Agenda and draft minutes
PDF 589 KBVenue: the Council Chamber - Council Offices, Trinity Road, Cirencester, GL7 1PX. View directions
Contact: Democratic Services
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Apologies To receive any apologies for absence. The quorum for Council is 9 members.
Additional documents: Minutes: Apologies were received from Councillor Tony Slater, Councillor David Cunningham and Councillor Juliet Layton. |
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Declarations of Interest To receive any declarations of interest from Members relating to items to be considered at the meeting. Additional documents: Minutes: The Chair invited Members to declare any interests in items on the agenda. There were no declarations of interest made by Members.
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Purpose To confirm the minutes for the following two Council meetings: 1. 18 March 2026 2. 20 May 2026 (Annual Meeting)
Additional documents: Minutes: Council considered the minutes of the Council meeting held on 18 March 2026. Councillor Julia Judd requested that the Leader's response letter to a public question regarding the impact of changes to the State Pension on pensioners be circulated to all Members. The Leader confirmed that the request would be followed up.
Councillor Mike Evemy proposed the approval of the minutes. The proposal was seconded by Councillor Tom Stowe, put to the vote and agreed by Council. RESOLVED that the minutes of Full Council 18 March 2026 were approved as a true and accurate record.
Voting record: 26 For, 0 Against, 5 Abstentions.
Council then considered the minutes of the Annual Council meeting held on 20 May 2026.
Councillor Mike Evemy proposed the approval of the minutes. The proposal was seconded by Councillor Tom Stowe, put to the vote and agreed by Council. RESOLVED that the minutes of 20 May 2026 were approved as a true and accurate record.
Voting record: 22 For, 0 Against, 4 Abstentions. Did not vote: Councillor Laura Hall-Wilson, Councillor Julia Judd, Councillor Lisa Spivey, Councillor Michael Vann and Councillor Len Wilkins.
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Announcements from the Chair, Leader or Chief Executive To receive any announcements from the Chair of the Council, the Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive. Additional documents: Minutes: The Chair welcomed Councillor Naomi Bloomer, newly elected as Member for St Michael’s Ward following the by-election on 2 July, and Flavia, who was undertaking work experience with Democratic Services. The Chair noted the passing of Christopher Robert Hallpike, who was remembered with gratitude for his dedicated service to Shipton Moyne Parish Council and the wider community. He would be greatly missed, and sincere condolences were extended to his family and friends. The passing of former Councillor Sue Herdman was also noted. Councillor Herdman had served as Chair of the Council from 1995 to 1998 and as District Councillor for Churn Valley for 24 years, during which time she had also served on the Planning Committee. Councillors Evans, Harris, Fowles and Coleman paid tribute to her dedicated service, generosity and longstanding commitment to the Council and the local community. A minute’s silence was observed in memory of the former Councillors. The Chair also reported attending a recent Friends of the Royal Agricultural University event and noted the positive developments taking place at the University. The Chair invited the Leader to address the Council. The Leader, Councillor Mike Evemy, welcomed Councillor Naomi Bloomer to the Council and congratulated Councillor Andrea Pellegram on her election as Gloucestershire County Councillor for Cirencester Park Division. The Leader advised that a Government announcement regarding the future of local government in Gloucestershire was expected. Members were informed that briefings for staff and Members would be held following the announcement and that further communications would be issued in due course. He emphasised that no immediate changes would result from the announcement and acknowledged that the uncertainty might be causing concern among staff. The Leader referred to the recent death of Ann Widdecombe and emphasised the importance of the safety and security of those holding public office. Members were reminded of the support available through Gloucestershire Constabulary's Op. Ford and encouraged to familiarise themselves with the guidance provided should they have concerns regarding their personal safety or security. There were no announcements from the Chief Executive Officer.
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Unsung Heroes Awards The Chair to declare the winners of the Unsung Heroes awards for July 2026. Additional documents: Minutes: The Chair presented the Council's Unsung Heroes Awards for July 2026, recognising individuals and organisations for their outstanding voluntary service and contribution to their communities.
Awards were presented to:
The Chair congratulated all recipients on their achievements and thanked them for their dedication to their communities.
At the conclusion of the item, the Chair invited those recipients in attendance to come forward to receive their certificates and lapel badges. |
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Public Questions To deal with questions from the public within the open forum question and answer session of fifteen minutes in total. Questions from each member of the public should be no longer than one minute each and relate to issues under the Council’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 Chair 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: Minutes: No public questions were submitted. |
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A Member of the Council may ask the Chair, the Leader, a Cabinet Member or the Chair of any Committee 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 15 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 5.00pm 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 Chair to whom the question is to be put and the content of the question is given to the Chief Executive by 9.30am 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.
The following Member questions have been submitted for response:
Question from Cllr Daryl Corps to Cllr Juliet Layton, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning Please confirm how much money is currently held in the Council’s Planning Appeals Reserve, often described as the planning 'fighting fund'? How much of that sum is ring fenced specifically for defending planning appeals, and how much, if any, has been spent or committed since the fund was established?
Question from Cllr Gina Blomefield to Cllr Juliet Layton, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) provides important additional funding for Town and Parish Councils and arises from statutory levies on new build housing and extensions to existing properties. If a Town or Parish has an existing Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) they receive 25% of the CIL amount with the rest going to the District Council funds and without a NDP they receive 15%.
With the prospect of a huge increase in new developments across Cotswold District this could provide a useful additional revenue stream for local infrastructure projects.
I understand that the criteria for CIL applications is being reviewed.
It would be helpful if Town and Parish Councils could be briefed on this so that they can make plans in an organised way to spend their CIL money to best benefit their communities.
Can you give me an update on when the new CIL criteria will be published?
Question from Cllr Laura Hall-Wilson to Cllr Andrea Pellegram, Cabinet Member for Environment and Regulatory Services While persuading residents to recycle more is a noble ambition, the overall waste a household produces is unlikely to go down.
With smaller black bins what increased provision will there be to hold recycling (i.e. replacing the white and blue bags).
Additionally in my ward almost fortnightly recycling is left because the ... view the full agenda text for item 115. Additional documents:
Minutes: Councillors’ written questions, written responses, supplementary questions and supplementary responses can be found in Annex A attached. |
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Committee membership change The Leader of Council to report that Cllr Naomi Bloomer will replace Cllr Ian Watson on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
Additional documents: Minutes: Council considered a proposal from the Liberal Democrat Group to appoint Councillor Naomi Bloomer to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee with immediate effect, replacing Councillor Ian Watson. There were no questions for clarity, and no debate on the matter. The Chair then moved to the vote on the resolution which was proposed by Councillor Mike Evemy and seconded by Councillor Dilys Neill. Voting record: 30 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstentions. Did not vote: Councillor Len Wilkins.
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Making the Cotswold District Dementia Friendly Purpose To update Council on progress and proposed actions to contribute towards the Council ambition to make the Cotswold District Dementia Friendly.
Recommendation That Council resolves to: 1. Note the progress made since the Council motion in January 2026 and the evidence gathered through engagement with town and parish councils and officers. 2. Approve the proposed programme of dementia-friendly workstreams set out in this report. 3. Endorse continued partnership working with town and parish councils, health partners, the voluntary and community sector, and local dementia support organisations to take this work forward. 4. Request that progress report be shared with Overview and Scrutiny in approximately 12 months. Additional documents: Minutes: The Chair invited Councillor Paul Evans, Cabinet Member for Health and Communities to introduce the report and reminded Council of its previous commitment to make Cotswold District a dementia-friendly district. Councillor Evans highlighted the growing number of residents living with dementia and acknowledged the significant impact the condition had on individuals, their families and friends. The valuable work already undertaken by community organisations, volunteers, health partners and town and parish councils in supporting people living with dementia was recognised. Councillor Evans explained that the proposed programme sought to build on these existing strengths through partnership working, increased awareness and training, improved signposting to support, and ensuring that Council services became more dementia-friendly. It was noted that engagement with town and parish councils had demonstrated strong support for the Council's ambition while identifying opportunities to improve confidence in directing residents to appropriate sources of support. The proposed programme focused on training, awareness, engagement, service mapping and improvement, alongside funding and facilitation, with the aim of building resilient communities and delivering practical improvements for residents living with dementia and those who cared for them. The Chair invited questions for clarification. Councillor David Fowles welcomed the report and expressed his support for the Council's dementia-friendly ambition. He highlighted the importance of raising awareness nationally and asked what engagement was planned with Members of Parliament to promote greater recognition and support for people living with dementia, drawing comparisons with the progress achieved through disability legislation. Councillor Paul Evans confirmed that the Council's work to become a dementia-friendly authority would complement its wider commitments to supporting people with disabilities. He advised that engagement would take place with local Members of Parliament, Gloucestershire County Council and town and parish councils to promote and support the Council's dementia-friendly approach. Councillor Dilys Neill welcomed the report and highlighted the importance of engaging with specialist dementia services, including the Dementia Care Team at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. She referred to the value of supporting people with dementia throughout their care journey and emphasised the importance of advance care planning, ensuring that key information about an individual's needs and preferences accompanied them if they were admitted to hospital.
The proposal was seconded by Paul Hodgkinson who commented that there remained a lack of understanding about the interventions and support available to people living with dementia and their carers. He emphasised the importance of ensuring that appropriate advice and assistance were readily accessible. He acknowledged the valuable work of the Council's Wellbeing Team in delivering community initiatives that helped to reduce isolation and encouraged people to remain active and engaged.
There was no further debate on the matter.
The proposer, Councillor Paul Evans, was invited to sum up, but considered the matter had been adequately covered.
The Chair then moved to the vote on the resolution which was proposed by Councillor Paul Evans and seconded by Councillor Paul Hodgkinson.
Voting record: 31 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstentions.
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Motion report - Food and Farming Purpose This report responds to the motion approved at Full Council on 18 March 2026 which requested an update on how food and farming would be incorporated into the development of the future operating model under Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).
Recommendation That Council resolves to: 1. Note the opportunities for embedding food and farming as part of LGR in Gloucestershire. 2. Request the Gloucestershire LGR Joint Scrutiny Panel to consider how food and farming could be included as an active element within climate planning work for the new shadow authority or authorities. Additional documents: Minutes: The Chair advised that consideration of the report would be deferred until the September meeting and invited the Leader, Councillor Mike Evemy, to explain the reasons for the deferral. Councillor Evemy advised that he was withdrawing the report in light of the forthcoming Government decision regarding the future of local government in Gloucestershire. He explained that deferring consideration until September would enable a more comprehensive report to be presented, taking into account the outcome of the Government's decision and its implications for the Council's work on food and farming. The report was therefore withdrawn and would be brought back to the September 2026 meeting of Full Council.
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Overview and Scrutiny Committee Annual Report 2025/26 Purpose To receive the annual report from Overview and Scrutiny for 2025/2026. Recommendation That Council notes the report from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for 2025/26. Additional documents:
Minutes: The Chair invited Councillor Gina Blomefield, Chair Overview and Scrutiny Committee to present the report. Councillor Gina Blomefield, Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, introduced the item and thanked Members of the Committee, the Vice-Chair and Democratic Services for their contribution and support during the year. The Committee's role in providing scrutiny and oversight of the Cabinet as a critical friend was highlighted and it was further noted that its work had been undertaken on a non-political basis. Councillor Blomefield advised that the Committee had had a busy year, requiring additional meetings to accommodate the volume of matters requiring scrutiny. The Committee's examination of the Local Plan, its review of the health of the retail and hospitality sectors in town centres, and its scrutiny of planning enforcement services, were highlighted. Scrutiny had resulted in a number of recommendations to Cabinet, most of which had been accepted or partially accepted. The Committee's engagement with Freedom Leisure, Ubico and Bromford Housing, were also referred to. The increasing participation of members of the public in Overview and Scrutiny meetings was welcomed. Looking ahead, Councillor Blomefield advised that the Committee would focus on scrutinising the new Local Plan throughout its preparation, local government reorganisation and the Council's wider policies and priorities, including the budget and Council Plan. The role of the Committee in overseeing key partner organisations was noted as was the participation of the Chair and Vice-Chair in the county-wide Joint Scrutiny Panel for local government reorganisation. The Chair asked if there were any questions for clarity. Members expressed their wholehearted support for the work of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. The Chair sought a seconder for the proposal. Councillor Angus Jenkinson seconded the proposal and spoke in support of the recommendations. Members of the Committee, officers and Cabinet Members were thanked for their engagement and contribution to the scrutiny process. The increasing effectiveness of the Committee and the value of its role as a critical friend were also highlighted, and it was noted that its work had influenced scrutiny activity at county level and would continue to contribute to the work of the Local Government Reorganisation and Economic Scrutiny Committees. The Chair moved to the debate. The following views were expressed during the debate:
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Notice of Motion In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12, the following Motion has been received:
Motion 2026/004 Improving Maternity Services across Gloucestershire Proposed by Cllr Laura Hall-Wilson Seconded by Cllr Dilys Neil Two reports have recently been published highlighting failures in maternity care in the UK, the Ockenden maternity review and the independent report led by Baroness Amos. The latter included findings and recommendations that specifically relate to Gloucestershire, highlighting the importance of sustained leadership and collaborative action to improve services and restore public confidence. Safe, accessible and high-quality maternity services are essential for the health and wellbeing of women, babies and families across Gloucestershire. Residents of the Cotswold District have experienced concern regarding the availability and resilience of maternity services within the county. The continued limitations on services at Stroud Maternity Unit and for Home Births have reduced the range of birth choices available to families in the Cotswold District and increased pressure on other maternity units across Gloucestershire. While responsibility for commissioning and delivering maternity services rests primarily with the NHS, local authorities have an important leadership, convening and scrutiny role in championing the interests of residents and supporting improvements to public health. That Full Council resolves to: 1 Agree that every family should have access to safe, high-quality maternity care and genuine choice over where and how they give birth to improve outcomes for mothers and babies both during labour and postpartum. Restoring confidence in maternity services requires strong partnership working between local government, the NHS and other stakeholders therefore Cotswold District Council should use its influence to ensure that the concerns of residents are clearly communicated to those responsible for planning and delivering maternity services.
2 Request that the Leader meet with the Cabinet Member who leads on Health at Gloucestershire County Council at the earliest opportunity to discuss the current challenges facing maternity services across Gloucestershire and to seek agreement on how both councils can work together to advocate for improvements to maternity provision, including: o the restoration and development of services at Stroud Maternity Unit; o action to address workforce shortages, particularly the recruitment and retention of midwives needed to provide safe and reliable home birth services; and o implementation of the recommendations relevant to Gloucestershire arising from the recent report led by Baroness Amos.
3 Write jointly, where appropriate, to NHS Gloucestershire, Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, the Integrated Care Board and the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, setting out the concerns of local authorities and seeking clear plans and timescales for improving maternity services.
4 Report back to Full Council on the outcome of these discussions and any actions agreed to support improvements in maternity services for the residents of Gloucestershire. Additional documents: Minutes: The Chair invited Councillor Laura Hall-Wilson to speak as the proposer of the motion. Councillor Laura Hall-Wilson introduced the motion and paid tribute to women, babies and families who had experienced trauma, loss or unsafe care during childbirth. Councillor Hall-Wilson explained that the motion had been prompted by the publication of the Ockenden Maternity Review and the Baroness Amos National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation, including findings relating to Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Drawing on her own experiences of maternity services and discussions with local mothers and advocacy groups, she highlighted concerns regarding the need for improved triage, greater attention to women's concerns and better communication throughout pregnancy and childbirth. Councillor Hall-Wilson acknowledged the dedication of maternity staff but emphasised the need for urgent action to address longstanding issues within maternity services. She referred to the importance of reinstating home births, reopening the Aveta birthing unit in Cheltenham, maintaining 24-hour maternity services at Stroud and restoring postnatal beds. She recognised that the Council was not responsible for the provision of maternity services but stated that it had an important role in representing the views of residents and urging NHS leaders to implement the recommendations of the relevant reviews. The Chair asked if there were any questions for clarity. No questions were raised. The Chair sought a seconder for the motion. Councillor Dilys Neill seconded the motion and spoke in support of the recommendations. Drawing on her experience as a paediatrician, former GP and member of the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, she highlighted the importance of safe and compassionate maternity care and the need for women to feel listened to and supported throughout pregnancy and childbirth. She referred to the pressures facing maternity services, including workforce shortages and reduced provision outside Gloucester Royal Hospital, and emphasised the importance of effective communication between community and hospital services. She welcomed the actions arising from the Ockenden and Amos reports, including improved workforce planning, accountability, safe triage and addressing inequalities and discrimination, and particularly highlighted the need to listen to women and ensure access to second opinions where concerns remained. The Chair moved to the debate. The following views were expressed during the debate: · Members expressed strong support for the motion and highlighted the importance of learning from previous failings and ensuring that improvements to maternity services were delivered. The importance of maintaining local maternity provision, including services at Stroud and Cheltenham, and providing choice in relation to place of birth was emphasised, particularly given the rural nature of the District and the distances some residents may need to travel to access services. · Members welcomed the work already being undertaken by NHS organisations and Gloucestershire County Council's Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee but emphasised the need for continued scrutiny and accountability. The pressures facing maternity staff, including workforce shortages and excessive workloads, were acknowledged, alongside the need to ensure that staff were adequately supported. · The importance of listening to women and ensuring that their concerns were taken seriously was repeatedly emphasised. Members also ... view the full minutes text for item 120.
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Next meeting An Extraordinary Meeting of the Council will be held on 12 August 2026 at 6pm to consider the Local Plan.
The next Ordinary Meeting of the Council will be held on 23 September 2026 at 6pm.
Additional documents: Minutes: The Chair confirmed that the next two meetings of Full Council would be: 1. Extraordinary Council 12 August 2026 starting at 6.00 pm 2. Full Council 23 September 2026 starting at 6.00 pm |
Carried