The Environment Scrutiny Committee of Gloucestershire County Council met on Tuesday 21 October 2025 to discuss flood risk management, the Executive Director's report on the economy, environment and infrastructure, and the committee's work plan. The committee was also scheduled to note an update report from Climate Leadership Gloucestershire.

Natural Flood Management and Flood Risk Management

The committee was scheduled to receive a report on flood risk management in Gloucestershire, including natural flood management (NFM).

The report noted that Gloucestershire County Council is the Lead Local Flood Authority¹ for Gloucestershire, as defined by the Flood and Water Management Act 2010². The report stated that the council aims to manage flood risk by:

• improving the understanding of local flood risk
• putting in place plans to manage these risks
• avoiding inappropriate development and ensuring new development does not increase flooding elsewhere
• increasing public awareness of flooding and encouraging local communities to take action
• supporting response to, and recovery from, flooding incidents
• ensuring close partnership working and co-ordination with other risk management authorities in Gloucestershire.

The report also provided an update on the Gloucestershire Natural Flood Management Partnership, which was formed in 2023. The partnership consists of 18 organisations involved in sustainable water management, and is coordinated by Gloucestershire County Council. The aim of the partnership is to expand the scale, scope and impact of NFM in the county.

The report included a summary of NFM techniques, including:

• floodplain reconnection
• wetland creation
• tree planting
• sustainable soil management
• leaky woody debris
• river restoration
• natural attenuation areas

The report also included the Gloucestershire NFM Partnership's principles of good NFM delivery, which include:

• restoring nature
• starting at the source
• working where you can
• focusing on small interventions
• letting the land be your guide
• being led by the evidence
• working together
• overseeing delivery
• measuring what matters
• designing to avoid maintenance

Executive Director's Report: Economy, Environment & Infrastructure

The committee was scheduled to receive the Executive Director's report on the economy, environment, and infrastructure.

The report included updates on a number of projects, including:

• M5 Junction 10. The Development Consent Order has been approved. The report stated that day to day work is focused on progressing land negotiations, working with the ECI contractor Galliford Try to finalise the detailed design, delivery programme and contractual terms for the construction contract and pursuing opportunities for CIL and S106/developer funding which are required for the scheme.
• Gloucestershire Cycle Spine. The report stated that the A435 Cheltenham to Bishops Cleeve Phase 2.1 (Railway Bridge to Bishops Cleeve) began earlier in 2025, and that Phase 2.2 (Racecourse Roundabout to Railway Bridge) commenced in May 2025.
• A40 London Road, Charlton Kings. The report stated that works commenced in September to address the structural collapse of the bridge face.
• A417 Missing Link. The report stated that the project is progressing well.
• Community Speedwatch. The report stated that the remaining Vehicle Activated Signs and speed camera signs on entrances to villages will be implemented in autumn 2025.
• Average Speed Cameras. The report stated that average speed enforcement cameras have been installed on the A436 between Seven Springs and Shipton, and on the A46 between Stroud and Painswick.
• Thinktravel Service. The report stated that 12 schools have been successfully onboarded and now have accredited Travel Plans across rural and urban settings.
• Pedal-Eazy Loan Scheme. The report stated that since the scheme began in September 2024 there have been 126 hires of the Pedal Eazy bikes in 12 months.
• Digital Infrastructure, Inclusion and Innovation Strategy. The report stated that GCC's new strategy launched its six-week public engagement on 8 September 2025.
• Local Plans. The report stated that a further public consultation on Forest of Dean District Council's Local Plan Options to Deliver Additional Housing Requirement started on 31 July 2025, and that GCC officers responded to the consultation document by the deadline of 11 September 2025.
• Libraries. The report stated that the City Campus is looking like a library now with shelves, books and PCs, and that the Brunswick Road (old Gloucester Library) has closed to the public and staff are moving across and getting used to the space.
• Employment and Skills Hub. The report stated that there were 186 referrals in September, and 30 paid work outcomes.

Climate Leadership Gloucestershire

The committee was scheduled to note an update report from Climate Leadership Gloucestershire (CLG).

The report included notes and actions from the CLG meeting, including a discussion of the Action Plan and Funding update, and updates on the Planning, Energy, and Behaviour Change themes.

The report noted that the Secretariat would consider requesting attendees to provide their own lunch, and to request a breakdown of costs from the CRVA contractors, in order to make the workshops as cost-effective as possible.

The report also noted that there were no objections to removing Economy Action 405, subject to review of its potential need again in the future.

The report stated that the Shared Bid Writer contract will not be extended.

Work Plan

The committee was scheduled to review the committee work plan and suggest items for consideration at future meetings.

The work plan included the following potential meeting themes:

• Climate Change
• Highways
• Waste
• Public Transport
• Transport
• Active Travel
• Road Safety
• Climate
• Highways
• Planning
• Misc