The Council meeting on 14 October 2024 saw unanimous approval for a motion to improve the maintenance of Cheltenham's historic public realm and a report on the council's greenhouse gas emissions. The meeting also included discussions on GP surgery provision, vacant housing, and the progress of the MX project.

Historic Cheltenham and the Public Realm

Cheltenham Borough Council unanimously passed a motion calling for Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) Highways to adopt a more sensitive approach to street works within the town's historic areas. The motion, proposed by Councillor Julian Tooke and seconded by Councillor Richard Pineger, requests that GCC recognise Cheltenham's unique historic public realm context, use appropriate materials in conservation areas and near listed buildings, and avoid using asphalt as a replacement for paving stones or slabs. If asphalt must be used in emergencies, GCC will be asked to ensure a timely replacement with matching blocks or slabs.

Councillor Tooke highlighted that Cheltenham boasts 2,602 listed buildings and 450 locally identified historic buildings, alongside seven conservation areas. He emphasised that the quality of public spaces, including streets and pavements, is as crucial as architecture in defining a town's character, citing Historic England's Streets for All report. The motion aims to halt the ever-creeping asphalt on pavements in heritage contexts.

During the debate, councillors stressed that maintaining Cheltenham's beauty benefits residents, visitors, tourism, and local businesses, contributing to economic development. Concerns were raised about the past neglect of pavement repairs and the disparity between the strict rules placed on residents in conservation areas and the approach taken by GCC and utility companies. The motion also acknowledged the impact of poor pavement quality on residents with mobility issues and the potential for improved public spaces to have a levelling up effect. The council agreed to request that the Leader of Cheltenham Borough Council write to the Cabinet Member for Highways at GCC to implement these changes.

Cheltenham Borough Council and Cheltenham Borough Homes Greenhouse Gas Emission Report 2023/24

The Council received and unanimously endorsed the Greenhouse Gas Emission Report for Cheltenham Borough Council (CBC) and Cheltenham Borough Homes (CBH) for 2023/24. Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency, Councillor Iain Dobie, introduced the report, highlighting that it demonstrates progress towards the council's net-zero targets. He thanked Judith Baker, a consultant in climate expertise, for her work in ensuring national best practices were followed in measuring emissions.

The report indicated significant progress in areas under the council's direct control (scope one and two emissions), with a 18% reduction in emissions related to fossil fuel use compared to the previous year. Further improvements have been made in decarbonising the vehicle fleet and enhancing energy efficiency in buildings, such as the leisure centre, through measures like heat retention pool covers and solar panel installations. The council is also continuing to seek central government funding for energy efficiency projects.

During the discussion, it was confirmed that the report would be subject to an internal audit by SWAP and that a plan is in place to manage behavioural changes needed to reduce scope three emissions. The council also confirmed ongoing collaborative work with Gloucestershire County Council and neighbouring districts on shared services to reduce emissions. Regarding a previously reported unsuccessful funding bid for a heat network, it was clarified that the competition is still ongoing, and Cheltenham has submitted a strong bid. The council also acknowledged the importance of addressing food emissions, in addition to energy and transport, as highlighted at the Cheltenham Literature Festival.

The council resolved to:

• Combine CBC and CBH emissions reports into a single report from 2024-2025, creating a new baseline.
• Seek funding to develop detailed designs for individual council-owned buildings to apply for Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme funding.
• Continue focusing on the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Carbon Reduction Plan for housing stock improvements, utilising external funding.
• Support efforts to review scope three supply chain emissions and engage with contractors to understand and plan for reductions.

Public Questions

Devolution and Regional Deals: Mr David Redgewell questioned the council's engagement with other Gloucestershire councils and regional partnerships regarding potential unitary authorities and devolution deals. Councillor Rowena Hay, Leader of the Council, responded that Cheltenham Borough Council currently works in partnership with other local authorities and does not see a need for local government reorganisation into a unitary authority. While Cheltenham had previously supported a level two devolution deal, the government has not yet progressed it. The council has submitted an expression of interest to explore future devolution deals and awaits the government's new devolution framework.

MX Project Costs: Mr Tim Harman asked about the final cost of the MX project and its variance from the original budget. Councillor Peter Jeffries, Cabinet Member for Major Developments and Housing Delivery, explained that the original scope budget was £4,259,809, based on a design using shipping containers. However, the completed building is a permanent structure with a significantly larger footprint. The final approved cost was £9.267m, which he stated was not a like-for-like comparison due to substantial design changes over five years. He confirmed that full council had been kept updated on budget changes throughout the project. Mr Harman's supplementary question about an external audit was not agreed with by Councillor Jeffries, who reiterated that the council had been kept informed of budgets.

Member Questions

Rural Exception Sites: Councillor Tabi Joy inquired about Cheltenham Borough Council's (CBC) policy on Rural Exception Sites and its engagement with the Gloucestershire Rural Community Council (GRCC). Councillor Mike Collins, Cabinet Member for Planning and Building Control, explained that rural exception sites are for affordable housing in rural areas, as outlined in the National Planning Policy Framework. While the Joint Core Strategy (2017) and the Cheltenham Plan (2020) address affordable housing, CBC has no rural settlements within its borough, making it difficult to envisage rural exception sites within its boundaries. He noted that GRCC's call for sites would likely be more relevant to other Gloucestershire authorities with rural settlements.

Renters Rights Bill: Councillor Tabi Joy also asked about CBC's actions regarding the Renters Rights Bill, specifically concerning a prospective landlord registry and information-sharing platforms. Councillor Flo Clucas, Cabinet Member for Housing and Customer Services, stated that while the Bill is still progressing, officers have begun planning for its implementation. She clarified that the creation of a landlord registry is not currently specified as a local authority duty. However, the Private Sector Housing Team maintains a list of landlords and agents, which will be used to share information about the Bill's requirements. The team will also update the council's website and is identifying a provider for training and information on the Bill.

Vacant Housing: Councillor Ashleigh Davies enquired about statistics on vacant housing in Cheltenham and any plans for addressing it, similar to efforts for vacant business addresses. Councillor Flo Clucas confirmed that CBC holds data on vacant properties, with the most comprehensive information held by the Council Tax team. A recent house conditions survey indicated that 4.9% of dwellings were vacant, with the vast majority vacant for under six months. Tackling empty homes is a strategic priority, and the council's work has significantly improved housing standards. However, due to increased pressure on the Private Sector Housing team to address poor housing conditions, resources have been diverted, and the council will continue to review opportunities to reduce empty homes within available resources.

Other Discussions

The meeting also included the confirmation of minutes from the previous meeting, with an amendment regarding the distinction between graffiti (criminal damage) and anti-social behaviour. The Mayor, Dr David Willingham, shared positive experiences from recent community events, including the launch of Cheltpods for rough sleepers, the Durga Puja festival, a nature project in St. Paul's, and the opening of an Emmaus charity shop. The Leader of the Council, Councillor Rowena Hay, congratulated the Chief Executive on the birth of his child, reported on the successful allocation of Community Pride funding to 17 projects, and noted significant interest in the sale of the Municipal Offices. A briefing note on GP surgery provision was also presented.