The Overview and Scrutiny Committee are scheduled to discuss the financial performance of the council, a new action plan to support residents with the cost of living, and a new procurement strategy. They will also review the Executive Committee Forward Plan and the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme.

Cost of Living Action Plan

The committee will be asked to consider a new Cost of Living Action Plan, which covers the period 2025-27. The plan follows a member seminar in June 2025, where councillors heard from food banks, food pantries, and the North West Gloucestershire Citizen's Advice Bureau (CAB).

The report pack states that key themes emerged from the seminar, including:

• Mapping of support services
• Training opportunities for members and warm spaces on 'Advice First Aid'
• Support for food pantries and foodbanks to secure appropriate spaces
• Funding for warm spaces and organisations funded through the Household Support Grant
• Networking opportunities for foodbanks and food pantries

The action plan includes existing measures, such as the Warm Spaces Fund, Household Support Fund, annual grant to CAB, a housing pilot with CAB, digital inclusion support, and support with revenues and benefits.

The action plan also includes new actions, such as:

• A meeting of food providers
• The launch of the Warm Spaces Fund
• Mapping the provision of foodbanks, food pantries and warm spaces
• Mapping the eligibility and uptake on supermarket vouchers
• Linking provision of warm spaces, foodbanks, CAB and advisory services
• Advice First Aid training
• Appointment of an E-Voucher company to administer supermarket vouchers

The report pack includes several case studies, including the Warm Spaces scheme, the Revenues and Benefits Team, and foodbanks and food pantries.

Procurement Strategy 2025-29

The committee will be asked to endorse the Procurement Strategy 2025-29, prior to consideration by the Executive Committee. The strategy ensures compliance with procurement regulations and supports the council's strategic objectives, including climate action and sustainability.

The strategy is aligned with the newly introduced Procurement Act 2023, while embedding the council's priority of climate action and sustainability throughout its procurement activities. The report pack states that the updated approach outlines clear and actionable steps to promote best practice, placing greater emphasis on social value, environmental impact, and the opportunities to deliver wider benefits through procurement.

The strategy sets out a framework for delivering value-driven, socially responsible, and environmentally sustainable procurement, aligning with the Procurement Act 2023¹, the National Procurement Strategy (NPS), and the council's priorities: Caring for People, Caring for the Environment, and Caring for Place.

The strategy commits Tewkesbury Borough Council to modernising its approach, including better use of digital tools and e-procurement platforms to streamline processes and enhance transparency. It also allows for contract terms to be designed with flexibility to encourage innovation and accommodate evolving technologies, while procurement practices are aligned with the council's climate and biodiversity objectives.

The Procurement Strategy 2025–29 is underpinned by a governance framework and a structured approach to monitoring and review.

Finance Update - Quarter One 2025/26

The committee will be asked to consider the financial performance information for the first quarter of 2025/26. The report pack highlights a projected surplus of £602,437, based on the quarter one position, on the revenue budget. After transferring ringfenced funding to reserves, this results in a £500,995 surplus against the budget. The report details the expenditure to date against both the capital programme and the approved reserves.

The report pack states that the financial budget summary for Q1 shows a projected surplus of £433,274 for the full year against the approved budget, before the transfer of reserves.

The report also includes key performance indicators (KPIs) to ensure frequent and meaningful data is reported regularly, allowing for further scrutiny of financial performance.

Executive Committee Forward Plan

The committee will be asked to determine whether there are any questions for the relevant Lead Members and what support the Overview and Scrutiny Committee can give to work contained within the Executive Committee Forward Plan.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme 2025/26

The committee will be asked to consider the forthcoming work of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.