This week, the South Gloucestershire Council held two scheduled meetings. Here’s a detailed summary of the discussions and decisions made:

County Council Meeting on Wednesday 26 June 2024

The County Council meeting covered a variety of significant topics, including elections, public questions, motions, and committee appointments.

Public Questions

Cross-Border Transport Services: Concerns were raised by David Redgewell about transport services between South Gloucestershire Council, the West of England Combined Authority (WECA), and Gloucestershire County Council (GCC). Councillor Philip Robinson confirmed that a meeting is scheduled for June 2024 to address these issues.

Bus Driver Recruitment in Stroud: David Redgewell also questioned the recruitment of bus drivers in Stroud. Councillor Philip Robinson mentioned that GCC is considering using its Employment Skills Hub to develop training opportunities and marketing strategies, particularly targeting veterans, refugees, and NEET (Not in Employment, Education, or Training) young people.

Transport Links Between Tewkesbury and Worcester: Redgewell inquired about reinstating transport links between Tewkesbury and Worcester. Councillor Philip Robinson indicated that while GCC is interested, Worcestershire County Council does not support reinstating the service.

The Gloucestershire Charter: Adrian Oldman asked if Parish and Town Councils could be involved in revising The Gloucestershire Charter. Councillor Mark Hawthorne reassured that no revisions would be made without consulting different partners.

Wildfire Awareness: Anthony Burton questioned whether the voluntary sector could help raise awareness of wildfire risks. Councillor David Norman said that GCC and the Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service (GFRS) would explore engaging the voluntary sector and community groups for this purpose.

Motions

Road Safety: Councillor Roger Whyborn proposed a motion on road safety, citing the high number of serious road incidents in Gloucestershire. The motion called for a task and finish group to scrutinise the effectiveness of the new Road Safety Policy and its resources. Councillor Dave Norman proposed an amendment to establish a cross-party cabinet panel instead. The friendly amendment was accepted, and the motion was passed.

Minimum Service Levels Legislation: Councillor David Drew proposed a motion opposing the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023, arguing it placed unacceptable restrictions on the right to strike. The motion called for the Council Leader to work with Council managers and trade unions to avoid issuing work notices. The motion was ultimately rejected.

Apology for Historic Forced Adoptions: Councillor John Bloxsom proposed a motion calling for a formal apology for the historic forced adoption of children of unmarried women. An amendment by Councillor Stephen Davies, which removed the call for an apology but focused on practical support for victims, was accepted. The amended motion was passed, though some members expressed disappointment over the removal of the apology.

Council Committees

Councillor Mark Hawthorne proposed an amendment to appoint Councillor Tim Harman as Chair and Councillor Lisa Spivey as Vice-Chair of the Adult Social Care and Communities Scrutiny Committee. The amendment was carried and became the substantive proposal, which was then approved.

Corporate Parenting

Councillor Stephen Davies presented the Corporate Parenting Report, noting that while there had been improvements, further work was needed. He acknowledged a mistake in the report and agreed to include more comparison figures and specific statistics in future reports.

Petitions

Several petitions were presented, including one from Councillor Lisa Spivey and Councillor Joe Harris on the closure of the Tesco roundabout in Cirencester, and another from Councillor Carole Allaway Martin requesting increased safety measures at Broadwell Crossroads in Coleford.

For more detailed information, you can refer to the Printed minutes 22052024 1000 County Council.

Traffic Regulation Committee Meeting on Tuesday 25 June 2024

This meeting was cancelled.

This email provides a comprehensive overview of the recent activities within the council. Stay informed about your local government's decisions and learn more about how they impact your community.