24 August to 5 October 2026 and its subsequent submission to the Secretary of State in December 2026 for independent examination. Councillor Juliet Layton, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, introduced the report and highlighted that the Local Plan represented a major milestone and would provide the planning framework for the district for the years ahead. It was noted that the Regulation 19 consultation was the final stage before independent examination and that timely submission was important to avoid the plan having to restart under the new planning system. It was also noted that the examination was anticipated in 2027, with adoption of the Plan expected in March 2028. Members noted that the plan had been informed by extensive consultation and engagement and sought to provide a framework for housing, employment, infrastructure and environmental improvements. The importance of ensuring that development was supported by appropriate infrastructure was emphasised, alongside the need to provide affordable and appropriate housing and to protect the character and environment of the district. Cabinet also considered the comments and recommendations made by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee following its consideration of the Local Plan at the meeting on 3 August 2026. These included matters relating to infrastructure provision at strategic sites, transport infrastructure, accessibility of consultation information, communication with the public about the need for the plan, water and sewage infrastructure, and the impact of tourism on infrastructure. Recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee It was noted that work on transport infrastructure could continue alongside the Regulation 19 consultation and that arrangements would be made to ensure the consultation was accessible, including public exhibitions and meetings, the availability of hard copies of documents and communications to households across the district. Members also considered a number of proposed material changes to the draft Local Plan, including amendments to housing site allocations, changes relating to Cirencester town centre, the inclusion of a potential very light rail corridor between Kemble and Cirencester, and amendments relating to habitat sites. Cabinet recognised the significant concerns expressed regarding the scale of housing growth required by national targets, but noted the importance of having an up-to-date Local Plan in place to provide greater control over development, infrastructure and design standards and to reduce the risk of speculative development. Members also thanked the Planning Policy team for the significant work undertaken in preparing the plan and its supporting documents. The recommendation was proposed by Councillor Juliet Layton, Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning and seconded by Councillor Paul Evans, Cabinet Member for Health and Communities. Cabinet RESOLVED to recommend to Council to: 1. Agree that the Cotswold Local Plan 2026 – 2043 (Regulation 19) document, including the material changes agreed by Cabinet (supplement E), be published for six weeks consultation from 24 August 2026 to 5 October 2026. ... view the full decision text for item 5.

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