June's monthly report from Gloucestershire Liberal Democrats

Gloucestershire Liberal Democrats June Update 

Boost to Youth Voice 

At this month’s Council meeting we brought forward an amendment to the green motion to ensure young people’s voices are heard at the heart of local decision-making. 

We are establishing a new senior role dedicated to youth engagement and influence. 

This will coordinate and strengthen the wide range of existing youth voice activities across the county and ensure a more joined-up, strategic approach linking young people’s priorities directly to the delivery of the Council’s ‘One Plan for all Children and Young People.’ 

As Liberal Democrats its incredibly important to us that we are listening to all our residents, from all walks of life and all age groups.  

Tackling Climate Change and Increasing Community Benefit 

At the same meeting we brought forward and passed a motion to establish a thorough process to promote and organise community renewable energy and benefit schemes. 

We believe that Community energy should be understood not only as a climate policy, but also as a form of local economic development, community wealth-building, energy resilience and democratic participation. Policy should support genuine community ownership and shared ownership models, where local people and community bodies can invest in, own part of, or otherwise benefit from renewable energy schemes. 

Highways Community Partnership Initiative 

We also co–presented a motion to introduce a highways community partnership to Gloucestershire. 

This would bring together all political groups, local councils, community organisations and volunteers to work collaboratively with Council officers to tackle the county’s highways issues. 

Inspired by the work of Liberal Democrat-led Devon County Council and their road warden scheme, this would enable local communities to deliver approved minor works on or around the public highway. 

Donation of Decommissioned Fire Engines to Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine 

At full council we also supported a motion to explore the feasibility of donating up to five decommissioned fire engines to Ukraine. The ongoing war in Ukraine following the has caused widespread humanitarian issues and Fire and rescue units in Zaporizhzhia have reportedly been damaged or destroyed during the conflict, significantly reducing their operational capability. 

We already work with Fire Aid to ensure we are giving support wherever possible and remain committed to humanitarian support and international solidarity during times of crisis. 

The Highways Funding Gap 

We’ve raised serious concerns about the gap between what we need to properly maintain our roads and what the government actually provides. We require around £52 million a year to keep highways up to standard but government funding currently stands at just £36.5 million—leaving a £15.5 million shortfall. 

This ongoing underfunding is putting increasing pressure on our highways network and making it far harder to meet residents’ expectations or prevent long-term deterioration. Quite simply, we are being asked to deliver more with significantly less. 

 We’ve committed an additional £15 million over the next three years through our own savings and efficiencies and are working hard to do the most we can with every penny, but this cannot fully replace the funding we should be receiving nationally. 

The Work of Our Grassroots Neighbourhood Fund Continues

 As County Councillor for Tewkesbury East, I have been meeting some amazing people while visiting some of the Grassroots Community Groups I am able to support through this fund. These include the fantastic “This is Tewkesbury” event, which brought together more than 60 local groups for a day of celebration in the Abbey, showcasing the many activities, groups and clubs making Tewkesbury thrive. 

Other recent recipients in include the Tewkesbury Cricket Club (not quite in our division but serving our whole community), for facility improvements so they can encourage even more people to enjoy sport and socialising; the Parish Council in Teddington, for re-wilding and a bench to relax, unwind and chat; the boxing club in Northway, to fund regular sessions for children with additional needs, to improve their physical health and confidence; and the Tewkesbury Access Forum, helping them to get their project mapping accessible facilities in the area off the ground. 

Across the County, Liberal Democrats councillors continue to commit Grassroots Neighbourhood Funding to local projects that improve health, wellbeing and community resilience.

We have visited a couple of these groups this month including the 11th Gloucester Hucclecote Scout Group and the Cornerstones Centre, Oakley, where they run a Soup Lunch every Thursday to bring the community together.

For more information about the Grassroots Neighbourhood Fund and how you can apply see - https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/business-property-and-economy/finance-funding-and-grants/grassroots-neighbourhood-fund/ 

Hosting the Clean Energy and Green Skills Conference 2026 

We’re bringing together key partners to tackle the skills and workforce challenges of the transition to a Net Zero economy at the Clean Energy and Green Skills Conference on 8 July 2026. The event will connect educators, employers and policymakers to align green skills needs and strengthen energy resilience, with insights from national and local leaders. 

We’ll also launch our Gloucestershire Green Skills Strategy (2026–2030), setting out plans to position the county as a leader in green workforce development, including a Federated Green Skills Faculty and Retrofit Centre of Excellence. 

The conference offers a valuable opportunity for educators, careers advisers and industry partners to explore emerging career pathways, share expertise and help shape Gloucestershire’s green future. 

For more information – https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/business-property-and-economy/green-skills-conference-2026/

We’re Calling on Utility Companies to Reduce Disruption During National Highways Over Bridge Works 

We are aware of the disruption caused by national Highways working on Over Bridge and have called for utility companies to play their part in keeping traffic moving. 

We have written directly to utility companies operating in the area, urging them to avoid carrying out non-essential works that could add to congestion during this period and are taking action to manage the wider network and minimise disruption for residents, businesses and commuters. 

Our Streetworks Team will also assess all permit applications in the area on a case-by-case basis, helping to ensure any additional works are carefully coordinated and kept to a minimum. 

Library challenge 

Our 2026 summer library challenge is nearly here! Starting in July, it aims to help children stay connected to reading over the school holidays, when literacy levels can often dip. 

This year’s theme is Tales Through Time, celebrating history, imagination and discovery. Each library will bring the theme to life in its own way, with eye-catching displays and activities throughout the summer holidays.

The challenge is free for all children through their local library, please join us in championing and promoting this. 

Find out more here - https://gloslibraries.uk/welcome-library-challenge  

Get Ready for our Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF) 

A wide range of free, fun activities and nutritious food will be on offer for children and young people across the county to keep them happy, healthy and entertained from Wednesday 22 July to Tuesday 1 September for the summer school holidays. 

You can view activities available through Gloucestershire County Council’s summer Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF) from midday on Monday 22 June. Bookings will be open from midday on Monday 6 July here - https://familyhubs.gloucestershire.gov.uk/

Kate’s work for Tewkesbury in the Council Cabinet 

As Cabinet member for Adult Support and Independence, Kate is working hard to ensure that services for our most vulnerable residents and their carers are there for them when they need them. This means strengthening links with community groups and voluntary sector organisations and changing the way services are delivered, so that people can stay as independent as possible for as long as possible. Plans for three new Care Homes across the county are progressing well, so that when people need residential care, they can receive it close to their families and friends. 

She said: 

"County Council meetings can be lengthy, and sometimes hot tempered, but I never miss an opportunity to raise the issues affecting residents in Tewkesbury. I have spoken about flooding, appealed for water and sewage companies to be consulted during planning procedures, have supported local farmers, and appealed for fairer funding for schools – did you know that Gloucestershire’s children receive less from the government for their education than children elsewhere? This is just another example of the lack of understanding in Whitehall for the realities of rural living. 

Most of my casework is about highways, particularly the state of Northway’s roads and the lack of grass cutting around Wheatpieces. I am working hard with the Highways department, and hope to be able to bring good news soon. Meanwhile, please join me in enjoying the meadow flowers along our verges and reporting the dangerous bits on Fix My Street."