Transcript

• Hey ho, we've had a general election called as well. Councillor Hallward.
• Nothing really to report. I don't know if there are any cancer worms, but I'm only just finding out how the pantry is organized. So I haven't found any yet, but I am just, I would just like to say I'm just staggered. My portfolio is now economy, wellbeing and culture. And I'm just staggered by the richness and diversity of our cultural, sporting and artistic organizations. And I think we're very lucky to live in this town and I'll do my best in this job. Thank you.
• Councillor Clegg first.
• Thank you, leader. Just a couple of points. The first is to say that Cheltenham is not just Cheltenham because what happens in Cheltenham is something that cities and towns across the whole of Europe know they can also do. They can copy because they hear and see what we do in Cheltenham and how they can actually use that experience to help them to rebuild their economies, to reinvigorate their communities. And it makes a heck of a difference. And one of the things I would like to say leader is, you know, that's been done without this council going into bankruptcy, the way lots of other councils in our country have either done or are on the edge of. That says a heck of a lot, not just about the commitment and about the operational ability of lead members, but it says an awful lot about the care and concern that this cabinet has had for the ordinary people of Cheltenham who actually fund a great deal of what we do. And so leaders through you, I'd like to say thank you to them, thank you to Peter, thank you to other colleagues for the work that they've done that enables others to learn, but do so without bringing risk that others might see happening to them that hasn't happened to us. So thank you again.
• Councilor Jeffries.
• Thank you leader, like colleagues, I'm getting my feet under the table as I say in my new portfolio and to draft through it all one of the particular areas I'm looking forward to and I'll be obviously talking to you guys in the future, hopefully the near future is, and that's around social value. So I'm carrying on as I did previously for the last two years, which is the forefront of our communities in my mind, whatever portfolio I hold, and it is an exciting portfolio. I mean, let's face it, the golden value development is the biggest development, the biggest sort of achievement and development achievement, development, probably in the Southwest, definitely glossary, but I think it's probably the biggest one in Southwest, you know, the biggest impact on this time, I think in the long term. So for me, the social value element of that and how we can support areas across the time is quite key. So I look forward to talking to you more about that in the near future. Thank you leader.
• Councilor Toby.
• Just picking up on what Councilor Kluger said there about how what we do in Cheltenham is often at the leading edge of what's happening nationally, if not internationally, but certainly nationally. And I think an example of that is from my previous portfolio, which is about our recycling, and the fact that we're recycling more than anywhere else in terms of the variety of things that are collected at the curbside. And that also brings me on to another point really, that climate change, and I'm so privileged to have taken on this portfolio, so thank you leader. It touches everything that we do in this council. And I've alluded to my previous portfolio, and I, but I know that it will also touch housing, it will touch everything that we do. And also picking up on what Councilor Jeffrey says about the Golden Valley, again, we're leading on the Golden Valley for Gloucestershire. Climate change, our targets are far more ambitious than those of the national government. We're talking about getting to net zero by 2030. The national government at the moment is talking about maybe 2045, maybe 2050. We are really challenging ourselves, but I do think that the people of Cheltenham are behind us when it comes to the climate change portfolio. I feel that there's such a wealth of goodwill, also amongst other parties and individual councillors as well, so this council will be moving together. It's not just our party, it's this council, it's not even just this council. The paper that we saw today was a paper for the whole town, not just the council, it's for the whole of Cheltenham. And I do believe that this is the place, if anywhere in the country where it will be delivered, Cheltenham is at the forefront. We will not be outgreened by anywhere else. So I'm very at peace about my portfolio, thank you.
• Councillor Telford.
• This is fun. (laughing) Obviously, really delighted to both have my portfolio and to have a portfolio at all, it's quite exciting. And to be at my first cabinet meeting. Not obviously, not much to add, I've been getting to grips of being a cabinet member, having this portfolio and a general election, as you can imagine. But I've had good meetings with some of my officers so far. I've had handovers with Council Horden, Council Adobe, for their parts of the portfolio and things seem to be going well. (laughing) There's quite a few exciting things to come and obviously plenty of challenges, I'm sure, but we'll get there. Thank you.
• Councillor Atherston.
• Thank you, leader. Just two updates from me today. The first is actually a little bit of legacy from my previous portfolio for Cabinet Men for Housing, but it's also quite prominent in terms of it's supporting communities. My new portfolio being safety and communities. I'd like to thank Cheltenham Borough Council and Cheltenham Borough Homes officers and also local businesses, schools, community groups that have all got behind our pre-loved school uniform project. This has been hugely successful and that is thanks to all the fantastic donations from families all across Cheltenham. They've been donating everything from summer or winter school uniforms to PE kits and lunchboxes. And just to say that there is still time to make those donations until the 31st of May. Just need to head along to the donation point which is Dun Elm in Cheltenham off the Tewkesbury Road. I'd also like to raise awareness with regards to a 41,000 pound fund for organizations in Cheltenham and the Gloucestershire area that have expertise and a passion for detached youth work. There is an opportunity to support young children aged, well young people even, accurately, aged over the age of 13 years that could very much possibly be at risk with vulnerabilities and antisocial behavior. And that process is open for applications until the 18th of June. Thank you.
• Councillor Atherston. I know, I know, Councillor Lewis.
• I was enjoying my new name there. I intended to inherit it. I'm just having the name now. So if you were using it, Victoria, I'm terribly sorry, that's my title now. But no, I just wanted to update everybody 'cause I'm sure everyone's excited and nervous about the fact that I'm taking on the finance portfolio. I have to say I'm very excited. Colleagues will know local government finance is one of my really sad geek issues. So I could not be more excited. I took full advantage of the glorious summer weather we had the other day to sit in my back garden with a nice drink and read through various exciting spreadsheets. So there's a lot going on at Cheltenham. We have a lot of money and a lot of assets moving around and I'm really excited to see how we can use them for the very best of Cheltenham and for our long-term, hopefully very sustainable financial future. Thank you.
• Councillor Collins.
• Thank you, leader. Last but not least, of course. Everyone has just alluded to the fact that we're all getting our feet under the table and learning a lot of new work. There's a lot to be done handing over and meeting our new officer teams, et cetera. And I too am excited by the challenges that lay ahead. I will say one good piece of news from some of the reports I've been reading is that the Arcourt Transport Hub is on target to be opened in July and fully operational by August, which is really quite a success because it's always been those days and they haven't slipped at all, which I don't think something that happens very often with big projects. I know that it's a county council-led project and I think Councillor Dobie said that it's not just about Cheltenham, it's about greater things and we wanna work with everybody else. So I think it's a real positive that we have. I'm really excited 'cause it's in my ward as well. I better mention that. But I think it's going to be a fantastic thing 'cause it's gonna help us achieve our climate ambitions as well because it's going to be 1,000 cars parked there, 10 coach stands, five bus stands every day and it's gonna prevent unnecessary car journeys into our town centre. So that's gotta be a good thing. And you know what? There was lots of unhappiness from some people about all the trees and hedges that were cut down, but they've already replanted with more sustainable vegetation, which in the long term is gonna be much better, biodiversity net gain and all that sort of thing. The other thing I wanted to say, and it is related because it's part of the same project, is I can't be quite so positive about the progress on Junction 10, which is still proving to be a huge challenge. So I would like to look to Councillor Jeffries and see if you can work your magic in some way over there. That would be great. But of course, it's not just Councillor Jeffries, it's Councillor Lewis as well, you know. But that's really all I wanted to say. So thank you.
• Thank you all. I'm glad to see so many happy, smiling faces and all very lighthearted and jovial. So thank you for all your contributions in your briefings. The next section that we move on to now is the decisions of cabinet members. And obviously we haven't met for a while and we've just been through a little thing called a local election. Not to be confused with the up and coming general election. So I'm guessing our list of decisions might be even longer next time. But so the decisions taken, I'm gonna just go through the list 'cause there are quite a few. So I've got the first three are Councillor Atherston on the decisions of cabinet members.
• Thank you, Lida, yes. Two of those decisions. I'd like to say a special thanks to GARAS and Cheltenham Welcomes Refugees who do fantastic work in our communities supporting asylum seekers and refugees coming to Cheltenham. They've both been awarded a small grant each. And also to thank the amazing work of Gloucestershire Nightstop. They've been awarded a three year grant to support young people who are homeless. So with short term emergency accommodation. So yeah, really pleased with those three decisions. Thank you.
• Thank you, Councillor Atherston. I then move on to Councillor Jeffries was a decision taken on the 10th of April, 2024.
• Thank you, Lida. I hope I got the right one actually. So bear with me if I haven't. This was to do the disposal of 45 Groven Street from our HRA property portfolio. College will be able to read from the decision notice their extensive range of options looked at this property. And unfortunately, we have to then look at disposal, which is the decision I took. Thank you, Lida.
• And also, Councillor Jeffries, whilst you're there, 12th of April, 2024, there was another decision that you took, interior design work. 12th of April, 2024, cabinet member for finance and assets, interior design work on Goldfoot House sheltered scheme.
• Thank you, Lida. I've got the list now. (laughing) That's all right, apologies. Yes, this is to point the relevant contract for interior design work at Goldfoot House or sheltered housing scheme. It runs in line with the HRA capital programme we had approved at the February budget meeting. So I took that decision to appoint that contract. Thank you.
• Thank you, Councillor Hallward.
• Yes, I took a decision to effectively correct a historical anomaly, which was to take the name of Yarnold Terrace in the west of Cheltenham and correct it from Yarnold's Terrace, which is what it had been officially called to what is the proper name, which is Yarnold Terrace. And I would like to thank Councillor David Willingham for his astute attention to detail in bringing that proposal forward. And I'm pleased to see it actually taking place now.
• So I then bounce back to Councillor Jeffries for the 29th of April, 2024.
• Thank you, Lida. Yeah, this was a decision I took to enter into a contract with Rand Associates Services. This is for undertaking our stock condition survey across our hiding stock. This bill with surveys, stock condition, annual performance and so forth, it's quite a sizeable contract. But one as we move into this new compliance world, we need to undertake to our decision. Thank you, Lida.
• Thank you, Councillor Jeffries. I then move on to Councillor Lewis.
• Thank you, Lida. I think one of the really important things that we have to think about when we look at how we get Cheltenham to net zero and how we ensure that our children, our children's children can really enjoy Cheltenham is working out how these young people and these families will transition into new and exciting climate friendly careers and opportunities. So this decision is supporting that. It's a bit of a project with GCC to help develop some climate friendly skills.
• And then I move on to Councillor Dobie, 10th of May, 2024.
• Well, what a pleasure it was to be able to approve of the money being spent on an ongoing programme to improve the play facilities across our town. This award covers several locations across Cheltenham. And it's just symbolic really that we put money into our communities, we put money into our young people as well. We provide places, green places in parks typically where they can enjoy themselves. So I'm so happy that this happened on my watch. And I just say that on your watch, Councillor Tranfer, you will have more of these things to do as well. The more of these approvals, which will, it's just such a fun portfolio. I can't get over it, but we will continue to be in touch and just briefly referring back to what was said by Councillor Lewis there. Everything touches climate change in our community here in Cheltenham. And we will continue to have that dialogue between us in the coming years, so thank you.
• And then we bounce back to Councillor Jeffries for the 14th of May, 2024.
• Thank you, Lida. This decision was to appoint, adapt architects to deliver professional retrofit design services. Colleagues will remember, we did have some funding by the Social Housing Decarbonization Fund. I think it's the Wave 2.1. Why did they get the 2.1 from, I don't know. But anyway, yes, to appoint the relevant architects to deliver those services in line with all that decarbonization works we're hoping to undertake. Thank you, Lida.
• And the final decision this evening was one that I took back on the 10th of April in 2024, which was, as members will know, we council approved the bringing back in house of Cheltenham Borough Homes. And then I took a decision as the shareholder and leader for the dissolution of Cheltenham Borough Homes to happen, not here, not today, not tomorrow, but sometime in the future in due course. And that's the decision that followed on from council saying we're winding up Cheltenham Borough Homes and bringing them home to CBC. I don't have any other items that I determined to be urgent and requires a decision. So I will now call the meeting closed just before 20 to seven. Thank you, everybody. [BLANK_AUDIO]