The Gloucestershire Economic Strategy Scrutiny Committee met to discuss the City Region Board update, the Spatial Development Strategy, and the Green Skills Strategy. The committee was also scheduled to review its work plan for the coming year.

Spatial Development Strategy Update

Ben Watts, Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) Manager for Planning, Economy and Growth, was scheduled to provide an update on the emerging Gloucestershire Spatial Development Strategy (SDS).

The City Region Board had previously discussed the SDS on 14 November 2025. The discussion covered:

• Enhanced governance to support effective delivery of spatial planning across Gloucestershire
• The scope of a transitional Spatial Development Strategy (tSDS) for Gloucestershire

The City Region Board was asked to note the updated Terms of Reference to the County Planning Officer Group as agreed by the Chief Executives Group on 25 September 2025, endorse the scope of the tSDS as agreed with the Chief Executives Group on 25 September 2025, and add Gloucestershire Spatial Planning as a standing item to the Gloucestershire City Region Board agenda with a highlight report provided.

The report pack included a slide deck from the City Region Board meeting on 14 November 2025. The slide deck stated that the Planning and Infrastructure Bill introduces reforms including new national policies and increased housing requirements. It also stated that combined authorities and counties must produce a Spatial Development Strategy, which is a high level strategic plan.

The County Planning Officers Group Terms of Reference stated that the purpose of the group is:

to facilitate strategic collaboration on strategic planning matters across Gloucestershire. Its aim is to support the delivery and review of statutory plan-making. This version has been specifically updated to reflect government reforms outlined in the emerging Planning and Infrastructure Bill and the expected changes to the English planning system, and local government reorganisation.

The Scope - Transitional Spatial Development Plan document stated that the emerging Planning and Infrastructure Bill is expected to receive Royal Assent later in 2025 and that the Bill will introduce Spatial Development Strategies (SDS) to assist with cross-boundary strategic planning for growth and investment and to address infrastructure needs.

Devolution and City Region Board Update

David Owen, GCC Director of Economy and Environment, and Councillor Julian Tooke, Gloucestershire County Council's (GCC) Cabinet Member and Chair of the City Region Board, were scheduled to provide an update on City Region Board activity. This included Strategic Economic Development Fund (SEDF) bid decisions and the Local Growth Plan.

The City Region Board Terms of Reference outlines the functions of the board, including engaging in strategic discussion, developing and supporting a shared vision for strategic growth and economic success for the County of Gloucestershire, championing that shared vision, lobbying and bidding for funding, and promoting the success of the Gloucestershire City Region.

The report pack included a report titled Update from City Region Board, which summarised key points discussed at the City Region Board on 14 November 2025. According to the report, the Local Growth Plan was agreed unanimously at the meeting. Councillor Tooke and David Owen had met with leaders and senior officers from each local authority to understand their economic priorities, and feedback was used to inform the final production process.

The City Region Board also discussed the Strategic Economic Development Fund (SEDF). A working group/panel was established to provide members with the opportunity to hear from scheme promoters about their bids, ask questions, and seek points of clarification. The Senior Officer Support Group reviewed and assessed the remaining final application submissions and made recommendations to the City Region Board. The City Region Board's decisions on SEDF bids were outlined in Annex A of the report.

The following projects were allocated funding from the SEDF:

• Gloucestershire Local Area Energy Plan and Energy Officer - £325,000
• Gloucestershire Careers Hub - £392,000 over a two-year funding period
• Gloucestershire County Council – Invest in Gloucestershire support - £350,000
• Growing the Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing (AEM) Sector in Tewkesbury Borough and Gloucestershire - £400,000
• Future-Proofing the Visitor Economy: A Strategic Framework for Sustainable Growth in Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds - £300,000
• Resilient Futures Lab: Gloucestershire's centre for energy management and environmental monitoring - £133,000 of the requested £395,000
• SIDEKICK Venture Studio - £300,000 (as an investment loan)

Green Skills Strategy

Pete Carr and Jon Hickman were scheduled to discuss the Green Skills Strategy. No further information on this topic was available in the report pack.

Work Plan

The committee was scheduled to review its work plan, considering the committee's terms of reference. The Gloucestershire Economic Growth Scrutiny Committee Revised Terms of Reference April 2024 Revised.pdf states that the committee's purpose is to review the decisions, plans and policies of the Gloucestershire City Region Board, scrutinise the impact and delivery outcomes of successful Strategic Economic Development Fund (SEDF) bids, identify future areas of economic growth for inclusion in the Gloucestershire Economic Strategy, and provide a scrutiny function for any potential devolution deal.

The report pack included a Latest GESSC Work Plan 2025-2026.pdf, which listed the following future meeting topics:

• 30th January 2026: Local Growth Plan (LGP) Mission 5: Innovation, investment and enterprise (including Growth Hub's Carbon Net Zero Team and Business Support focus)
• 26th March 2026: SEDF Decision Reporting – Progress report on the Together Gloucestershire project (Cotswold District Council), LGP Mission 1: Talent and Future Skills, LGP Mission 2: Employment and health for people and places (to include Connect to Work Scheme)
• 21st May 2026: Forest of Dean focus – comparing FOD data with the Local Growth Plan actions (whole session)
• 16th July 2026: LGP Mission 4: Environment, housing and infrastructure
• 25th September 2026: LGP Mission 3: Thriving communities and culture, Local Government Reorganisation update
• 27th November 2026: SEDF Project Feedback session (whole session)

The work plan also included regular items such as City Region Board and Devolution Update and SEDF Project Feedback.