The Cabinet of Gloucestershire County Council met on Wednesday 22 July 2026, approving significant funding allocations for domestic abuse support services and a new property maintenance strategy. Key decisions also included the recommissioning of services for young people, updates on major transport schemes, and changes to fire cover arrangements.

Domestic Abuse Duty Funding: Allocation and Associated Commissioning and Contract Extension Decisions

Cabinet approved the allocation of £2,202,331 to fund various projects and commissioning activities aimed at providing domestic abuse support in safe accommodation. This funding, comprising £1,667,872 from Domestic Abuse (DA) Duty Funding and £534,459 from a historic domestic abuse grant underspend, will support services until June 2032.

Key decisions included:

• Call-off contracts with GreenSquareAccord Limited: Approval was given for four call-off contracts under the Gloucestershire Domestic Abuse Support Service (GDASS) framework. These contracts cover core support for victims, support in safe accommodation, and training for professionals, with durations ranging from two to six years, including extension options.
• Places of Safety Scheme: An allocation of between £189,924 and £211,026 per year from the DA Duty Funding was approved for housing support and management costs within the Places of Safety scheme, running from November 2026 to October 2030. Authority was delegated to the Public Health Manager for Domestic Abuse to determine the exact sum based on service needs.
• Respite Rooms Scheme: A maximum of £275,000 over three years from the DA Duty Funding was approved for Gloucester City Council to support a pilot Respite Rooms scheme, aimed at providing domestic abuse support in a new accommodation model.
• Children and Young People's Support: £200,000 from the DA Duty Funding was allocated for wellbeing and recovery support for children and young people in safe accommodation, to be procured under the Access to Resources (A2R) Framework.
• Staffing and Corporate Costs: An estimated £524,913 was approved to fund key roles, including a Public Health Manager for domestic abuse, jointly funded leads with the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC), and corporate support costs, over a two-year period.
• Domestic Abuse Local Partnership Board (LPB) Funding: Up to £270,000 was allocated to fund statutory partners within the LPB to request funding for projects supporting victims in safe accommodation.
• Funding Gap Contingency: £744,717 of historic domestic abuse grant underspend was approved to fill potential funding gaps for support in safe accommodation projects after 2028/29, should DA Duty Funding decrease.
• Funding Source Change: Approval was given to change the funding source for previously approved projects from historic domestic abuse grant underspend or budget to DA Duty Funding, ensuring better use of recurrent funding.

Cllr Paul Hodgkinson, Cabinet Member for Public Health, Communities & Fire, presented the report, highlighting the council's commitment to meeting its statutory duties under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. The decisions aim to provide vital support for victims and their children in safe accommodation, aligning with the Gloucestershire Tackling Domestic Abuse Strategy 2025-28.

Recommissioning of the Young People's Healthy Relationship Support Service

Cabinet delegated authority to the Director of Public Health, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Public Health, Communities and Fire, to procure and award a contract for a domestic abuse and healthy relationship support service for young people in Gloucestershire.

The new contract, commencing April 2027, will have an initial two-year period with options to extend for a further two years twice, creating a potential six-year term. An allocation of £270,000 from the Domestic Abuse (DA) Duty Funding/domestic abuse grant underspend will contribute to funding the service, including specific support for children and young people in safe accommodation. Additionally, a two-year funding agreement with the OPCC will provide up to £60,000 per annum to fund a Children and Young Person Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (CHIDVA). This recommissioning aims to address the evolving landscape of teenage relationship abuse and online harm, ensuring support for young people aged 10/11 up to 19 (or 25 with additional needs).

GCC Property Maintenance Strategy 2026-2029

Cabinet approved and adopted the GCC Property Maintenance Strategy for 2026-2029. The strategy outlines a clear approach to maintaining the council's property portfolio in a cost-effective, compliant, and sustainable manner, aligning with the Corporate Asset Management Plan. It sets out key priorities, performance management, and planned actions to ensure assets remain safe, operational, and aligned with corporate objectives. Authority was delegated to the Assistant Director of Asset Management and Property Services (AMPS) to implement the strategy.

The strategy aims to ensure statutory compliance, reduce financial risk through planned preventative maintenance, extend asset life, enhance service delivery, and support sustainability goals by improving energy efficiency. It acknowledges the need to adapt to potential impacts from Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) and prioritises health, safety, and statutory compliance, using data to inform investment decisions.

M5 Junction 9 and A46 (Ashchurch) Transport Scheme

Cabinet delegated authority to the Executive Director of Economy, Environment and Infrastructure, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Business, Economic Development, Planning & Infrastructure, to continue work on the Strategic Outline Case (SOC) and Outline Business Case (OBC) for the M5 Junction 9 and A46 (Ashchurch) Transport Scheme.

This includes awarding a call-off contract to AtkinsRealis for professional Highways Traffic and Transport services until March 2027, with a budget cap of £534k for work between August and October 2026, funded from existing CIL contributions. Scheme approvals will be increased by £360k to match proposed spend. A further report is required in October 2026 to clarify government commitment to the scheme, as an announcement from the Department for Transport (DfT) is now expected in September due to recent parliamentary changes. The council will also identify refined scheme location options and undertake public engagement if required.

Cleaning and Caretaking at Schools and Corporate Properties in Gloucestershire

Cabinet approved a six-month extension to existing cleaning and caretaking contracts for corporate properties and participating schools, running from August 2027. This extension provides time to procure a new four-year multi-supplier Framework Agreement, commencing February 2028, to reflect requirements arising from Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).

Authority was delegated to the Deputy Chief Executive and Executive Director of Corporate Resources, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance, Assets and Transformation, to conduct the procurement process. The new framework will be divided into six geographical lots and will allow for up to six call-off contracts for the council's corporate estate. Participating schools and external public sector partners will award and fund their own call-off contracts.

Refurbishment of The Birches

Cabinet approved a spend of £600,000 to refurbish The Birches building in Tewkesbury. The refurbishment aims to provide improved space for vulnerable children and young people to receive support and undertake accredited programmes, and to create improved office space for the Youth Justice Service and a dedicated Harm Outside the Home (HOTH) hub.

Authority was delegated to the Assistant Director for Asset Management and Property Services (AMPS), in consultation with the Deputy Leader/Cabinet Member for Finance, Assets & Transformation, to conduct a competitive procurement process and award the refurbishment contract. The project is expected to enhance integrated service delivery and support the Youth Justice Plan's priorities.

Charging for Excess DIY Waste at Household Recycling Centres

Cabinet approved the adoption of a DIY Waste Charging Policy for excess DIY waste brought to the council's five Household Recycling Centres (HRCs). Residents will be able to dispose of small amounts of DIY waste free of charge, with charges applying to quantities exceeding a specified allowance.

Authority was delegated to the Executive Director of Economy, Environment and Infrastructure, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Nature, Climate & Waste Reduction, to implement the policy, procure an online booking and payment system, and modify the existing contract with Ubico Ltd to accommodate additional staffing. The policy aims to generate an estimated net revenue of £300k - £450k per year, supporting income targets outlined in the Medium-Term Financial Strategy.

Proposals for Fire Cover Optimisation and Response Measures Review in Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service

Cabinet approved an 8-week public consultation on proposals to optimise fire cover across Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service (GFRS). The core proposal involves redeploying existing wholetime night-time resources from Cheltenham West to Cinderford to establish a wholetime day-crewed model at Cinderford.

This move is intended to improve response times in the Forest of Dean district, enhance prevention and protection activity in higher-risk areas, and optimise the use of existing resources within current budgets. The consultation will gather feedback on this proposal, which aims to address financial pressures and align resources with community risk and service demand, as outlined in the CRMP 2026-30.

Youth Justice Plan 2026-27

Cabinet recommended that the Council adopt the Youth Justice Plan 2026/2027 as part of the Council's Budget & Policy Framework. This annual update forms part of the three-year strategy for Gloucestershire Youth Justice Service (2025-2028). The plan reflects strong performance against national KPIs, with low rates of first-time entrants and custody. It incorporates learning from a recent HM Inspectorate of Probation inspection, focusing on improving consistency in practice and safety assessments. Key priorities include workforce integration, implementing the 'Child First' framework, promoting inclusion and reducing disproportionality, improving health and wellbeing, and ensuring effective victim response.

Re-commissioning of the Children and Young People's Advocacy Service

Cabinet delegated authority to the Executive Director for Children's Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children's Safeguarding and Care, to recommission the Children and Young People's Advocacy Service. This includes conducting market engagement and a competitive procurement process for a new contract, expected to have an initial three-year term with an option to extend for up to two years. The recommissioning aims to ensure accessible, high-quality, and responsive advocacy, including the development of parental advocacy supported by up to £90,000 per annum from the Families First Partnership Programme.

Direct Award of Support & Maintenance Contract for Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service Vision5 and Integrated Communication Control Systems

Cabinet approved the direct award of a five-year call-off contract to NEC Software Solutions UK Limited (NEC) for system maintenance and support services for the Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service (GFRS) Fire Control Room's Vision 5 and Integrated Communications Control System (ICCS). This decision ensures the continued safe, secure, and reliable operation of these critical systems, which are essential for emergency response and communication. The contract value is £611,265 excluding VAT and Indexation, funded from the GFRS revenue base budget.

Cleaning and Caretaking at Schools and Corporate Properties in Gloucestershire

Cabinet approved a six-month extension to existing cleaning and caretaking contracts for corporate properties and participating schools, running from August 2027. This extension provides necessary time to procure a new four-year multi-supplier Framework Agreement, commencing February 2028, to accommodate requirements arising from Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). Authority was delegated to the Deputy Chief Executive and Executive Director of Corporate Resources to conduct the procurement. The new framework will be divided into six geographical lots and will also be open to external public sector partners.

Gloucestershire Safeguarding Adults Board Strategy 2026-29

Cabinet approved the three-year Gloucestershire Safeguarding Adults Board (GSAB) Strategy for 2026-29. The strategy aims to reduce the impact of abuse on adults at risk in Gloucestershire through coordinated multi-agency working, focusing on reducing risk, raising awareness, and improving practice. The strategy is a statutory requirement under the Care Act 2014 and will be delivered within existing resources, with no additional funding required.

Gloucestershire Safeguarding Adults Board Strategy 2026-29

Cabinet approved the three-year Gloucestershire Safeguarding Adults Board (GSAB) Strategy for 2026-29. The strategy aims to reduce the impact of abuse on adults at risk in Gloucestershire through coordinated multi-agency working, focusing on reducing risk, raising awareness, and improving practice. The strategy is a statutory requirement under the Care Act 2014 and will be delivered within existing resources, with no additional funding required.

Other items

The Cabinet also noted the minutes of the previous meeting and received declarations of interest. There was also an opportunity for written questions to Cabinet.