The Gloucestershire Economic Strategy Scrutiny Committee was scheduled to review key aspects of the Local Growth Plan, focusing on missions related to talent, future skills, employment, and health. The committee was also set to receive an update from the City Region Board.

Local Growth Plan - Missions 1 and 2

The committee was scheduled to review sections of the Local Growth Plan concerning two of its core missions. Mission 1, Talent and Future Skills, aims to build a future-ready workforce by improving the alignment between education, skills provision, and employer needs. Mission 2, Employment and health for people and places, focuses on ensuring equitable access to employment opportunities and supporting wider wellbeing outcomes. The report pack provided a detailed analysis of the Forest of Dean's economy within the context of these missions, highlighting challenges and opportunities.

Discussions were anticipated to cover a range of issues, including the accessibility of investment to communities within the Forest of Dean, the development of skills and employment opportunities within the visitor economy, and the promotion of employment support services. Concerns were raised about the general nature of support and the need for targeted strategies for the tourism sector. The transition of students from education into employment, transport as a barrier to accessing further education, and challenges within the construction and retrofit sectors were also areas for discussion.

The report pack indicated that the committee would consider the Forest of Dean's economic identity and its unique selling proposition, drawing comparisons with other areas of Gloucestershire that have developed clear economic specialisms. The potential for developing higher-value industries linked to timber production, the role of sustainable tourism, and the importance of local community involvement in forest management were also scheduled to be examined.

Connectivity issues, including poor broadband provision and transport links within and beyond the Forest of Dean, were highlighted as significant barriers to economic growth. The report pack noted the shift from trade-based skills towards professional or knowledge-based roles and queried how the council intended to respond to this trend, including strategies for attracting higher-value industries.

The committee was also expected to discuss the housing requirement for the Forest of Dean, with concerns raised about the practical challenges of delivering the proposed number of dwellings and the potential impact on environmental quality and sustainability. The methodology used to determine housing targets and the ability of developers to deliver affordable housing were also points of discussion.

The report pack outlined a series of recommendations that were made by the committee. These included building on the Forest of Dean's nature-based and rural assets, facilitating hybrid working, and developing a plan to address strategic constraints. Recommendations also covered the emphasis on public transport and investment in rail links, the establishment of an integrated minibus service, and regular multi-agency meetings to attract entrepreneurs. The development of eco-tourism infrastructure, the minimum number of houses to be built, and the consideration of satellite technology parks and educational facilities were also among the proposed recommendations.

City Region Board Update

The committee was scheduled to receive a verbal update on the outcomes of the City Region Board meeting, which was due to take place on 13 July 2026.

Work Plan

The committee was scheduled to review its work plan for the upcoming year. This included considering suggestions for future agenda items, such as a countywide study on advanced engineering and manufacturing, and a potential joint scrutiny session with the Environment Scrutiny Committee focused on the Spatial Development Strategy. Feedback on meeting format and effectiveness, including the use of artificial intelligence in report preparation, was also on the agenda. The potential implications of Local Government Reorganisation for future scrutiny arrangements were also to be discussed.

Future Meetings

The dates for future meetings of the committee were noted, with scheduled meetings extending into July 2027.