Issue details

The draft revised partnership pledge was discussed with the green space volunteer groups in August 2025 and they also submitted further written feedback on it in the following weeks. 

The groups recognised the positives of the partnership pledge in ensuring equality between groups and giving them flexibility to volunteer outside council working hours, as often as they like and to achieve more and benefit from funding opportunities to improve the green spaces. 

However, some of the groups had concerns about responsibilities including GDPR, holding personal data for their volunteers, safeguarding and the level of administrative time needed.  There was also clarity needed about insurance requirements.

Gloucestershire Rural Community Council has been involved in supporting the groups and a number of them are willing to sign the partnership pledge.  Some of the groups are not ready to do this and their volunteers will remain as council volunteers, under council supervision and insurance.  They will be reliant on the capacity of the green space development team to run sessions, and the number of sessions per group will be reviewed to ensure fairness in line with capacity.