Agenda

To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 18 May 2022.

Please declare any disclosable pecuniary interests or personal interests that you may have relating to any specific matters which may be discussed at the meeting.

a)    Queen’s Birthday Honours

To congratulate the people living and working in Gloucestershire who have received honours (see list attached). 

b)    Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE)

Representatives from the LGBCE will be making a presentation on the review of county division boundaries on 20 July at 10am.  A Teams invitation will be sent to all members. 

Up to 30 minutes is allowed for this item.

To answer any written public questions about matters which are within the powers and duties of the County Council.

The closing date for receipt of questions was 10am on Monday, 27 June 2022.However, questions that relate to reports on the agenda may be submitted up to 10am on Wednesday, 29 June 2022.

Please send questions to the Chief Executive marked for the attention of Stephen Bace (email stephen.bace@gloucestershire.gov.uk)

Questions received and proposed responses do not accompany this agenda but will be circulated prior to the meeting.

Cllr Stephen Davies, Cabinet Member for Children’s Safeguarding and Early Years, to present the Corporate Parenting report.

To receive petitions, if any, without discussion.

The Council’s Constitution provides for a maximum of two hours for debate on motions.  The time limit for member speeches is three minutes and the time limit for proposing a motion is five minutes.

In accordance with Procedural Rule 10.2 in Part 4 of the Council Constitution, the Chief Executive has prepared a short accompanying note for each motion in respect of any implications for climate change, resources, human rights and any other pertinent factors they may wish to include in accordance with the Council’s Policy Framework.

Motion 904 - Gloucestershire County Council Farms

Proposed by Cllr Beki Hoyland

Seconded by Cllr Chloe Turner

Council notes:

That the rural estate is spread throughout the county and consists of 63 farms plus 40 additional lettings, extending across 7,000 acres. The estate generally comprises smaller family farms, with the majority being between 80 to 140 acres.

More than half of the county council-run farms have already signed up to the Countryside Stewardship scheme, which is a government initiative offering financial incentives to farmers to look after and improve the environment.

Regenerative agro-ecology builds soils and sequesters carbon. Agriculture can form part GCC’s solution to climate change at the same time as producing high quality food if careful management of soils, manures, plants and animals are utilised.

Farmers that lease from the County Council come from diverse backgrounds and bring huge commitment, hard work and passion and achieve high welfare standards so important to the British public.

Council farms provide a valuable route into agriculture for new entrants that in turn benefit the county with diverse, successful farms and farmers.

Proper land management will help to prevent flooding and water pollution, positively contributing to the 25-year environment plan for public goods.

Council farms are a long tradition in Gloucestershire, part of the heritage of our beautiful rural county; while other counties have lost or greatly reduced their farm holdings; our own county is fortunate to have maintained a substantial rural estate.

Council believes that:

The rural estate gives GCC the ability to influence the nature and quality of agriculture in Gloucestershire, acting as exemplar and enabler on the use of innovative farming methods and environmental stewardship.

The rural estate represents a significant asset in the council’s climate ambitions, offering opportunities for carbon sequestration, biodiversity and local food production.

A local circular economy based on regenerative methods of food production will build resilience into the county’s economy; making food affordable, accessible and fair whilst reducing carbon use and ensuring profitable farms.

The changing landscape of farming over the coming decades may provide opportunities to expand the rural estate both in scale and variety of holding, creating more opportunity for apprenticeships and new entrants into farming and horticulture.

Council calls on the Cabinet to:

Maintain or increase the number of hectares of land and farms owned by the council; ring fencing 50% of profits from the sale of any holdings for the sole use of future investment in new holdings.

Continue to ensure and that  ...  view the full agenda text for item 8.

Up to 45 minutes is allowed for this item.

To answer any written member questions about matters which are within the powers and duties of the County Council.

The closing date for receipt of questions was 10am on Monday, 27 June 2022.However, questions that relate to reports on the agenda may be submitted up to 10am on Wednesday, 29 June 2022.

Please send questions to the Chief Executive marked for the attention of Stephen Bace (email stephen.bace@gloucestershire.gov.uk)

Questions received and proposed responses do not accompany this agenda but will be circulated prior to the meeting.

As background information, the Cabinet Decision Statement for the meeting held on 22 June 2022 and the Cabinet Member Decision Statements over the period 7 May to 27 June 2022 are available on the GCC website - https://glostext.gloucestershire.gov.uk/mgDelegatedDecisions.aspx?bcr=1&DM=3 .

Cllr Phil Awford, Chair of Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee, will present the report which provides a summary of recent scrutiny committee activities. Scrutiny Committee Chairs and Vice-chairs to answer questions:

Cllr Philip Awford, Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Chair

Cllr Andrew Gravells, Health Chair

Cllr Stephan Fifield, Adult Social Care and Communities Chair

Cllr Andrew Miller, Children and Families Chair

Cllr Chris McFarling, Environment Vice-chair

Cllr Matt Babbage, Economic Growth Chair

Cllr Jeremy Hilton, Fire and Rescue Chair

Cllr Steve Robinson, Gloucestershire Police and Crime Panel Vice-chair

Following the appointment of Cllr Dom Morris as the Cabinet Member for Highways and Flood, to elect a new Chair of the Environment Scrutiny Committee.