The Gloucestershire County Council meeting on 21 May 2025 included the election of the Chair and Vice-Chair of the council, as well as the election of the Leader of the Council. Councillors were also scheduled to discuss the appointment of independent persons and political assistants. The meeting was also scheduled to include a review of council committees.

Election of Council Leaders

The agenda included the election of the Chair and Vice-Chair of the council for the 2025/26 civic year. Following the elections, the new Chair and Vice-Chair were expected to make their Declaration of Acceptance of Office and sign the Roll of Members.

Also on the agenda was the election of the Leader of the Council for a four-year term. The Leader of the Council was then expected to announce their appointments to the Cabinet.

Motion on Fossil Fuels

The minutes from a previous meeting on 12 March 2025 contained within the report pack, included a discussion of Motion 952, regarding a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. Councillor Chloe Turner proposed the motion, which was seconded by Councillor Cate Cody. The motion called for the council to:

1. Formally endorse the call for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty and make that endorsement public;
2. Write to the Prime Minster, calling on the UK Government to also endorse the call for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, and to the relevant Secretary of State to ask how Government will deliver a planned phase out of fossil fuels

The motion also included several recommendations to the incoming council in May 2025, including revisions to the Treasury Management Responsible Investment Policy, development of a new Local Transport Plan, incorporation of social value in strategic procurement, investigation of carbon capture opportunities at the Javelin Park Energy from Waste facility, increased focus on renewable energy, ongoing funding for Climate Leadership Gloucestershire, consideration of further carbon reduction opportunities, and delivery of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

An amendment to the motion was proposed by Councillor Colin Hay and seconded by Councillor Lisa Spivey, asking the new cabinet to refresh the council’s Climate Change Strategy and set out aims and targets in the Annual Plan. This amendment was accepted.

Another amendment was proposed by Councillor John Bloxsom and seconded by Councillor Gill Moseley, which sought to add the phrase, whilst acknowledging the heritage and legal rights of free miners in the Forest of Dean to mine coal to resolution 1. This amendment was carried.

Ultimately, despite lengthy discussion, the motion was lost.

Motion on Racism

The minutes from the 12 March 2025 meeting also included a discussion of Motion 953, proposed by Councillor John Bloxsom and seconded by Councillor Wendy Thomas, which aimed to reaffirm the council’s commitment to challenging racism. The motion was in response to disturbing events in the UK of last summer, targeting immigrants, spreading false information, demonising asylum seekers and refugees, attacking police, emergency workers and council staff and inflaming racial tensions.

The original motion committed the council to building cohesive communities where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. An amendment from the Liberal Democrat Group, which was accepted as friendly, called for the next cabinet to create an action plan with various community groups to promote community cohesion and respect.

Councillor Alistair Chambers proposed an amendment, which was later reworded, that also acknowledged the need to safeguard the public and monitor illegal immigration. This amendment was passed and incorporated into the substantive motion.

Despite Councillor Bloxsom's disappointment that the original intent of the motion had been altered, the motion, as amended, was carried.

Appointment of Independent Persons

The council was scheduled to consider the reappointment of two Independent Persons, Bernard Barton-Ancliffe and Stephen Pearman, for a further four-year term. These individuals assist and advise on complaints of misconduct against councillors, ensuring complaints are handled fairly and consistently.

Their role is an important one in insuring that complaints are handled fairly and consistently. They act as the voice of the “person on the street”, helping to ensure that complaints are handled apolitically.

Bernard Barton-Ancliffe is a resident of Tewkesbury District and former chair of Gloucestershire Association of Parish and Town Councils, while Stephen Pearman is a self-employed ICT consultant from Gloucester City and former chair of governors at a local primary school.

Appointment of Political Assistants

The council was scheduled to decide whether to continue employing political assistants. These assistants work directly for the political groups, providing support and assistance. According to the report pack, political assistants have been employed by the council since 2002. The report stated that:

The legislation restricts Political Assistants to the three largest political groups and only political groups with at least 10% of the total number of seats on the Council qualify for this support. With 55 Members, the threshold is groups with at least six members.