This woman is about to shape Gloucestershire’s future

With the county facing an uncertain future leadership is more critical than ever. As Lisa Spivey prepares to take us to the post-devolution promised land, she gives her views on the challenges ahead.

Dear reader,

In the early stages of the battle to decide how the future of Gloucestershire’s local Government will shape up the new leader of the county council confirms what has been apparently to anyone watching the devolution debate so far - that ‘people have not been working together’. So far.

But in a wide-ranging interview with friend of The Raikes Journal, Ian Mean, council leader Lisa Spivey says it is now clear how the decision about Gloucestershire councils reconfiguration will be made. And who will make it.

The priority, says Spivey, and her focus, is actually not that decision at all - it’s ensuring local authorities are ready for when devolution comes so services “do not fall apart”.

Spivey also answers questions about where the county will find a partner outside of Gloucestershire to make that new all-powerful local authority happen, and she tackles questions about skills, what services she will fight to protect as the county faces a challenging budget and more.

Mean quizzes her on the need to reform the planning system, what is happening with the strategic plan for Gloucestershire, the crucial Junction 9 at Tewkesbury - key to so much development planned for the county, and she talks about apprenticeships and the possibility of nuclear power becoming a key economic driver.

Is it the clearest site of leadership and vision in Gloucestershire for some time? You can decide by reading the full big read below.

Have a great week.

Best regards,

Andrew Merrell (editor).

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Your briefing notes…

. Delays to The Forum in Gloucester cost the taxpayer nearly £0.5m: Delays to Gloucester’s flagship The Forum development, the eye-catching new office, retail and leisure space near King’s Square, have cost the taxpayer £450,000 so far.

. Cheltenham residents to be asked if they want a town council: As Gloucestershire moves towards a revolution that will determine just who runs the county, Cheltenham residents are to be asked if they still want a town council to represent them.

. Decision on 24 hour town centre gambling shop: Despite more than 20 objections a licence has been granted allowing a Cheltenham town centre adult gaming business to stay open 24 hours a day.

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Charity of the week: Get your hands on a £60,000 grant!

Gloucestershire-headquartered educational charity, the Ernest Cook Trust, is offering a grant worth up to £60,000 for charitable and non-profit organisations in Gloucestershire committed to getting young people outdoors.

The grant – capped at £20,000 a year, spread across three years – will go towards funding the salary of an ‘outdoor learning leader’, whose goal is to promote the benefits of getting outdoors to young people and their wider communities.

This round of the Outdoor Learning Leader Grant is open only to charitable and non-profit organisations in Gloucestershire, Leicestershire, Cumbria/Lancashire and /Wiltshire/Bath/Bristol – regions where the Ernest Cook Trust has its own land and/or outdoor learning leaders.

“We know that inspirational role models are key to helping young people form lasting connections with the natural environment.

“This is why we prioritise charities and organisations whose approach is to encourage young people to enjoy the outdoors and engage with nature,” said Suzie Paton, the trust’s director of learning, grants and partnerships.

Formerly known as outdoor learning officers, the Trust has funded dozens of posts across the UK since launching the grant in 2020. More than £1.8 million has been allocated to date.

The deadline for registering an expression of interest is Friday October 31. More here.

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Diary Dates…

• Tuesday

  There is a social brunch for start-ups networking session at Stroud Growth Hub due to take place from 9.30am to 11am on Tuesday 21 October.

• Wednesday

  Gloucestershire Junior Lawyers Division - Halloween Quiz is due to take place on Wednesday 22 October from 7pm to 10.30pm at Storyteller Bar, North Place, Cheltenham.

  The Royal Agricultural University is due to stage a public lecture on the urgent need for sustainable farming practices. Due to take place on Wednesday 22 October.

• Thursday

  Willans LLP solicitors is due to stage a special seminar - Real Estate unlocked: from lease terms to litigation seminar - on Thurday October 23.

  Hub8, the Cheltenham town centre hangout for all things cyber, is staging another of its Cyber Sips networking events on Thursday 23 October from 8.30am.

• If you would like an event or diary date featured, please email me: andrew.merrell@raikesjournal.co.uk.

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* It is a digital magazine and community interest company whose supporters believe, like us, that journalism about Gloucestershire is worth keeping alive. Everything you read here - original stories about our county - is made possible by our incredible Founding Partners: QuoLux, Willans LLP, Gloucestershire College, Merrell People and Randall & Payne; our sponsors, Founding Members and wonderful paying subscribers.

If you upgrade to paid you’ll be part of this CIC too. We’re dedicated to championing the county, its businesses, charities, education and training providers, and to creating an even stronger community. And you’ll be able to see past the paywalls often put on our 2cnd and 3rd email editions of the week, that lock our archive and our Top 100 Businesses in Gloucestershire series. You’ll be able to comment on our stories too.

Usually you can sign up to support The Raikes Journal and make what we do possible (real journalism about Gloucestershire) for just £2.30 a week - or £1.80 a week if two or more people sign up at once. Or you can go all in and become one of our Founding Partners or Founding Members!

But we’re currently running this offer to make it even cheaper (just £1.60 a week for a year!!).

For every person you refer to The Raikes Journal’s email service you get points towards a free membership allowing you to see beyond our paywalls. Please do sign up (free or otherwise), send the referral link to a friend or colleague, and help us grow.

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This woman is about to shape Gloucestershire’s future

With Gloucestershire facing an uncertain future leadership is more critical than ever. As Lisa Spivey prepares to take us to the promised land post-devolution, she talks to Ian Mean about the challenges ahead.

The seven councils now controlling Gloucestershire face abolition as part of the government’s radical devolutioon process for local government.

Against this uncertain background, Ian Mean puts the questions on key issues facing the county to the new county council Liberal Democrat leader, Lisa Spivey (pictured above).

Gloucestershire’s main options for the future are either one or two unitaries and their decision on which of these has to be with Government for November 28.

Our councils have no choice, apparently. The Government’s decision is final.