The Council appointed Jane Portman as the permanent Chief Executive Officer, Head of Paid Service, Returning Officer, and Electoral Registration Officer. The meeting also reviewed and approved recommendations for changes to the Members' Allowances Scheme and considered proposals for the Local Government Reorganisation in Gloucestershire.

Appointment of Permanent Chief Executive Officer

The Council approved the recommendation from the Performance and Appointments Committee to appoint Jane Portman as the permanent Chief Executive Officer, Head of Paid Service, Returning Officer, and Electoral Registration Officer. This appointment will be effective from 1 January 2026. Ms Portman will receive an annual salary of £140,000, with an additional one-off allowance of up to £8,000.

Mid-Term Review of Members' Allowances Scheme

The Council considered recommendations from the Independent Remuneration Panel following a mid-term review of the Members' Allowances Scheme. Key recommendations included increasing the special responsibility allowances (SRAs) for the Leader, Deputy Leader, Cabinet Members, Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, and Chair of the Audit and Governance Committee. These increases were recommended to be backdated to 1 April 2025. The panel also recommended clarifying expenses claims, including the inclusion of approved duties, requiring VAT receipts for mileage, aligning mileage rates with HMRC, and setting a three-month limit for submitting claims. Additionally, officers are to engage with town and parish councils regarding a tiered allowances scheme.

Local Government Reorganisation Proposal

The Council noted two proposals for local government reorganisation in Gloucestershire, developed collaboratively with all seven Gloucestershire councils. The first proposal is for a single unitary authority for the entire county. The second proposal is for two unitary authorities: an East Gloucestershire Council (comprising Tewkesbury Borough Council, Cheltenham Borough Council, and Cotswold District Council) and a West Gloucestershire Council (comprising Gloucester City Council, Forest of Dean District Council, and Stroud District Council). The Council was asked to consider these proposals and make recommendations to the Cabinet, which will then decide which, if any, proposal to formally submit to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Council Tax Support Scheme 2026/2027

The Council considered the revised Council Tax Support Scheme for the financial year 2026/27. The recommendations included agreeing to an increase in income bands from 1 April 2026 and making any remaining balance in the 'Hardship Fund' available for the 2026/27 financial year.

Community Governance Review

The Council was asked to approve and adopt the Terms of Reference and draft proposals for consultation for a Community Governance Review.

Programme of Meetings for 2026/2027

The Council was asked to agree the programme of meetings for the upcoming year, from June 2026 to May 2027. Authority was delegated to the Director of Governance and Development (Monitoring Officer) and the Head of Democratic and Electoral Services to make necessary adjustments to the programme.

Member Questions

Several questions were raised by councillors on various issues:

• Councillor Julia Judd asked Councillor Juliet Layton, Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, about pursuing the recruitment of Enforcement Officers from the armed forces community, following a previous motion on the Armed Forces Covenant.
• Councillor Laura Hall-Wilson raised concerns with Councillor Paul Hodgkinson, Cabinet Member for Health, Culture and Visitor Experience, regarding the management of staff at Cirencester Leisure Centre, citing an altercation between staff and issues with pool cleanliness and temperature.
• Councillor Tom Stowe questioned Councillor Mike Evemy, Leader of the Council, about the identity of a mystery Councillor referred to in a report by the Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit concerning procurement processes, alleging breaches of the Councillor's Code of Conduct.
• Councillor David Fowles asked Councillor Andrea Pellegram, Cabinet Member for Environment and Regulatory Services, for an update on the review into the removal of public litter bins at lay-bys.
• Councillor Len Wilkins asked Councillor Juliet Layton, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, about actions Cotswold District Council could take to control the proliferation of Air B&B and holiday let units in market towns like Bourton on the Water, as part of the local plan review.
• Councillor Gina Blomefield enquired with Councillor Mike Evemy, Leader of the Council, about the current number of employment vacancies at Cotswold District Council and the policy for dealing with unfilled vacancies.
• Councillor Tony Slater asked Councillor Mike Evemy, Leader of the Council, to confirm the maintenance and review of the Council's Asset Risk Register in light of the Publica Phase 2 transition and impending Local Government Reorganisation.
• Councillor David Fowles asked Councillor Paul Hodgkinson, Cabinet Member for Health, Culture and Visitor Experience, about his previous involvement in procurement exercises and any training received regarding procurement rules.
• Councillor Dilys Neill raised concerns with Councillor Tristan Wilkinson, Cabinet Member for Economy and Council Transformation, regarding private hire vehicles from outside the district operating within Cotswold, and asked what support could be provided to local drivers.