Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors Barnes, Beale, Chidley, Clark, Clucas, Dobie, Fifield, McCloskey, Nelson, Oliver.

There were none.

The minutes from the meeting held on 24 July 2023, will be considered at the next meeting on 16 October 2023.

The minutes of the meeting held on 24 July will be considered at the next meeting on 16 October.

The Mayor said he was lucky to attend many events, but wanted to highlight a recent visit to Gottingen.  He thanked the Mayor and international relations team for hosting the party from Cheltenham.

The Leader of the Council had no communications to share with Members on this occasion.

These must be received no later than 12 noon on the seventh working day before the date of the meeting.

**Questions must relate directly to the business of this extraordinary meeting**

There were none.

These must be received no later than 12 noon on the seventh working day before the date of the meeting.

**Questions must relate directly to the business of this extraordinary meeting**

There were none.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Cyber, Regeneration and Commercial Income – REPORT TO FOLLOW

The Cabinet Member for Cyber, Regeneration and Commercial Income began by thanking all officers who have worked so hard on this extremely important report, which he hoped everyone had read in detail.  He said the council has been working on the Golden Valley project for a number of years and there is still a long way to go – it is anticipated that it will be 10-15 years before the project is complete – but this report is an important step in the journey.

He made clear to Members that they are not being asked to sign a cheque for £95m – this is the current estimate of what will be needed to complete the Innovation Centre and Hub at the heart of the Golden Valley development.  It is the biggest project and will be the second biggest financial commitment CBC has ever undertaken, and we need to make sure that every single facet is right. The legal agreement includes a series of conditions, including a viability test which must be passed before the Council commits to the fnding, and we are lucky to have a fantastic team of officers guiding us along every step of the way.

He concluded by saying it is important that all Members feel they can get behind this hugely important project, and hoped that it would receive unanimous support

Member questions

A Member asked about the role that people working in the Innovation Centre and associated buildings will play in contributing towards a cyber-security agenda, enabling energy sources to remain safe in the face of hostile threats and helping the council’s net zero aspirations as well as national sustainability goals.  Officers confirmed that while the broader occupier strategy for the Golden Valley development in still in progress, the focus of the Innovation Centre is about bringing together academia, social activities, prime or large corporate entities, smaller entities and public bodies to provide the economic centrepiece and to drive innovation.  There is every expectation that, out of that, the new technologies and businesses will go on to build and support the local and national economy, protecting our sustainability requirements and energy infrastructure.  

Member debate

In debate, Members made the following comments:

-       this is very important and secures the future of the buildings, people and areas we need to look after and support in Cheltenham.  There will inevitably be some setbacks as with all projects of this size, but now is the time to support this intriguing plan with such magnificent potential for Cheltenham.  We should grasp the opportunity with both hands;

-       this is too large a sum of money, and the risks and unknowns are too great at this point.  A number of councils around the country are facing bankruptcy as a result of vast borrowing to deliver projects, and then leaving future generations to pay off the debt if it all goes wrong.  Most councillors won’t be alive in 50 years to see the project through;

-       the project was conceived  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

There were none.