Agenda item

The Leader invited Members to share any briefings or updates.

The Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency thanked the climate team, who had just finished the arduous task of preparing the carbon footprint report for consideration by Council.  She was also happy to report that Cheltenham Town Football Club had now installed its solar panels, part-funded by CBC as part of the Green Deal.   It is one of the biggest solar installations in the football league and she is proud that CBC helped make it happen.

The Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Culture, Tourism and Well-being was pleased to report that with S106 funding and hard work from the Public Art Panel, officers at Cheltenham Trust and other officers, two people have been appointed to manage the Celebrating Women project, which will be ready in time for International Women’s Day next year.

He also thanked everyone who has helped with the ice rink.  He attended the opening with Tweedy the Clown and the Mayor, and is happy to see so many people having fun.  In addition, it is highly positive that the equipment is being run on vegetable oil, using technology endorsed by Planet Cheltenham.

The Cabinet Member for Waste, Recycling and Street Services noted that a Friends of QE2 park in Battledown had been established and commenced work. He recognised the valuable work such groups make to the borough’s green spaces and was pleased to see that such groups had doubled in recent years.

The Cabinet Member Housing wished to put on record her huge thanks to housing officers who have managed to complete the purchase of 21 new homes, part funded by government, for 20 Ukrainian families and one Afghan family. This was a particular feat due to the incredibly tight timescales involved.

She then reported that progress was being made following the decision to bring housing services back in house. There would be imminent engagement with tenants and leaseholders to create a new offer.  The consultation will close in mid -February and she was  looking forward to receiving feedback and shaping the new offer with them.

The Cabinet Member Customer and Regulatory Services wished to congratulate the CBC planning team in terms of its position in the regulatory league table which considers the speed at which planning applications are determined. He reported that in the category of household and minor applications, which represents the vast majority of applications 86% were determined on time. This was well above the UK average and almost the best in the county. He explained that major applications were much more complex and can take years but even then 82% were determined on time.  This presented a very good overall picture, particularly in light of staffing challenges and different leadership. He wished to congratulate the whole team, which was now led by Chris Gomm who had recently taken up the post of Head of Development Management, Enforcement and Compliance.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets reported that some months ago a decision had been made to dispose of land, in the form of a car park, at Idsall Drive in Prestbury. At the request of the Leader and with the support of property officers, he reignited conversations with Prestbury Parish Council about its purchase. At the last Parish Council meeting the decision was made not to purchase and therefore he wished to report that it would be put on the open market.

The Leader thanked the Cabinet Member for meeting with the Parish Council, highlighting the important part they play in the local governance of the town. She reported that she had recently attended the Parish Councils (C5) away day where the Director of Communities and Economic Development gave a presentation on the Community Infrastructure levy and there were group discussions and debate on sustainability and climate change.  She was pleased to meet not only Cheltenham’s parish councillors but also representatives from those Parish Councils which border our boundaries.

The Leader highlighted the current financial difficulties councils were facing, citing the more recent Nottingham example. She then referred to a recent Leadership Gloucestershire meeting to discuss homelessness and the government decision to speed up the approval process for refugees. Concern had been expressed that by the time the notification is received there are seven days to leave. An  announcement was made that day that government had changed on this. A further meeting of Leadership Gloucestershire had taken place that day so districts were working together to tackle the issues and no one authority should carry the burden financially since there was no government finance available. A suggestion had been made to launch a small number of reigniting homes for Ukraine scheme via the County Council, albeit this would not be permanently funded. GARAS was providing sleeping bags but it was  unacceptable to have people living on the streets through no fault of their own. As a town of sanctuary CBC wanted to do all it could but financial support from government was needed to do this.