Issue - meetings

Report of the Leader

The Leader introduced the her report,  highlighting the points set out in the executive summary, and said that the productivity plan for 2024-25 was presented for approval, in line with the previous government’s requirements.  She said it is based on information already included in the council’s Corporate Plan and published decisions. 

In response to Members’ questions, the Leader said that:

-       regarding EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) and whether, in view of the previous government’s statements about councils wasting money on ineffective EDI schemes and practices, it would have been prudent to include reference to this in the report and plan, the council chose to ignore the statements, as this is something CBC takes seriously – it is embedded in everything we do and an important part of everyone’s wellbeing. We will wait and see what the new government brings forward;

-       the Monitoring Officer is CBC’s lead officer for EDI, which indicates the importance of the issue for CBC.

In debate, Members thanked the Leader and officers for the report, and made the following points:

-       the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities ought to get its own house in order before requiring councils to produce productivity plans – new government legislation has put additional burdens on local authorities with only derisory amounts of funding to help.  This requirements treats local authorities with disrespect; hopefully things will change with the new government;

-       the government is asking local authorities to do something which it doesn’t do itself due to lack of join-up between its departments;

-       one-year settlements do not allow local authorities to plan for the future and evolve as they go; hopefully the new government will recognise this and make changes;

-       the report highlights the breakdown between local and national government and the barriers to more effective working.  The new government will be aware of this, but not necessarily do anything about it.

The Leader said the district councils network is a good lobby group, has met to consider how to address this issue, and will meet with the new government soon, with CBC present to promote Golden Valley.  County councils are also hugely affected, and it will be interesting to see how the problem is addressed by the new government.  Things are moving at a fast pace, and the Leader is making sure the voice of Cheltenham and wider region is heard.

RESOLVED (unanimously) THAT:

-        the Productivity Plan 2024/25 is approved.