Agenda and decisions
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Media
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Cabinet Member Introduction Welcome to the public and introduction of participants.
Additional documents: Decision: Councillor Juliet Layton, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, welcomed the public to the meeting and introduced the responsible officer. The purpose of the meeting was stated as being to agree the Cotswold District Council response to Gloucestershire County Council on the draft Gloucestershire Local Nature Recovery Strategy consultation (LNRS). |
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Declaration of interest To receive any declarations of interest by the Cabinet Member present.
Additional documents: Decision: There were no declarations of interest from the Cabinet Member. |
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Officer Overview of the Report Officer to provide a brief verbal summary of the report with key details relating to the decision, providing any updates that need to be considered by the Cabinet Member when taking the decision.
Purpose To agree a response to Gloucestershire County Council to the draft Gloucestershire Local Nature Recovery Strategy consultation.
Appendix A to follow. Additional documents:
Decision: The Natural Built and Historic Environment Team Manager, introduced the report and explained that a public consultation on the draft Gloucestershire Local Nature Recovery Strategy was held from 8 September to 19 October 2025. The report considered the contents of the draft strategy and sought agreement on Cotswold District Council’s response.
Gloucestershire County Council, acting as the Responsible Authority under the Environment Act 2021, had invited input from partners and the public. Cotswold District Council, as a Supporting Authority, had actively contributed to the development of the draft strategy prior to consultation. Ward Members had been notified of the consultation timeline had been invited to either respond directly to the County Council or share comments for inclusion in the District Council’s collective response.
The draft strategy set out Gloucestershire’s approach to halting biodiversity decline and promoting nature recovery. It outlined six key aims focused on enhancing existing habitats, improving landscape connectivity, addressing the climate emergency, managing water systems, promoting mixed and wilder habitats, and integrating biodiversity into developments.
Cotswold District Council’s response supported the overall direction of the strategy while providing comments on the proposed biodiversity priorities, potential measures, and mapping of areas for restoration and habitat creation.
It was noted that Cotswold District Council could have opted not to respond to the consultation; however, this would have been a missed opportunity to contribute to a strategy that the Council is legally required to consider under the Environment Act 2021.
The Officer recommended that the draft Gloucestershire Local Nature Recovery Strategy proceed to the pre-publication approval stage, subject to the textual amendments outlined in Annex A. which ensured that the document was clear, accessible, and effective.
The report identified no direct financial or legal implications. Risks were considered low, as the Council had been actively involved throughout the strategy’s development and would have further opportunity to review the final version before publication.
The strategy was recognised as contributing positively to equalities by supporting the aim for all Gloucestershire residents to have access to biodiversity-rich green space within 15 minutes of their homes. It also directly addressed the climate and ecological emergencies by identifying actions to promote nature recovery and environmental resilience across the county. |
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Confirmation of Comments Confirmation of comments received by officer or Democratic Services.
Additional documents: Decision: It was confirmed that Members had been invited to suggest any changes at this stage, and the draft strategy had been circulated to all ward members to enable input to the Council’s response, although no comments had been received. A 28-day pre-publication stage was expected, with timing dependent on Natural England’s timescales before the County Council’s formal adoption at the end of January. During that stage, the Local Nature Recovery Strategy would be reviewed by the Officer to ensure requested changes had been incorporated, with an opportunity for the Cotswold District Council to raise formal objections if any fundamental issues remained. |
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Public Questions The Cabinet Member may allow members of the public present at the meeting to speak or make representations. However, all questions must relate directly to the decision being discussed. If a question is deemed irrelevant by the Cabinet Member the member of the public will be advised where to direct their question.
Additional documents: Decision: There were no public questions. |
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Cabinet Member Questions The Cabinet Member may request clarifications on the report and the proposed decision, including any alternative options for consideration.
Additional documents: Decision: There were no Cabinet Member questions. |
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Decision The Cabinet Member will verbally confirm the decision stating whether they · Accept the recommendations of the officer, · Decide to take a different decision contrary to the officer’s recommendation, or · Decide to refer the decision to a meeting of Cabinet.
The Cabinet Member must inform the Democratic Services Officer of the reason for the decision, which will be officially recorded on the Decision Notice.
Additional documents: Decision: The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning considered the proposed consultation response, noted that the consideration had followed due process and resolved that it would be appropriate to submit the response attached at Annex A.
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Cabinet Member Introduction Welcome to the public and introduction of participants.
Additional documents: Decision: Councillor Juliet Layton, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, introduced the responsible Officers and stated that the purpose of the meeting was to agree a response to Moreton-in-Marsh Town Council regarding their Reg. 14 Neighbourhood Plan. |
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Declarations of Interest To receive any declarations of interest by the Cabinet Member present.
Additional documents: Decision: There were no declarations of interest from the Cabinet Member. |
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Officer Overview of the Report Officer to provide a brief verbal summary of the report with key details relating to the decision, providing any updates that need to be considered by the Cabinet Member when taking the decision.
Purpose To agree a response to Moreton in Marsh Town Council on their Reg. 14 draft Neighbourhood Plan. Additional documents:
Decision: The Senior Local & Neighbourhood Planning Policy Officer gave an overview of the report which sought approval to submit the Council’s response to Moreton-in-Marsh Town Council on their Regulation 14 draft Neighbourhood Plan (2018–2031).
The report outlined that the Town Council was undertaking its formal six-week consultation (1 September–12 October 2025) as required under the Neighbourhood Planning Regulations. It was noted that Cotswold District Council has a statutory duty to support the preparation of neighbourhood plans and to ensure alignment with the adopted Local Plan.
The draft plan proposed 20 policies covering housing, design, infrastructure, environment, green spaces, heritage, and transport. Officers with relevant expertise had been consulted internally, and their comments had been incorporated into the proposed response (Annex A).
The report recommended that the Cabinet Member:
· Approved the draft response (with or without amendment) for submission to Moreton-in-Marsh Town Council; and · Authorised officers to continue providing support to the Town Council in developing the plan.
No financial or legal implications were identified at this stage, and the key risk was noted as being reputational, as consultation comments would be made public. The proposed response aimed to ensure that the Neighbourhood Plan met legal and policy requirements while supporting community objectives.
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Confirmation of Comments Confirmation of comments received by officer or Democratic Services.
Additional documents: Decision: Councillor Layton confirmed that she was happy with the content of the amended annex A.
It was reported that the Moreton-in-Marsh Neighbourhood Plan was at the Regulation 14 consultation stage, which would run for six weeks. It was advised that, following this stage, the Town Council would review the consultation responses, update the draft plan, and submit it under Regulation 15. It was noted that there was no statutory timescale for progressing from Regulation 14 to Regulation 15, and the timing would therefore depend on the Town Council’s revisions.
It was further reported that Cotswold District Council’s Regulation 18 Local Plan consultation was scheduled to commence on 5 November 2025. The Officer confirmed that emerging Neighbourhood Plans must be in general conformity with the current Local Plan. Despite emerging Local Plan documents being publicised and consulted on, they carry no material weight in the planning process, and cannot be considered, for example, when preparing the response (Annex A) to Moreton. Officers confirmed that ongoing discussions with Moreton-in-Marsh Town Council would continue to support the process. |
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Public Questions The Cabinet Member may allow members of the public present at the meeting to speak or make representations. However, all questions must relate directly to the decision being discussed. If a question is deemed irrelevant by the Cabinet Member the member of the public will be advised where to direct their question.
Additional documents: Decision: There were no public questions. |
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Cabinet Member Questions The Cabinet Member may request clarifications on the report and the proposed decision, including any alternative options for consideration.
Additional documents: Decision: There were no Cabinet Member questions. |
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Decision The Cabinet Member will verbally confirm the decision stating whether they · Accept the recommendations of the officer, · Decide to take a different decision contrary to the officer’s recommendation, or · Decide to refer the decision to a meeting of Cabinet.
The Cabinet Member must inform the Democratic Services Officer of the reason for the decision, which will be officially recorded on the Decision Notice.
Additional documents: Decision: The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning considered the proposed response to Moreton–in-Marsh Town Council, noted that the consideration had followed due process and resolved to
1. Approve, with amendments sent on 9 October 2025, the submission of the Council’s response (Annex A) to Moreton-in-Marsh Town Council; and 2. Authorise officers to continue providing support to Moreton-in-Marsh Town Council in the preparation of their Neighbourhood Plan outside of the formal consultation response.
It was noted that this decision would facilitate the Town Council in refining their draft plan and ensure ongoing engagement between the District Council and the local community. |