Decisions

Use the search options at the bottom of the page to find information regarding recent decisions that have been taken by the council’s decision making bodies.

Alternatively you can visit the officer decisions page for information on officer delegated decisions that have been taken by council officers.

Decisions published

17/04/2025 - Planning Policy Manager contract extension ref: 3342    Recommendations Approved

Decision Maker: Director of Community & Economic Development - Tracey Birkinshaw

Decision published: 17/04/2025

Effective from: 17/04/2025

Decision:

To extend a contract to recruitment consultancy Carrington West for Planning Policy Manager for a further two months (up to 30th June 2025) to allow the time to test an alternative approach via the Cheltenham, Gloucester Tewkesbury Strategic and Local Plan Team.

Lead officer: Tracey Birkinshaw


17/04/2025 - Cheltenham Feel Good Pass ref: 3340    Recommendations Approved (subject to call-in)

Decision Maker: Cabinet Member Economic Development, Wellbeing and Culture

Decision published: 17/04/2025

Effective from: 17/04/2025

Decision:

To launch a scheme, to be known as the Cheltenham Feel Good Pass, that enables passholders to access free activities at a range of health and leisure providers.

The scheme will be funded from the council’s allocation of health and wellbeing grant received from Gloucestershire NHS.

The scheme will build on the success of the previous Feed Cheltenham activity pass that enabled users of Cheltenham’s food pantries and food banks to access 12 free activities at Leisure At Cheltenham including swim, gym and soft play plus discounted access to pay as you go activities.

Lead officer: Richard Gibson


17/04/2025 - Cotswolds National Landscape Management Plan 2025-30 ref: 3339    Recommendations Approved (subject to call-in)

Decision Maker: Leader

Decision published: 17/04/2025

Effective from: 17/04/2025

Decision:

To endorse the Cotswolds National Landscape (CNL) Management Plan 2025-2030 as a material consideration n planning decisions including development plan formulation.

 

Include strategic policies referring to the CNL in the Strategic and Local Plan (SLP).

 

Background information:

 

The Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Management Plan is referenced within our adopted Development Plan (Joint Core Strategy 2017 and the Cheltenham Plan 2020) in terms of making it clear that proposals will be required to be consistent with the Management Plan including the latest iteration. 

Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) are now referred to as National Landscapes. This name change is non-statutory.

The main purpose of the management plan 2025-30 is to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the Cotswolds National Landscape (CNL) through three interlinked issues covering: the climate emergency, nature’s decline and ecological crisis, and health and societal changes.

Background papers:

Cotswold National Landscape Management Plan 2025-2030 

SLP joint response to CNL consultation on their management plan review. 

Cotswolds AONB Management Plan 2023-2025

Guidance for relevant authorities on seeking to further the purposes of Protected Landscapes?? 

 

Lead officer: John Spurling


16/04/2025 - Gloucestershire Local Nature Recovery Strategy ref: 3337    Recommendations Approved

Decision Maker: Director of Community & Economic Development - Tracey Birkinshaw

Decision published: 16/04/2025

Effective from: 16/04/2025

Decision:

To issue Cheltenham Borough Council’s response to Gloucestershire Local Nature Recovery Strategy pre-consultation stage.

 

Lead officer: John Spurling


02/04/2025 - Review of a Private Hire Driver’s Licence ref: 3335    Recommendations Approved

Decision Maker: Licensing Sub-Committee - Miscellaneous

Made at meeting: 02/04/2025 - Licensing Sub-Committee - Miscellaneous

Decision published: 15/04/2025

Effective from: 02/04/2025

Decision:

The Licensing Officer introduced the report.

 

The driver addressed the committee and responded to Members’ questions. 

 

Following debate in closed session, Members unanimously voted to revoke the driver’s licence,

 

 


04/04/2025 - Appointment of Building regulation Principal Designer, Monkscroft School Site ref: 3334    Recommendations Approved

Decision Maker: Director of Finance and Assets and Deputy Section 151 Officer - Gemma Bell

Decision published: 14/04/2025

Effective from: 04/04/2025

Decision:

To accept the fee proposal received from BDP (Building Design Partnership Ltd) to act as Building Regulation Principal designer (BE PD) for the redevelopment of the former Monkscroft School Site and for CBC to enter into a contract with them.

Lead officer: Gemma Bell


29/04/2024 - Appointment of Fire Engineering Consultants, Monkscroft School Site ref: 3332    Recommendations Approved

Decision Maker: Director of Finance and Assets and Deputy Section 151 Officer - Gemma Bell

Decision published: 10/04/2025

Effective from: 29/04/2024

Decision:

To accept the fee proposal received from OFR CONSULTANTS LIMITED to act as Fire Engineering Consultants for the redevelopment of the former Monkscroft School Site and for CBC to enter contract with them.

Lead officer: Gemma Bell


08/04/2025 - To note the decisions made by the Community Infrastructure Levy Joint Committee ref: 3324    For Determination

To note the decisions of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Joint Committee and, in line with the agreed Terms of Reference, report this back through each partner council through relevant Cabinet/Committee for the purposes of scrutiny.

 

Community Infrastructure Levy Joint Committee, 4th March 2025 – Agenda and Papers

Community Infrastructure Levy Joint Committee – Terms of Reference

 

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Made at meeting: 08/04/2025 - Cabinet

Decision published: 10/04/2025

Effective from: 18/04/2025

Decision:

RESOLVED THAT:

-       the decisions of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Joint Committee are noted.  

 

Lead officer: Tracey Birkinshaw


08/04/2025 - Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund Grant Bid ref: 3323    For Determination

To note the submission of a grant application for decarbonisation of the housing stock under the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund (formerly SHDF Wave 3

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Made at meeting: 08/04/2025 - Cabinet

Decision published: 10/04/2025

Effective from: 18/04/2025

Decision:

RESOLVED THAT:

-       the £3.688 million grant offered by Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) under Warm Homes:Social Housing Fund Wave 3 is accepted.

 

Lead officer: Paul Leo


08/04/2025 - Interim Collections Development Policy 2025-2027 ref: 3325    For Determination

To consider the report

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Made at meeting: 08/04/2025 - Cabinet

Decision published: 10/04/2025

Effective from: 18/04/2025

Decision:

RESOLVED THAT:

 

  1. the updated Interim Collections Development Policy (2025-2027) attached as Appendix 2, which will run for a two-year period to end of March 2027, is approved;
  2. the two supporting policy statements - the Interim Collections Care and Conservation Policy and the Interim Collection Documentation Policy attached as Appendices 3 and 4 – are approved;
  3. the specific section of the Collection Development Policy in relation to archaeology, whereby the Wilson will no longer accept archaeological depositions from outside Cheltenham borough boundaries – see Section 5 – is endorsed;
  4. Tram 21 is deaccessioned*, subject to a viable plan being agreed which secures the tram’s future in Cheltenham, makes it accessible to the public and allows its story to be told– see Section 6

 

[*deaccession in the context of arts collections is the process whereby a work of art or other object is permanently removed from a museum's collection to be disposed of.]

 

Lead officer: Richard Gibson


04/04/2025 - Review of Pre-Application Fees ref: 3329    Recommendations Approved

To review and publish Planning Pre-Application Fees, for implementation from 01 April 2025

Decision Maker: Director of Community & Economic Development - Tracey Birkinshaw

Decision published: 10/04/2025

Effective from: 04/04/2025

Decision:

Following review of pre-application service and fees as part of the planning service improvement plan, thee updated fees are published on the council’s website.

Lead officer: Tracey Birkinshaw


10/04/2025 - To allocate the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) for 2025-26 ref: 3330    Recommendations Approved

Decision Maker: Leader

Decision published: 10/04/2025

Effective from: 17/04/2025

Decision:

To allocate the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) for 2025-26 to projects to benefit the residents and businesses of Cheltenham, being:

Project

Brief description

Awarded

Elmfield Open Space Capital Works

Self-binding gravel paths and associated SuDs and biodiversity improvements.

£28,000 capital

Davallia Drive Open Space Capital Works

Construction of self-binding gravel paths and swales to improve access into and through the open space.

£7,500 capital

Climate change business grants

Business grants for small (LEDs, insulation etc) and large (ASHP solar) installations, to support businesses achieve net zero (grants will require evidence of proposed carbon savings)

£35,655 capital

Enrich: Practical tools for a healthier lifestyle

The 2024 ENRICH pilot supported 140+ vulnerable individuals in Cheltenham, promoting health equity. Funding will expand sessions for children, families, and over-55s, reducing health inequalities and preventable illness.

£25,000 revenue

Building De-carbonisation reports for The Wilson and the Crematorium

To devise costed plans to reduce carbon in our most carbon intensive buildings, using the Green Deal amongst other funding strategies to support delivery of plans.

£60,000 revenue

Flood Warden Network

Flood warden volunteer network for community resilience to allow continued support and training for the flood warden volunteer network

£10,000 revenue

ESRI software – climate risk assessment

Completing a Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (CRVA) on ARC GIS Pro (provided by ESRI) - annual licence cost

£2,900 revenue

Grown in Cheltenham

Grown in Cheltenham is a targeted growth programme to support promising local SMEs to maximise their economic and impact potential.

£18,000 revenue

Marketing and events to support climate change initiatives

Promotional and marketing materials targeting and supporting local Cheltenham based businesses to achieve net zero goals.

£5,000 revenue

Tree strategy

CBC manages 183 sites and across these 5,751 trees. The Tree Strategy will be the first of its kind for the borough and county, and will provide a valuable resource that maps maturity, condition and diversity.

£10,000 revenue

Heritage strategy

Many places that have adopted a heritage strategy concentrate almost exclusively on the built environment. To make it more relevant to our residents and communities this strategy would look to encompass people, events and objects of significance to Cheltenham’s unique identity - telling the Cheltenham story.

£10,000 revenue

Playing pitch assessments

To commission detailed pitch assessments of the five council-owned sites that need investment to identify improvements required to sustain the level of activity and ensure these are accessible to all.

£12,500 revenue

Youth Activity Pass

The NCLB Youth Activity Pass will give less well-off young people the chance to improve their physical and mental health through accessing a wide range of activities

£20,072 revenue

School Ready Scheme

A project to fund the purchase of primary and secondary school uniforms and equipment to support families for whom the cost of this is prohibitive. This would be supported by events for the community to attend which will then provide access to other services offering financial support.

£7,500 revenue

Leckhampton Hills SSSI management plan

Renew the biological and geological management plan for Leckhampton Hill. This will help preserve and enhance the calcareous grassland escarpment, and other significant habitats and geological features across the site.

£15,000 revenue

 

 




Lead officer: Helen Mole


08/04/2025 - Memorandum of Understanding for "MAIDeN" services 2025-26 ref: 3328    Recommendations Approved

Decision Maker: Head of Communites, Wellbeing and Partnerships - Richard Gibson

Decision published: 09/04/2025

Effective from: 08/04/2025

Decision:

To agree a memorandum of understanding between the Council and Gloucestershire County Council that sets out the agreement by which partner authorities, purchase “MAIDeN services” until March 31st 2026. The charge to Cheltenham Borough Council’s will be £11k in 2025/26.

Lead officer: Richard Gibson


08/04/2025 - Approval of the award of grant funding for the Cheltenham Health and Wellbeing grants 2024 ref: 3327    Recommendations Approved

Decision Maker: Cabinet Member Economic Development, Wellbeing and Culture

Decision published: 09/04/2025

Effective from: 08/04/2025

Decision:

• To approve the award of grant funding for the Cheltenham Health and Wellbeing fund as set out as set out in appendix A, totalling £186,600
• To approve the contributions from the health and wellbeing pots set out below and detailed in appendix A:
o £159,100 from the NHS Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board grant of £170,000;
o £12,500 from Active Gloucestershire We Can Move grant;
o £5,000 from the funding set aside for the proposed activity card pot;
o £10,000 underspend from previous years’ grant rounds;
• To enter into project agreements with the grant recipients with any payments being subject to the completion of due diligence checks.
• To approve that the remainder of the NHS Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board grant of £170,000 is allocated as follows:
o £10,000 to “We Can Move”, the county-wide movement around promoting active lifestyles for the 2024/25 financial year.

Lead officer: Richard Gibson


03/04/2025 - Cheltenham Lido - Variation to parking income threshold ref: 3326    Recommendations Approved

Decision Maker: Cabinet Member Economic Development, Wellbeing and Culture

Decision published: 08/04/2025

Effective from: 03/04/2025

Decision:

To increase the Cheltenham Lido's car park income threshold from £491,066 to £589,279 and change the Retail Price Index increases to annually rather than every five years.

Lead officer: Simon Hodges