Agenda item

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Building Control said the planning team has been updating existing policies and introducing new ones to improve the, including planning policy and building control.  New staff have also been taken on to streamline the allocation of applications and manage S106 collection and follow up.  Recruitment is ongoing to strengthen the team and service.

The Cabinet Member for Major Development and Housing Delivery said we are in an exciting period, with several big projects underway, and reported on some recent events:

-       the recent launch of the Skills Hub at the House of Commons, with MP Max Wilkinson, together with HBD and other stakeholders, a fantastic project which aims create a talent pipeline for the many exciting jobs and opportunities coming in the county;

-       the first ten homes at Regents Village are ready, with many more coming soon, providing desperately needed, accessible homes; anyone interested should keep an eye on the portal;

-       things are moving at pace at the former Monkscroft School site, with an application progressing well for a very attractive development of 100%  affordable homes;

-       another affordable housing development at 320 Swindon Road is also moving forward, with a Meet the Builder event for neighbours and plans to bring children and young people to the site when work starts, to see how homes are built and career opportunities in the profession. 

The Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Wellbeing, Culture and Public Open Space highlighted the following upcoming events and recent activities:

-       the Lions at Large trail over the summer has been a roaring success and the lions will be auctioned off for charity at the racecourse, 01-05 October;

-       a new free exhibition – Material Worlds – Contemporary Artists and Textiles – will open this week at The Wilson and run until 11 January, focussing on textiles and demonstrate how familiar, everyday materials can be transformed into unexpected, radical and bold art;

-       with the support of the Pied Piper appeal, the Cheltenham Trust has recently launched SEND soft play sessions at Leisure@ to provide a calm, sensory, friendly space for children under 8 with additional needs;

-       Cheltenham BID, with the support of the council and other connected organisations, has financed the renovation of the elephant mosaic in the alleyway between the High Street and Grosvenor Place South, depicting an incident in 1934 when three circus elephants were paraded through the town.  The mosaics have been carefully repaired, cleaned, and sealed to significantly improve their appearance;

-       thanks to No Child Left Behind, Cheltenham BID and local businesses for the Cambray Festival on Saturday 06 September, an afternoon of free fun activities for older children;

-       the Everyman Theatre has recently launched a fund-raising appeal for its Grove Street project, a  dedicated creative arts education and community centre due to open Spring 2026.

The Cabinet Member for Safety and Communities also thanked NCLB and BID for delivering the Cambray Carnival, saying the council should aim for more free activities and opportunities in the town centre.  She has also been working to combat graffiti, which brings a lot of complaints across the town centre and particularly on the Honeybourne Line and Millennium Bridge; with the help of Max Wilkinson MP, CIL funding, and Cheltenham Paint Festival organiser Andy Dice Davies, some fantastic new murals have been produced on the Honeybourne Line, really lifting the area.

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Customer Services reported that discussions have started regarding the provision of more homes for veterans; reports will come forward in the future in relation to that.   She said that she will be addressing the Mayors’ Association of Hungary about the work CBC is doing with young people to bring about equality and encourage their involvement in politics, and has also been invited to join the housing task force of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions – which comprises 41 countries and around a million councillors – and will share work done here at CBC to help with housing and ensure all tenants have a real voice. Both of these provide an international showcase for what Cheltenham is doing and she thanked officers for all their hard work. 

The Cabinet Member for Waste Services, Recycling, Parks, Gardens and Green Open Space shared several items:

-       he recently spent an enjoyable afternoon at the crematorium with ecologist advisers and members of Gloucestershire Badger Group to consider a progressive way forward with the management of badgers at the site;

-       the town is blessed with many ‘friends’ groups, but managing these can place a strain on the small greenspace team, who recently hosted an engaging and useful meeting to consider the best way forward with this;

-       Cheltenham also benefits from some excellent volunteer groups, and he joined the excellent Guardians of the River Chelt in picking litter out of the river in St Peter’s ward;

-       the parks team is looking at traveller incursions at Benhall, with measures going in this year;

-       he hopes work will also start this year at Hatherley Park, where the pond has significant issues with dredging.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets said it was difficult to share finance and property issues, which involve a high level of negotiation and confidentiality, but he wanted to put on record his thanks to Gemma Bell, Director of Finance, Assets and Climate Change, and wish her well as she starts her maternity leave.

The Leader said much of her time is currently taken up with the corporate governance review of town and parish councils – data is being analysed and a working group will look at the next steps - and also with the Local Government Review process, but she was able to attend the House of Commons reception recently, hosted by Max Wilkinson MP, to launch the new Gloucestershire Skills Hub network to establish the county’s position as capital of the UK’s security industry. 

In addition, she has received some lovely invitations, including one to join the Oriel Singers for their 50^th anniversary concert at the Pittville Pump Rooms, and another to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the Holst Museum.  She said these events are always enjoyable, providing opportunities to meet and talk with residents in different spheres.