The Executive Committee of Tewkesbury Borough Council met on Wednesday 2 September 2026, addressing a range of important local issues. Key decisions included the approval of revised licensing policies for street trading and hackney carriages and private hire vehicles, the adoption of a new Planning Enforcement Plan, and the agreement to consult on the Churchdown Neighbourhood Area designation. The committee also noted decisions from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Joint Committee and reviewed the council's financial position and carbon reduction progress.

Feedback from the Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Councillor Kashan Pervaiz, Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, provided feedback on the committee's recent meeting. He highlighted strong operational performances from Ubico, the waste collection service, and the council-owned Leisure Centre. However, concerns were raised regarding the adequacy of the Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) reserve and the cost of legal locum cover. The committee also discussed the Police and Crime Panel's report, noting a significant underspend by the police force but expressing concerns about the impact of funding cuts on visible community policing. A positive statistic mentioned was a 26% reduction in knife crime among children in Gloucester. On health scrutiny, updates were provided on maternity services, with the Trust showing progress on urgent actions but with some areas still pending further review. Councillor Pervaiz also noted that the youth plan would be discussed at the next scrutiny committee meeting.

Financial Update - Quarter One 2026/27

Councillor Stewart Dove, Lead Member for Finance and Asset Management, presented the financial update for the first quarter of the 2026/27 financial year. The council is currently forecasting a revenue budget surplus of £886,000 after transfers to reserves. While this is a positive early indicator, Councillor Dove cautioned that it is too early in the financial year to rely on these projections. Key points included an underspend in services expenditure, partly due to employee costs being £75,000 under budget, attributed to vacancies. However, there is an anticipated overspend in supplies and services and payments to third parties, including emergency accommodation and planning appeals. Income is projected to exceed budget by over £1 million, largely due to increased planning application fees and external funding for the Garden Town team. Corporate expenditure is also on track for a surplus, with positive news on treasury management and investment properties. The capital budget and reserves position are detailed in the appendices, and the council's savings plan is broadly on target to meet its £1.8 million savings target.

Carbon Reduction Programme Annual Report

Councillor Cate Cody, Lead Member for Climate and Ecology, presented the Carbon Reduction Programme Annual Report, highlighting the council's commitment to tackling the climate emergency. She noted the significant progress made, including a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 49% since 2019. Positives include the use of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) in waste collection vehicles, increased solar electricity generation, and the installation of electric vehicle chargepoints. The council has also achieved Silver Carbon Literate Organisation status. Councillor Cody acknowledged the workload pressures on staff due to LGR and the climate emergency, but emphasised the importance of continued collaboration with other councils through Climate Leadership Gloucestershire. The report recommended approving the ongoing action plan, which includes further decarbonisation efforts at the Leisure Centre and the electrification of the waste collection fleet. Councillor Hans raised a point about reducing paper usage in council meetings, which was noted as an action point. The report was approved unanimously.

Churchdown Neighbourhood Area Designation Consultation

Councillor Sarah Hands, Lead Member for Planning and Place Making, presented the report on the Churchdown Neighbourhood Area Designation Consultation. She explained that Churchdown Parish Council, having previously had a joint neighbourhood plan with Innsworth Parish Council, voted to proceed independently. The application seeks to amend the neighbourhood area boundary to include a small part of Hucclecote Parish, which has been agreed with Hucclecote Parish Council. The recommendation was to approve a six-week public consultation on this proposed designation. Councillor Hans also expressed reservations about Innsworth Parish Council's plan and its potential impact on CIL receipts. Councillor Doug questioned the cost of the consultation, which was stated to be negligible at this stage. Councillor Cody abstained from voting due to not having read the report in full. The recommendation to approve the public consultation was approved.

Community Governance Review - Draft Recommendations

Councillor Jim Mason, Lead Member for Governance, presented the draft recommendations for the borough-wide Community Governance Review. This review was initiated due to the impact of new residential development and ahead of proposed local government reorganisation. Following an initial consultation, draft recommendations have been developed, which will be subject to a second six-week consultation period. The review aims to ensure future community governance arrangements reflect local identities and interests, and facilitate effective local government. Key amendments agreed for further consultation included increasing councillor numbers for Tewkesbury Town Council and Bishops Cleeve Parish Council, and amending parish warding arrangements for Bishops Cleeve to align with electoral reviews. The recommendations were agreed for further consultation, with a decision taken as urgent due to time constraints.

Revised Street Trading Licensing Policy

Councillor Murray Stewart, Lead Member for Environmental Services, presented the revised Street Trading Licensing Policy. The proposed changes aim to reduce administrative burdens for both street traders and the council, particularly for renewals and for non-commercial charitable events. Exemptions were proposed for short-term charitable events, events on council-owned land, and for individuals selling small amounts of surplus domestic produce. Councillor Mason requested an addition to prohibit street trading outside Winchcombe Cemetery, which officers agreed to investigate further. The revised policy was adopted with effect from 14 September 2026.

Revised Hackney Carriage (Taxi) and Private Hire Licensing Policy - Introduction of a Penalty Points Scheme

Councillor Murray Stewart also presented the revised Hackney Carriage (Taxi) and Private Hire Licensing Policy, which includes the introduction of a penalty points scheme. This scheme is intended as an alternative option for officers to deal with low-level non-compliance, such as failing to wear a licence badge correctly or failing to display a vehicle licence plate properly. The scheme would trigger a review by the licensing subcommittee if a licence holder accumulates 12 penalty points in a rolling three-year period. The policy aims to ensure consistent and transparent decision-making, with safeguards for licence holders. The revised policy was adopted with effect from 28 September 2026.

Planning Enforcement Plan 2026

Councillor Sarah Hands, Lead Member for Planning and Place Making, presented the Planning Enforcement Plan 2026. Following public consultation, the plan has been updated to include clearer prioritisation of cases, a target for substantive positions within 30 working days, and six-monthly reporting to Planning Committee. A key change is the delegation to officers to amend references to the National Planning Policy Framework to reflect the updated NPPF. Concerns were raised about resource levels within the enforcement team, but it was confirmed that a review is underway and a new planning enforcement officer has been appointed. The plan was adopted.

Infrastructure Funding Statement (IFS) 2025/26 - CIL Report and Infrastructure List

Councillor Sarah Hands also presented the Infrastructure Funding Statement (IFS) 2025/26 CIL Report and Infrastructure List. This report details CIL receipts, allocations, and expenditure for the financial year 2025/26. Councillor David Gray sought clarification on the £246,000 CIL administration spend, and was informed that this covers officer time and systems, with the council operating under the 5% administration fee limit. The report noted an increase in CIL income of £6.5 million. The recommendation to approve the IFS for publication and submit CIL information to the government was recommended to Council.

Notifications of Decisions of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Joint Committee

This item was to note the decisions made by the CIL Joint Committee at its meeting on 13 July 2026. The key decision involved the M5 Junction 10 scheme, where Gloucestershire County Council requested a delay in CIL funding, leading to the repayment of funds to the council, which will assist with cash flow. This item was noted.

Executive Committee Forward Plan

The Executive Committee Forward Plan was noted by the committee.

The meeting then moved into confidential session.