Over the next three months, the Council will be planning its budget for the 12 months from April 2022. There are a number of priorities in budget planning, such as statutory services like emptying waste bins, processing recycling, mowing the grass, maintaining trees and hedges, providing planning, housing and homelessness services, the cemetery and crematorium, and more.

There are also many non-statutory areas, such as leisure services, cultural strategies, the museum and guildhall, and supporting voluntary and charity sector groups. As ever, the funds available to deliver everything the Council wants to are limited, so we must prioritise. This is perhaps the most divisive time for Councillors, as different political groups have different priorities, and intense discussions take place to decide the detail of the budget.

The strategic direction for the Council

One of the most important Council strategies is called the Council Plan, which is a document that details the strategic direction for the Council over the next three years. This is currently out for consultation and I would urge residents to look for it on the Council website and comment.

The general focus is on continuing the physical regeneration within the city. Visitors will have seen the new Kings Square shaping up, with work at the train station started alongside the Forum development in Kings Quarter. Gloucester City Homes is also working on plans for housing regeneration in Podsmead and Matson. Further new affordable homes are in the pipeline in the St Oswalds area.

But alongside physical regeneration is the hugely important focus we must place on the climate change agenda. Gloucester City Council has already committed to net zero carbon by 2030 and has just brought forward a commitment for area-wide net zero carbon to 2045. These commitments will be achieved by efforts to improve delivery of renewable energy sources in Gloucester; by reducing miles driven; by reducing waste and improving recycling; and by planting more trees, especially where they will provide a cooling benefit, such as roadsides and pavements.

But the delivery of these regeneration and sustainability initiatives also costs money, so must be factored into the budget. You can be sure that I will be listening to all the options and delivering those with the best chance of success.