The Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Cotswold Council met on Monday 7 September 2026, discussing the Council's Q1 performance, its asset management strategy, and receiving updates from Gloucestershire County Council scrutiny committees. Key decisions included noting the Q1 performance report, which indicated a favourable financial forecast and strong service delivery despite pressures in areas like Land Charges and the Ubico contract, and agreeing to request further information on strategically important council assets.

Council Performance Report Q1 2026-2027

The committee reviewed the Council's performance for the first quarter of the financial year, covering financial performance, service delivery, and the strategic risk register. Councillor Mike Evemy, Leader of the Council, highlighted that the report indicated a positive overall performance, with a forecast underspend of £0.122 million. This was attributed to strong income from planning fees, car parks, and treasury management, which helped offset pressures such as increased costs within the Ubico contract and staffing challenges.

Despite the positive financial outlook, concerns were raised about the performance of the Land Charges service, with only 39.67% of searches completed within the ten-day target. A strategic recovery plan is in place to address this. The committee also noted the ongoing impact of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) on council resources and the uncertainty it creates.

The committee resolved to recommend to Cabinet that they note the financial position, approve an increase of £27,000 for pool covers at Bourton-on-the-Water and Chipping Campden Leisure Centres, and approve transfers to earmarked reserves. They also recommended noting overall progress on corporate priorities and reviewing the strategic risk register.

Asset Management Strategy Update

The committee received an update on the Council's property and assets portfolio. Alan Hope, Head of Strategic Housing, Property and Assets, presented a schedule of council-owned properties, categorised for clarity. Members expressed a desire for more detailed information on each asset, including market values, income generated, and strategic purpose.

A significant portion of the discussion focused on the need for a more systematic and data-driven approach to asset management, with a recommendation proposed for Cabinet to consider developing a more comprehensive system for classifying and managing council assets. This system would aim to support informed strategic decision-making by officers and Cabinet, and potentially aid in the LGR process. Officers acknowledged that while detailed information exists, it is held across disparate systems, and creating a fully integrated database would require significant time and resources. The committee resolved to request officers to identify strategically important assets and provide relevant background information, including ward location, current use, capital value, and income generation.

Updates from Gloucestershire County Council Scrutiny Committees

Councillor Angus Jenkinson provided an update from the Gloucestershire Economy, Climate Change and Waste Scrutiny Committee, noting that the Climate Change report had been deferred to November. Councillor Gina Blomefield and Councillor Jenkinson also updated the committee on the Gloucestershire Joint Scrutiny Panel for Local Government Reorganisation, stating that an initial meeting had been held to agree terms of reference and a draft work plan.

Councillor Dilys Neill's report from the Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee was also noted. Key points included the publication of the Amos and Ockendon reports on maternity services, leading to ten urgent actions for NHS Trusts. While midwife recruitment had seen some success, concerns were raised about the potential consolidation of services in Gloucester and the impact on local access to care, with a suggestion to explore county-wide recruitment and local working arrangements for midwives. The report also highlighted increased ambulance call-outs during hot weather and continued high demand for primary care services.

Work Plan and Forward Plan

The committee noted and reviewed its work plan and forward plan, with the August meeting focusing solely on the Local Plan. The Asset Management Strategy and Climate Emergency Update were deferred to the September meeting.

The committee also made a recommendation to Cabinet to consider writing to the Government to highlight the financial cost and disruption caused by the Local Government Reorganisation process, along with the continuing uncertainty and its impact on officers and the Council. This recommendation was proposed by Councillor Tony Slater and seconded by Councillor Michael Vann.