The County Council meeting scheduled for 16 September 2026 was set to cover a range of important local issues, including the adoption of the Youth Justice Plan for 2026/27, updates on corporate parenting, and the annual reports from the Audit & Governance Committee Chair and the Scrutiny Committee. A significant portion of the agenda was dedicated to debating several motions proposed by councillors, addressing topics from road safety and social media transparency to community energy and the reopening of local infrastructure.

Youth Justice Plan 2026/27

A key item on the agenda was the proposed adoption of the Youth Justice Plan 2026/27. This plan, part of a three-year strategy for the Gloucestershire Youth Justice Service (YJS) from 2025-2028, outlines the service's priorities and operational framework. The report highlighted the YJS's return to Gloucestershire County Council, aiming to strengthen integration with Children's Services and improve alignment with safeguarding, education, and health initiatives. The plan detailed progress against strategic priorities, including workforce integration, the implementation of a 'Child First' framework, promoting inclusion and reducing disproportionality, improving the health and well-being of children within the YJS, and ensuring an effective response to victims of crime. It also addressed performance data, quality summaries, and actions for the coming year, including responses to recommendations from the HM Inspectorate of Probation inspection.

Corporate Parenting

The Council was scheduled to receive an update on Corporate Parenting activity, as detailed in the Corporate Parenting Report. This report provided an overview of the responsibilities of a Corporate Parent, which is the local authority's role in ensuring care-experienced children and young people have the opportunities and outcomes that other children have. It detailed the activity of the Corporate Parenting Group, including planning for working practices, sub-group progress, and upcoming events such as an Education, Employment and Training Summit and activities for National Care Leavers Month. Updates on social care, including findings from the Gloucestershire Brightspots survey, were also included, alongside information on the Voice and Participation Team's work and performance reporting for children in care and care leavers.

Scrutiny Update

An update on the work of the Council's scrutiny committees was also on the agenda. This included a report from the Adult Social Care and Communities Scrutiny Committee concerning 'healthy life expectancy' rates in Gloucestershire, in response to concerns raised by the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee. The report noted that while overall healthy life expectancy had declined, Gloucestershire's figures were slightly better than national averages, though significant inequalities persisted between deprived and less deprived communities. The Adult Social Care and Communities Scrutiny Committee was also due to consider draft strategies for Gloucestershire Healthy Weight and Tobacco Control prior to their presentation to Cabinet.

Audit and Governance Chair's Annual Report

The Annual Report of the Chair of the Audit and Governance Committee was presented, summarising the committee's contribution to the Council's oversight of risk and governance for the 2025-26 period. The report highlighted the committee's achievements in overseeing internal and external audit activities, risk management, regulatory compliance, treasury management, and the annual statement of accounts. The Chair expressed satisfaction that the Council had maintained an adequate and effective internal control framework.

Motions

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to debating several motions proposed by councillors. These included:

• Motion 1009: A Strong Voice for Every Community proposed by Councillor Martin Horwood and seconded by Councillor Jeremy Hilton. This motion aimed to ensure that the distinct needs, priorities, and opportunities of Gloucestershire's various communities, including its city, towns, and rural areas, are recognised and reflected throughout the Local Government Reorganisation process. It called for advocacy for governance arrangements that empower communities and promote robust local democratic accountability.

• Motion 1003: A Gloucestershire Road-Safety Education Pathway from Early Years to Adulthood proposed by Councillor Leigh Challis and seconded by Councillor Chris Mayo. This motion highlighted the need for a comprehensive, lifelong approach to road safety education, starting from early years. It proposed the development of a county-wide programme, including age-appropriate mascots and a schools competition, to foster long-term behavioural change and reduce road casualties, particularly considering Gloucestershire's rural road network.

• Motion 1011: Increased scrutiny of outsourcing proposals proposed by Councillor Richard Dean and seconded by Councillor Craig Horrocks. This motion sought to ensure greater scrutiny of outsourcing decisions, particularly in adult social care. It called for adequate consultation with stakeholders, including staff and trade unions, early referral to scrutiny committees, and a full assessment of the impact on staff, service users, and value for money. The motion also affirmed a preference for services to be delivered directly by the council where it best protects accountability and service quality.

• Motion 1008: Reinstatement of support for Community Speed Watch Cameras and Vehicle Activated Signage (VASs) schemes proposed by Councillor Tom Bradley and seconded by Councillor Daryl Corps. This motion noted concerns about the increase in deaths and serious injuries on Gloucestershire's roads due to speed and called for the reinstatement of dedicated funding for localised road safety initiatives, including Community Speed Camera and VAS schemes. It also requested that Highways Officer support be reinstated for the siting of new cameras and signs.

• Motion 1007: Protecting Public Comments and Transparency on Council Social Media proposed by Councillor Alastair Chambers and seconded by Councillor Stuart Graham. This motion addressed concerns about the removal of legitimate public comments from council-controlled social media pages. It called for clear, published moderation guidelines, transparency in the removal of comments, and regular reviews of deleted comments to ensure legitimate feedback is not suppressed.

• Motion 1010: Standing Together Against Hate and Division proposed by Councillor Colin Hay. This motion aimed to reaffirm the Council's commitment to inclusion, respect, and community cohesion. It called for condemnation of all forms of hate crime and prejudice, a public statement from the Leader of the Council, and encouraged all councillors to publicly support a pledge against hate and discrimination.

• Motion 1004: Prioritising Local Statutory Responsibilities (Local Impact Test) proposed by Councillor Vernon Smith and seconded by Councillor Vernon Gray. This motion sought to introduce a Local Impact Test for all future Motions on Notice, requiring them to explicitly demonstrate a direct, quantifiable, and demonstrable impact on Gloucestershire's service delivery, public finances, local infrastructure, or community safety.

• Motion 1005: Reopening the Black Bridge (Stowfield Viaduct), Lydbrook proposed by Councillor Piers Camp and seconded by Councillor Ray Donaghue. This motion highlighted the ongoing closure of the Black Bridge and called for its temporary reopening to pedestrians while a permanent solution is developed. It requested a report on a delivery programme, costed options appraisal for a permanent solution, and a funding strategy.

• Motion 1006: Project 33. Improving Access to Public Rights of Way and Community Wellbeing in Coleford proposed by Councillor Leigh Challis and seconded by Councillor Ray Donaghue. This motion supported the completion of the Coleford 'stile-free parish' vision, recognising its contribution to community wellbeing and accessibility. It called for exploration and allocation of funding to remove remaining stiles, improve priority routes, and promote Coleford as a model of best practice.

Other Agenda Items

The agenda also included standard council business such as apologies for absence, confirmation of minutes, declarations of interest, announcements, and public questions. Members' questions were also scheduled, providing an opportunity for councillors to raise specific issues with the Cabinet. The appointment of committees and the election of chairs and vice-chairs for scrutiny committees were also on the agenda.