Resolution status:Carried
Resolved that the minutes of Full Council 22 January 2025 be approved as an accurate record.
Amendment status:Rejected
It was proposed to Restructure the CDC communications team so that the staffing costs within the communications budget are reduced from £340,000 to £200,000 to give a £140,000 annual saving, reducing the overall Press & PR/Communications budget from £404,764 to £264,764.
£40,000 of this annual saving to be used towards a new permanent Level 1 Case and Field Work Officer post in the Environmental Protection Team.
Council RESOLVED to approve:
RESOLVED that subject to confirmation of Gloucestershire County Council’s precept Council NOTES and APPROVES that:
1) for the purposes of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 Section 35(2), there are no special expenses for the District Council in 2025/26;
2) using their delegated authority, the Deputy Chief Executive calculated the Council Tax Base for 2025/26:
(a) for the whole Council area as 44,456.16 [item T in the formula in Section 31B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the “Act”)]; and
(b) for dwellings in those parts of its area to which a Parish Precept relates as in the attached Schedule 1.
3) the Council Tax requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2025/26 (excluding Parish Precepts) is £158.93.
4) the following amounts be calculated for the year 2025/26 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Act:
(a) 50,782,191 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A (2) of the Act, taking into account all precepts issued to it by Parish Councils and any additional special expenses.
(b) £38,558,091 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A (3) of the Act.
(c) £12,224,100 being the amount by which the aggregate at 4(a) above exceeds the aggregate at 4(b) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31A(4) of the Act, as its Council Tax requirement for the year (Item R in the formula in Section 31B of the Act).
(d) £274.97 being the amount at 4(c) above (Item R), all divided by Item T (1(a) above), calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31B of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year (including Parish Precepts and Special Expenses);
(e) £5,158,845 being the aggregate amount of all special items (Parish Precepts and Special Expenses) referred to in Section 34(1) of the Act as per the attached Schedule 2.
(f) £158.93 being the amount at 4(d) above less the result given by dividing the amount at 4(e) above by Item T(2(a) above), calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 34(2) of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which no Parish Precept or special item relates;
(g) the amounts shown in Schedule 2 being the amounts given by adding to the amount at 4(f) above, the amounts of the special item or items relating to dwellings in those parts of the Council’s area shown in Schedule 2 divided in each case by the amount at 2(b) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 34(3) of the Act, as the basic amounts of its Council Tax for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which one or more special items relate;
(h) the amounts shown in Schedule 3 being the amounts given by multiplying the amounts at 4(f) and 4(g) above by the number which, in the proportion set out in Section 5(1) of the Act, is applicable to dwellings listed in a particular valuation band divided by the number which in that proportion is applicable to dwellings listed in valuation Band D, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 36(1) of the Act, as the amounts to be taken into account for the year in respect of categories of dwellings listed in different valuation bands;
5) for the year 2025/26 the Gloucestershire County Council and the Police & Crime Commissioner for Gloucestershire have issued precepts to the Council, in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, for each category of dwellings in the Council’s area as indicated below:
Valuation
Band
Gloucestershire County Council
Police and
Crime Commissioner
£
A
1,119.77
214.72
B
C
1,306.39
1,493.02
250.51
286.29
D
E
F
G
H
1,679.65
2,052.91
2,426.16
2,799.42
3,539.30
322.08
393.65
465.23
536.80
644.16
6) the Council, in accordance with Sections 30 and 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, hereby sets the aggregate amounts shown in Schedule 4 as the amounts of Council Tax for the year 2025/26 for each part of its area and for each of the categories of dwellings.
7) the Council’s basic amount of Council Tax for 2025/26 is not excessive in accordance with principles approved under Section 52ZB Local Government Finance Act 1992.
8) the following Council/Publica Officers: Deputy Chief Executive, Interim Director – Resident Services, Director of Governance and Development, Legal Executive, Business Manager – Environmental, Welfare and Revenues, Revenues Manager, Revenues Lead and Senior Recovery Officer be authorised to:
(a) collect and recover any National Non-Domestic Rates and Council Tax; and
(b) prosecute or defend on the Council’s behalf or to appear on its behalf in proceedings before a magistrate’s court in respect of unpaid National Non-Domestic Rates and Council Tax.
Amendment status:Carried
RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 7 November 2024 be approved as a correct record.
RESOLVED: That Cabinet
1. NOTED the report; and
2. NOTED the external funding for the project and APPROVED to underwrite the cost of the LIFT Licences and any associated costs estimated at £33,000.
1. NOTED the financial position set out in this report.
2. APPROVED the recommendation in paragraph 9.3: Continue to review in-year opportunities with Publica and Ubico to mitigate the forecast financial position.
3. APPROVED the recommendation in paragraph 9.5: Implement an Authority to Fill process with authorisation for any recruitment activity.
4. APPROVED the recommendation in paragraph 9.6: Deputy Chief Executive and Section 151 Officer to provide guidance to all service leads on criteria under which external agency support can be commissioned (subject to business case assessment).
5. APPROVED the recommendation in paragraph 9.7: accelerate development of refreshed Savings & Transformation plan to ensure adequate cost reductions are identified, scoped, and planned over the MTFS period.
6. APPROVED the recommendation in paragraph 9.8: review of fees and charges as part of the 2025/26 budget setting process from a cost recovery position.
7. APPROVED the recommendation in paragraph 9.9: Publica Review Phase 2 – the design-led principle Consideration of cost must ensure that the additional cost of bring services back to the Council are quantified with mitigating actions taken to reduce the potential impact on the MTFS.
8. APPROVED the revised Capital Programme to include £0.208m of expenditure in relation to Cirencester Leisure Centre decarbonisation work including the installation of solar PV and triple glazing funded through the Government’s Swimming Pool Support Fund.
Motion status:Carried
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the previous meeting on 25 September 2024 be APPROVED as a correct record.
RESOLVED: That Full Council
1. NOTED the update from the Leader of the Council regarding the change to the membership and responsibilities of Cabinet Members.
2. AGREED to appoint from the Liberal Democrat Group Councillor Lisa Spivey to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to replace Councillor Tristan Wilkinson.
1. APPROVED the Statement of Principles; and,
2. APPROVED to continue to adopt a “no-casino resolution”
for inclusions in the published Gambling Act 2005 Licensing
Policy Statement.
That Full Council resolves to:
1. Approve a dispensation for Councillor Tony Dale in accordance with Section 85(1) of the Local Government Act 1972, on the grounds of ill-health.
RESOLVED: that the minutes of the meeting held on 3 October 2024 be approved as a correct record.
RESOLVED: That Cabinet AGREED RECOMMEND to Full Council:
1. The increase to income bands as detailed within paragraphs 3.2, 3.3 and Annex A of this report from 1 April 2025.
2. That any surplus in the Hardship Fund to be transferred over to 2025/2026 for reasons detailed in paragraphs 3.6 and 3.7 of the report.
RESOLVED: That Cabinet:
1. NOTED the Council’s work to support communities with the cost of living.
2. REQUESTED that the Cost of Living Steering Group continues to consider further opportunities to support communities with the cost of living.
1. APPROVED the 2025/26 Budget Strategy as outlined in the report.
2. APPROVED the revised Capital Programme including the additional expenditure on Disabled Facilities funded by Disabled Facilities Grant, as set out in Annex B.
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet meeting held on 5 September 2024 be approved as a correct record.
1. AGREED to the petition request to keep open the public conveniences in the High Street / Market Square, Stow-on-the-Wold and instead close the public conveniences in Maugersbury Road.
1. APPROVED the draft Green Economic Growth Strategy for a four-week period of consultation as set out in Section 4.
2. AGREED to a further report setting out the results of the consultation and any amendments to the strategy arising from it to enable Cabinet to consider the strategy for adoption.
3. NOTED the adoption of the Gloucestershire Economic Strategy by Gloucestershire County Council’s Cabinet.
1. APPROVED the Public Health Funeral Policy
1. APPROVED the Policy set out in Annex A
1. APPROVED the implementation of the Long -Term Empty Property Strategy for 2024 – 2025.
1. AGREED the recommendations in the annexed review;
2. AGREED to the proposal to formally notify ward members on validation of Asset of Community Value nominations.
RESOLVED: That subject to the amendments noted, the Full Council minutes of 31 July 2024 be APPROVED as a correct record.
1. NOTE the petition signed by 1,198 people requesting the Council to retain the public toilets in High Street/Market Square, Stow-on-the-Wold.
2. AGREE to refer consideration of the petition to Cabinet, as it is the relevant decision-making body, for discussion and decision at its meeting on 3 October 2024
1. APPROVE the draft Council Size Proposal (Annex A) for
submission to The Local Government Boundary Commission for
England.
2. AGREE TO DELEGATE AUTHORITY to the Business Manager for Democratic
Services, in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer and the
Chair of the Boundary Review Working Group, to finalise the
Council Size Proposal document to reflect the discussion at full
Council (if required) and to make other minor amendments to
improve the document prior to submission.
1. NOTE the Treasury Management performance for the period 01
April 2023 to 31 March 2024;
2. APPROVE the Treasury Management Outturn Report for 2023/24.
That Council resolves to:
i. Make Water Companies Statutory Consultees for both Development Control and in preparing Local and Strategic Plans;
ii. Introduce clear mandatory controls on storm water drainage for all development.
RESOLVED: That Council
2. APPROVE the changes and corrections to Planning Protocol in respect of the Planning & Licensing Committee
1. APPROVE the updated arrangements for dealing with code
of conduct complaints;
2. APPROVE the procedure for the Standards Hearing Sub-Committee and to delegate authority to the Director of Governance & Development to make minor amendments to the procedure.
RESOLVED: That Full Council continues the meeting for the final hour.
1. AGREE to support the Safety of Electric-Powered Micromobility Vehicles and Lithium Batteries Bill;
2. AGREE to request that the Leader of the Council writes to MP’s Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown and Roz Savage to provide notice that the motion has been passed - request that the Safety of Electric-Powered Micromobility Vehicles and Lithium Batteries Bill is supported in Parliament;
3. AGREE that the Leader of the Council writes to the organisers of the cross-party campaign for the Bill, expressing our support (electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk).
RESOLVED: That subject to the amendments noted, the Full Council minutes on 20 March 2024 be APPROVED as a correct record.
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Annual Council meeting on 15 May 2024 be approved as a correct record.
RESOLVED: That Full Council:
1. APPROVED the implementation of Phase 1 of the Publica Transition
based on the Detailed Transition Plan and the phasing for the
transition.
2. DELEGATED AUTHORITY to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of
the Council, the decision to deal with any final detail matters arising
from the Detailed Transition Plan.
3. DELEGATED AUTHORITY to the Director of Governance and
Development (Monitoring Officer), in liaison with the Leader, to
update the constitution by making any consequential changes
required as a result of Phase 1 of the Publica Transition.
4. AGREED TO carry out a budget re-basing for the 2026/7 financial year so that
the funding provided to Publica is proportionate to the services
received.
5. NOTED that following the decision on Phase 1, preparatory work for Phase 2 will commence and will be the subject of a separate report
6. NOTED the following as included in the Detailed Transition Plan;
Section 2: Transition Planning:
· Note the Design-Led principles
· Note the Key Goals for Transition
Section 7: Modelling Assumptions and Outputs:
· Note the cost modelling for Phase 1.
Section 9: Post-Transition Support:
· Note the need for post-transition support.
7. NOTED the recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and therefore asks officers to work with members to clarify and define what success for the Council and continuing Publica will look like and the values that will underpin this success in order to improve efficiency and enhance services for residents, businesses and community organisations in the district.
1. AGREED to appoint Robert Cawley and Melvin Kenyon and re-appoint Michael Paget-Wilkes and Phyllida Pyper as Independent Members, effective from 1.08.2024. All appointments to be a maximum of four years i.e. to 31.07.2028;
2. APPROVED that the Independent Persons are paid an annual allowance of £1000 per annum on a monthly basis, plus a mileage allowance equivalent to the rate paid to elected Members;
3. AUTHORISED the Director of Governance & Development (Monitoring Officer) to commence a recruitment campaign prior to the expiration of current appointments and to enable reports to be presented on future appointments.
RESOLVED: That Full Council exclude the press and the public from the meeting during consideration of item 16 in accordance with provisions of section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that their presence could involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet meeting held on 9 May 2024 be approved as a correct record.
RESOLVED: That Cabinet APPROVE the responses to the recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
1. AGREED to adopt the reduced telephone access arrangements on a permanent
basis.
That Cabinet resolves to:
1. Agree to continue with Crowdfund Cotswold, and let a three-year contract with Spacehive;
2. Agree to make provision for a Community Grant pot in the Budget, at £60,000 per annum
1. NOTED the outturn financial position set out in this report;
2. APPROVED the carry forward of unspent capital budget included in Annex A and paragraph 6.21 of £1.513m into the 2024/25 Capital Programme;
3. APPROVED the transfers to and from reserves, as set out in Paragraphs 4.28 to 4.30
and Annex C;
4. NOTED the changes to provisions as set out in paragraphs 4.33 and 4.34;
5. APPROVED the closing balance on the Financial Resilience Reserve and the
commitment to fund the Council’s share of the estimated redundancy costs
associated with Phase 1 of the transfer of services from Publica to the Council
(up to £0.300m).
1. APPROVED the Discretionary Rate Relief application in respect of
Cirencester Leisure Centre.
1. AGREED to allocate £225,000 from the approved capital budget of £383,200 to deliver 30 EVCP charging bays across five district car parks, to include West Street, Tetbury and,
2. DELEGATED AUTHORITY to the Deputy Chief Executive and Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance allocate any additional funding from the capital budget subject to business case and the ORCS grant conditions for the above sites, up to a maximum of £7500 per charging point.
3. DELEGATED AUTHORITY to the Deputy Chief Executive and Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance to allocate funding and proceed with EVCPs at the Brewery car park, subject to ORCs approval for a change in site and allocation of grant funding, a viable business case and appropriate due diligence being carried out to ensure site can be delivered and comply with grant conditions.
1. APPROVED the recommendation by officers to award the contract for the cleaning and maintenance of public convenience to the preferred contractor as outlined in the Exempt Annex B.
That Cabinet resolves recommended to Full Council to:
1. Approve the implementation of Phase 1 of the Publica Transition based on the Detailed Transition Plan and the phasing for the transition.
2. Delegate to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, the decision to deal with any final detail matters arising from the Detailed Transition Plan.
3. Delegate authority to the Director of Governance and Development (Monitoring Officer), in liaison with the Leader, to update the constitution by making any consequential changes required as a result of Phase 1 of the Publica Transition.
4. Carry out a budget re-basing for the 2026/7 financial year so that the funding provided to Publica is proportionate to the services received.
5. Note that following the decision on Phase 1, preparatory work for Phase 2 will commence and will be the subject of a separate report
6. Note the following as included in the Detailed Transition Plan;
RESOLVED: That Cabinet exclude the public and press from the meeting in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph 4(2)(b) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 on the grounds that their presence could involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.
Cabinet may maintain the exemption if and so long as, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.
That Cabinet recommended to Council to:
1. AGREE to dispose of the Old Station and Old Memorial Cottages as two separate assets, in line with the Asset Management Strategy adopted at Cabinet in May 2024 and the Asset Plans appended to this report.
2. Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Finance Officer, in consultation with the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance to approve the final terms of the sale including sale price.
RESOLVED: That Councillor Nikki Ind be elected as Chair of Council for the Civic Year 2024/25.
RESOLVED: That Councillor Mark Harris be appointed as Vice-Chair of Council for the civic year 2024/25.
1. DETERMINED that, in accordance with Section 15 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (“the Act”), the Council shall continue to apply the political balance provisions under the Act to committees as shown in Annex A;
2. APPOINTED Councillors to serve on the Council’s Committees and working groups as set out in Annex B for a term of office expiring at the next Annual Meeting of the Council;
3. APPOINTED Chairs and Vice-Chairs for the Council’s Committees and working groups as shown in Annex B;
4. NOTED the arrangements for substitutions set out in part 4 of the report;
5. AGREED to confirm the changes to the terms of reference to include substitute members for the Constitution Working Group;
6. AGREED the draft terms of reference for the Publica Review Working Group set out in Annex B.
RESOLVED: That Council appoint Councillor Daryl Corps to the Gloucestershire Economic Growth Scrutiny Committee.
1. NOTED the appointments to outside bodies by the Leader of the Council in respect of executive functions, as set out in Annex A Table 1;
2. AGREED to confirm the appointments to the Gloucestershire County Council Economic Growth Scrutiny Committee and the Gloucestershire County Council Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, as set out in Annex A Table 2.
1. Acknowledge the successful grant application of £191,600;
2. APPROVED the On-Street capital scheme of £383,200 for inclusion in the Council’s capital programme funded by £191,600 of external grant funding and CDC matched funding of £191,600.
RESOLVED: That Full Council amend the 25 September 2024 meeting time to start at 2pm.
© Cotswold District Council
