Agenda

1.       When the continuous alarm sounds you must evacuate the building by the nearest available fire exit. Members and visitors should proceed to the visitors’ car park at the front of the building and await further instructions (during office hours staff should proceed to their usual assembly point; outside of office hours proceed to the visitors’ car park). Please do not re-enter the building unless instructed to do so.

       In the event of a fire any person with a disability should be assisted in leaving the building.  

2.       To receive any announcements from the Chair of the Meeting and/or the Chief Executive.

Pursuant to the adoption by the Council on 24 January 2023 of the Tewkesbury Borough Council Code of Conduct, effective from 1 February 2023, as set out in Minute No. CL.72, Members are invited to declare any interest they may have in the business set out on the Agenda to which the approved Code applies.

To approve the Minutes of the meeting held on 27 February 2024.

a)   To receive any questions, deputations or petitions submitted under Council Rule of Procedure.12.

(The deadline for public participation submissions for this meeting is Wednesday 10 April 2024).

b)   To receive any petitions submitted under the Council’s Petitions Scheme.

To receive any questions submitted under Rule of Procedure 13. Any items received will be circulated by 5pm on the working day before the meeting.

(Any questions must be submitted in writing to Democratic Services by, not later than, 10.00am on Monday 8 April 2024).

To approve the amendments to the Financial Procedure Rules as set out at Appendix 1 to the report. 

To consider the annual Overview and Scrutiny Committee report 2023/24. 

Councillor Adcock will propose and Councillor Jordan will second that:

The Council endorse the Cotswolds National Landscape Management Plan - https://www.cotswolds-nl.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/CNL_Management-Plan-2023-25_final.pdf

Councillor Skelt will propose and Councillor Hands will second:

·        Research from palliative care charity, 'Together for Short Lives', shows that NHS funding for local children’s hospices in England varied by as much as £483 per child in 2022/23.

·        The charity found a huge variance in local NHS spending on lifeline care for seriously ill children, as well as a lack of understanding on the number of children who need palliative care, and is calling urgently for fair, long-term NHS funding to sustain crucial children’s hospice services.

·        In 2022/23, Norfolk and Waveney spent the highest amount per child of any Integrated Care Board, averaging £511 for every child in the area with a life-limiting condition. In contrast, the Integrated Care Board covering Gloucestershire spent an average of just £58 per child.

·        Thanks to a successful campaign to save the Children’s Hospice Grant, the Minister of State for Social Care has promised £25 million of NHS funding for children’s hospices in 2024/25.

·        However, neither the UK Government nor NHS England has confirmed how the grant will be distributed.

The Council is concerned that:

·        Due to the disparity of funding for children with life-limiting conditions, those suffering in Gloucestershire may not get the additional support that they may need.

·        The lack of clarity and certainty on how and when the grant will be distributed means children’s hospice services cannot plan effectively how they can help local families.

The Council calls on the Leader of the Council to write to the Minister of State for Social Care:

1.                To confirm as a matter of urgency how much of the £25 million each children’s hospice in Gloucestershire will receive in 2024/25 and when they will receive it.

2.                To do what they can to remove the inequality in local funding for children’s palliative care so that every family caring for a seriously ill child can access the support and care they need – when and where they need it.