Government Announces A Single Unitary Council To Be Created in Gloucestershire

Posted on By Town Clerk
Announcement from Future Gloucestershire:

The Government has today announced its decision on the future structure of local government in Gloucestershire.

The decision is to create a single unitary council, which will replace existing county, city, district and borough councils on 1 April 2028.

The Government has said that the single unitary option best met the criteria. This was particularly the case in three respects: it provides a sensible geography for economic growth and housing, it is easier to deliver joined up public services, and a good platform for community empowerment.

More detail on the rationale will be available shortly in this letter from the Secretary of State, who made the announcement in the House of Commons on 16 July 2026.

At this stage, there will be no changes to council services which will be delivered as normal. Residents should continue to access these services in the way they normally would.

In recent months, our councils have been working very well together, preparing to deliver on the government’s decision. That work will continue while we get into the detail of the decision and exactly how it will be implemented, with full focus on ensuring the best outcomes for our local communities.

While our councils adopted their own position regarding the best future structure of local government in Gloucestershire, we are united in our commitment to the people and communities we serve. Our shared priority has always been to ensure that residents and businesses continue to receive the services they rely on, and that those services are delivered to the very highest standard.

We recognise that while this decision brings a degree of clarity about the future of local government in Gloucestershire, it will also raise further questions that we are not yet able to answer.

We are still at an early stage in this process. The new council needs to be created legally. Then there will be elections to a shadow authority on 6 May 2027 which will make the key decisions related to the creation of the new council. The new council will be effective from 1 April 2028.

Throughout this process, our seven councils remain committed to keeping residents, staff and partners fully informed and will share more information as it becomes available.

Northleach with Eastington Town Council to adopt Public Toilets

Posted on By Town Clerk

Northleach with Eastington Town Council has resolved to take over the ownership and operation of the public toilets on the Market Place from Cotswold District Council, to help secure their future.

The decision follows a public consultation in which 67% of 254 respondents supported the option for the Town Council to take over the public toilets.

Councillors felt it was important to keep the toilets free to use for residents and visitors, and to safeguard a building the Town Council already part-owns.

The district council has agreed to provide a financial subsidy in year one of operation. We must now work closely with the council officers on the details of the handover, which is expected to be from April 2026.

New equipment has recently been installed that allows the doors to open and close automatically on a timer. Although the equipment has a coin slot, it is important to emphasise that the toilets are still free to use and there are currently no plans to introduce charging.

We’d like to thank Cllr Paul Hodgkinson, Cabinet Member for Health, Culture and Visitor Experience at Cotswold District Council, and David Stanley, Deputy Chief Executive of Cotswold District Council, for working constructively with the Town Council to help make this agreement possible.

Changes to Bin Collections Christmas 2025

Posted on By Town Clerk
Waste and recycling calendar for Thursday collection day.

Residents are reminded of changes to bin collections over the holiday period.

Northleach’s usual “everything” collection day for recycling and general waste is a Thursday. Therefore, the last collection before Christmas will be on Thursday 18th December.

A food waste only collection is scheduled for Wednesday 24th December, one day earlier than usual.

The next “everything” collection will take place on Saturday 3rd January – but note that there is no green waste collection on this day.

Another food waste only collection is due on Friday 9th January – one day later than usual as crews catch up after the holiday period.

Normal service resumes from Thursday 15th January.

Green bin garden waste collections will also resume on Thursday 15 January 2025.

To check your collection day and download your collection calendar, visit: https://www.cotswold.gov.uk/bins-and-recycling/check-your-collection-day/.

Cotswold District Local Plan: Have Your Say On Future Development

Posted on By Town Clerk

News from Cotswold District Council:

Cotswold District Council is updating its adopted Local Plan in light of the new mandatory housing targets. The Government now requires the district to provide more than twice the number of homes it was previously planning for. This currently equates to a total target of 18,650 additional new homes for the new Local Plan over the period up to 2043.

The consultation period will run from:
14 November
until
2 January 2026 (11:59pm).

This is a Local Plan Regulation 18 consultation, which looks at different development strategy options to deliver this target and provides a preferred strategy option. Each option provides indicative housing figures based on high level proposals for each settlement or area.

The main consultation document that looks at a series of development scenarios to address the district’s development needs up to 2043, and proposes the Council’s preferred scenario. (Please note, several of the scenarios – including the preferred scenario – include strategic sites of 500 or more homes whose construction may continue after 2043). The consultation document also considers development needs other than housing and includes an updated Vision and Objectives for the Local Plan.

A Call for Sites has also been issued, inviting people to propose sites that can help deliver development needs up to 2043. This can include land for housing, employment, renewable energy etc.

To view and respond to the consultation documents online, visit https://your.cotswold.gov.uk.

(Select ‘Preferred Options Consultation 2025‘)

Drop-in exhibitions will also be held across the district, giving you the chance to speak to planning officers and ask questions about the process:

  • 28 November: King George’s Hall, Mickleton (2–7pm)
  • 5 December: St David’s Centre, Moreton-in-Marsh (2–7pm)
  • 11 December: Fairford Community Centre (2–7pm)
  • 18 December: Corinium Museum, Cirencester (2–7pm)

For any questions about the emerging Local Plan or the consultation, please contact Cotswold District Council.

 

 

 

County Council Elections 2025: Use Your Vote

Posted on By Town Clerk

On 1 May 2025, elections will take place for Gloucestershire County Council.

notice-of-election-county-council-divisions

Notices related to these elections will be published on the district council’s page:
https://cotswold.gov.uk/about-the-council/elections-and-voting/current-and-future-elections/

How to Vote

If you are not registered to vote, you can do so online at www.gov.uk/vote-uk-election (with the option to contact your district council Electoral Registration Office to request that a paper form be posted to you).

You can vote in different ways:

  • In person at your Polling Station.
  • By post, if you are unable to get to a Polling Station on 1 May.
  • By proxy, to ask someone to vote on your behalf.

You can apply for a postal vote or proxy vote online or by returning a paper form to your district or borough council.

When voting at a Polling Station, you will be asked to show a valid form of photo ID such as a passport, driving licence, Older Person’s Bus Pass, or Blue Badge. The forms of ID you can use can be found here.

If you do not have a valid type of photo ID, you can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate. This can be done online at www.gov.uk/vote-uk-election or by post.

The deadline to register to vote is 11:59pm on 11 April 2025.

The deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on 14 April 2025.

The deadline to apply for a proxy vote is 5pm on 23 April 2025.

The deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate is 5pm on 23 April 2025.