The City Region Board is scheduled to convene on Wednesday 4 November 2026 to discuss the management and promotion of town and city centres across Gloucestershire, alongside an overview of the county's economic performance. The meeting will also cover updates on the Local Plan and Spatial Development Strategy, as well as the Business Rate Pool and Strategic Economic Development Fund.

Overview of Town and City Centres in Gloucestershire

A report is scheduled to be presented on the current activities undertaken by various councils and partners across Gloucestershire to support the county's town and city centres. The report will highlight the increasing collaboration between economic development teams to share best practices. Town and city centres are described as being central to economic prosperity, community wellbeing and place-shaping and have faced significant pressures from changing retail patterns, online shopping, economic uncertainty, and shifts in how people work, shop, and access services. The report notes that in response to these challenges and in preparation for local government reorganisation, economic development teams are working together. It also mentions that while some centres, including Gloucester and Tewkesbury, have reported increased footfall in 2026 compared to the previous year, there is a need for adaptation and diversification. The report will also detail current arrangements for town and city centre management, including the role of Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) in Cheltenham and Gloucester, and initiatives in other market towns. Examples of innovative projects, such as the repurposing of the former Debenhams store in Gloucester as the University of Gloucestershire's City Campus, will be shared to demonstrate how town and city centres can evolve. The report will also touch upon vacancy rates, which are noted as being generally better than the national average, and the rural/urban dynamic in town centre management.

Economic Dashboard and Future Approaches

The meeting will receive a summary of high-level economic data for Gloucestershire, along with a report outlining future options for presenting this data. This will include information on claimant counts for unemployment, with 10,750 people claiming unemployment-related benefits in September 2026, representing 2.7% of the 16-64 year old population. The dashboard will also present data on Universal Credit claims, payrolled employees, and unique active job postings. The report will explore different approaches for presenting this economic information to the City Region Board, including providing timely labour market information, conducting deep dives into recent releases, focusing on mission-specific indicators aligned with the Local Growth Plan, and presenting an annual Local Growth Plan evidence base.

Business Rate Pool and Strategic Economic Development Fund (SEDF)

An update is scheduled on the Business Rate Pool and the Strategic Economic Development Fund (SEDF). This item will include a proposal to respond to a ministerial letter regarding the Gloucester and Cheltenham Growth Corridor and explore potential opportunities within the area. The proposal includes £50,000 of match funding and will be based on a partnership approach. Progress will be reported to both the City Region Board and Climate Leadership Gloucestershire. The work is intended to cement Gloucestershire's role within the South West region, strengthen links with the West of England Combined Authority, and build upon ongoing devolution work. The initiatives are designed to complement each other and the Gloucestershire Growth Plan, supporting growth and investment opportunities.

Update from Gloucestershire Business Board

An update will be provided from the Gloucestershire Business Board, following their meeting on 7 October 2026. The board aims to provide an independent business voice, offering intelligence, challenge, advocacy, and practical support for Gloucestershire's economic priorities. The discussion at their recent meeting focused on practical action to support Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and strengthen the county's talent and future-skills pipeline. The board is also looking to develop closer two-way reporting between the City Region Board, the Business Board, and the county's established Business Groups. Key priority themes include talent and future skills, SME growth and resilience, infrastructure and planning, innovation and inward investment, and the business voice and delivery.

Local Plan and SDS Update

The meeting will receive an update on the progress of Gloucestershire's Local Plans and Spatial Development Strategy (SDS). This update will cover the two plans being submitted under the legacy system: the Cotswold Local Plan and the Cheltenham, Gloucester and Tewkesbury Strategic & Local Plan, as well as the two plans being submitted under the new Local Plan system: the Stroud District Council Local Plan and the Forest of Dean District Council Local Plan. The report will also detail the status of the Spatial Development Strategy (SDS), noting the delay in secondary planning legislation and the ongoing consultation on SDS geographies. An informal public engagement period on the SDS is scheduled to take place from 2 November to 14 December 2026, involving online surveys, public events, and targeted workshops.

Work Plan

The committee will review its work plan for the upcoming period and consider suggestions for items to be included in future meetings. This will involve reviewing regular items such as the Business Rate Pool and SEDF, the Local Plan and SDS Update, and the update from the Gloucestershire Business Board. Proposed items for future discussion include the Gloucestershire Nature and Climate Fund, Local Area Energy planning, the Highway improvement programme, the Local Transport Plan, and Active and Public Transport improvements.