The Gloucestershire Economic Strategy Scrutiny Committee was scheduled to meet on Thursday 12 February 2026 to discuss the growth of the cyber ecosystem, receive an update from the City Region Board, and review the committee's work plan. The meeting's agenda also included the confirmation of previous minutes and the declaration of any interests.

Supporting the Growth of the Cyber Ecosystem

A report was scheduled to be presented regarding the support for the growth of the cyber ecosystem. This topic was to be presented by Gareth Edmundson from Sidekick Venue Studio. Further details on the specific content of this discussion were not publicly available in the provided documents.

City Region Board Update

The committee was scheduled to receive an update from the City Region Board, based on discussions from their January meeting. This update was to be provided by David Owen and Councillor Julian Tooke. The report indicated that the City Region Board's January meeting focused on making decisions regarding Strategic Economic Development Funding (SEDF) for several projects.

One key decision was the allocation of £345,000 from the 'Strategic Plan for Growth' SEDF pot to support the preparation of the transitional Spatial Development Strategy (SDS). This followed the Planning and Infrastructure Act gaining Royal Assent, which established the County Council as the Strategic Planning Authority with a duty to produce an SDS by May 2029.

The City Region Board also agreed to allocate £100,000 from the 'City Region Board' SEDF pot to fund a Housing Commission for Gloucestershire. This commission aims to provide an evidence-led understanding of the county's housing challenges and develop actionable recommendations.

Furthermore, the Board agreed to allocate £252,000 towards the first year of the Growth Hubs Gloucestershire application for the 2026/2027 financial year, with a further £282,600 for the 2027/2028 financial year subject to confirmation of the anticipated SEDF allocation. This funding is intended to maintain the county's business support network as UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) support ends in March 2026.

In a session that moved into exempt status due to commercially sensitive information, the Board also resolved to fund £500,000 for business rate relief to Company A to secure inward investment at Gloucestershire Airport. This company is looking to expand and has shortlisted Gloucestershire Airport as a potential site for a new facility, which would create an additional 200 high-value jobs.

Work Plan Review

The committee was scheduled to review its work plan for the upcoming year. This review would involve considering suggestions from members in line with the committee's terms of reference. The work plan outlines future meeting topics, including updates on SEDF decision reporting, Local Growth Plan missions, and a focus on the Forest of Dean.

Future Meetings

The schedule for future meetings of the Gloucestershire Economic Strategy Scrutiny Committee was also noted, with dates set for 26th March 2026, 21st May 2026, 16th July 2026, 25th September 2026, and 27th November 2026. All meetings are scheduled to commence at 10 am at Shire Hall, Gloucester.