Cheltenham Borough Council's cabinet met to discuss the first quarter budget monitoring report, revisions to the sexual entertainment venue policy, and several housing-related policies. The cabinet adopted the updated Tenancy Policy and Decant (Required Move) Policy, and the Tenant and Leaseholder Voice Plan. They also approved the recommendations of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Joint Committee, and the Civil Penalty Notice Policy.

Here's a more detailed look at the key discussion points:

Sexual Entertainment Venue Policy

Revisions to the Sexual Entertainment Venue (SEV) policy were deferred to allow for a cabinet working group to review the policy. Councillor Victoria Atherstone, Cabinet Member for Safety and Communities, introduced the report, noting that a review and public consultation of the current policy had been completed.

The proposed changes included a preference for licensing, maintaining existing relevant localities, setting a maximum number of permitted licences, amending the designated permitted area, removing a licensing condition, amending other conditions, introducing an acquired rights policy, and amending plan requirements.

The consultation report and redacted copies of individual responses are in Appendix 2 - consultation report and redacted responses.

The cabinet decided to establish a working group to review the policy, with the terms of reference and composition of the working group delegated to the Leader of the Council, Councillor Rowena Hay, in consultation with Councillor Victoria Atherstone and Group Leaders. The working group will report back to the cabinet before any revised policy is presented to the council for approval.

Budget Monitoring Report Q1 2025-26

The cabinet reviewed the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account Budget Monitoring Report for the first quarter of 2025-26. The report noted key projected variances to the general fund and provided an update on the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) revenue and capital budgets approved by the council on 21 February 2025.

The council's 2025/26 general fund budget had forecast a £560,803 addition to general balances by 31 March 2026, based on a Section 25 report¹ assessment. However, the monitoring report indicated a projected overspend of £295,000 in the general fund, potentially reducing the year-end general balance to £1.561m, below the optimum level. This overspend was attributed to lower than expected income from planning, building control and cremation services.

The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) revenue and capital budgets were under review due to cost pressures related to re-letting void properties and addressing high-priority fire safety actions. A detailed report on the forecast position and actions to support the housing improvement plan would be presented as part of the quarter two budget monitoring.

The cabinet approved a recommendation to note the contents of the report, including the key projected variances to the general fund and the update on the HRA, as well as actions to reduce overspends as far as possible by the end of the financial year.

Housing Policies

The cabinet adopted several policies related to council housing:

Tenancy Policy

The cabinet adopted the updated Tenancy Policy, which outlines how social housing tenancies will be offered and managed. The policy ensures tenants are aware of their rights and responsibilities, covering key areas such as security of tenure, tenancy changes, mutual exchanges, succession, and subletting.

Decant (Required Move) Policy

The cabinet adopted the Decant (Required Move) Policy, which sets out the services and support offered to tenants when they are required to move out of their homes temporarily or permanently due to substantial repairs or redevelopment.

Tenant and Leaseholder Voice Plan

The cabinet adopted the Tenant Voice Plan, a new Customer Engagement Strategy designed to ensure residents are provided with opportunities and effective support to engage in the management of the council’s social housing. The plan aims to empower residents by creating more opportunities for participation, ensuring inclusivity, and demonstrating how resident input directly influences decisions.

Civil Penalty Notice Policy

The cabinet approved the Civil Penalty Notice (CPN) policy, which allows the council to issue civil penalties as an alternative to prosecution for certain housing offences. The policy aims to maintain a proportionate, consistent, and transparent approach to enforcement, reducing the likelihood of legal challenges. The Head of Public Protection was authorised to take necessary actions for the policy's effective implementation and to approve minor variations in line with revised statutory guidance, in consultation with Councillor Flo Clucas, Cabinet Member for Housing and Customer Services.

Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Joint Committee Decisions

The cabinet noted the decisions made by the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Joint Committee on 14 July 2025. These decisions related to the allocation of funding for infrastructure projects from the 'Infrastructure Fund' portion of CIL receipts.

The CIL Joint Committee agreed to allocate funds from the local strategic infrastructure fund proportion to three projects:

• £534,251 to the Blackbridge Community Sports Hub
• £150,000 to the Combined Waste & Recycling Depot for Tewkesbury and Cheltenham Borough Councils (feasibility)
• £120,000 to the Replacement Legion Footbridge Project (feasibility)

Corporate Risk Register Update

The cabinet received a briefing note on the updated Corporate Risk Register. Five risks were added, three were closed, one was suspended, two increased, and 11 risks reduced since their last assessment. New risks included demand for housing accommodation and lifeline alarm service delays.