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Agenda item

Corporate Plan 2024-2028 Update

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.

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 the District’s future, with an emphasis on building sustainable communities rather than solely increasing housing provision.

 

Voting record

For – 19, Against – 0, Abstain - 6

Councillor Len Wilkins and Councillor David Fowles did not vote.

 

Supporting documents:

 

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