Our priorities

Between now and 2028, the priorities we’ve set out to achieve our legacy are:

1. Preparing for the future 
2. Delivering good services 
3. Responding to the climate emergency 
4. Delivering housing 
5. Supporting communities 
6. Supporting the economy 

Preparing for the future

Why is this important?

The UK government has decided that Gloucestershire should be served by a unitary local government structure; that is one or two principal councils rather than the current county and district/borough/city Councils which currently serve the county. Under Government proposals, Cotswold District Council services will transfer to a successor council in April 2028. Until then, we need to work with partners to ensure our residents’ needs will be met now, and into the future.

What will we achieve? 

Services will transfer seamlessly into a successor council, and continue to deliver effectively on behalf of Cotswold residents.  

How will we do this? 

• Driving organisational and cultural change to be fit for the future  
• Preparing for Local Government Reorganisation 
• Developing our workforce 
• Deliver a new Local Plan 

Delivering Good Services

Why is this important?

As a council, we exist to provide vital services to our residents, businesses and visitors. We will deliver our services both effectively and efficiently, ensuring they’re designed to reflect our commitment to climate change, and best value for local taxpayers. 

What will we achieve? 

Our services will provide value for money and high standards.  We will work with our contractors and partners, such as town and parish councils, to sustain valuable services, and help maintain the Cotswolds environment we are all proud of.    

How will we do this? 

• Ensure value for money and good standards 
• Enhance financial resilience and make best use of our assets 
• Play our part in maintaining and enhancing the public realm 
• Deliver a new Local Plan 

Responding to the Climate Emergency

Why is this important?

Minimising and adapting to the effects of climate change are priorities for everyone. The science is settled; global warming is a consequence of human activity, and greenhouse gas emissions must be cut to net zero. All major international agencies now agree that climate change, and the associated biodiversity crisis, is the biggest threat to life on Earth. Achieving the necessary reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and delivering nature recovery not only impacts us, it requires everything we do to change – from transport and energy generation to food production and the way we use energy in our homes and workplaces. 

What will we achieve? 

Though our success will play out over a long period, everyone will benefit from a decarbonised, healthier society, and a more resilient natural environment. In the short term there will be cost savings for residents and businesses, as well as employment and investment benefits.  

Our commitment to electric vehicle charging points and renewable energy installations will ensure residents, businesses and visitors can transition to and use hybrid and electric vehicles in the Cotswold district.  

How will we do this? 

• Support and enable residents and businesses to reduce their own carbon emissions 
• Decarbonise council operations 
• Increase resilience to the effect of climate change 
• Deliver a new Local Plan with policies that are ‘green to the core’ 

Delivering Housing

Why is this important? 

Cotswold is at the centre of a housing affordability crisis. The gap between earnings and house prices is one of the highest in the country, and there is a shortage of good quality, genuinely affordable housing to rent. As of May 2025, the 
average property price in the Cotswold district was £419,000, which is substantially higher than the UK average of £269,000, and more than 14 times the average salary. Local people struggle to find and afford suitable accommodation, and many of the district’s younger generation are forced to leave the area because they can’t afford to live here. We are committed to providing good quality affordable housing, with an emphasis on social rent and provision for young people, military veterans and families. 

We will urge the development of homes that are carbon neutral in their build and fuel efficient in their use. Energy efficient homes that are powered by renewable energy are also cheaper to run – contributing to long-term affordability. 

We want to ensure that provision for the homeless strikes a balance between meeting their needs, in a way that is financially sustainable for the council. Housing is key to the things we love about living in the Cotswolds: resilient, supportive communities, health and wellbeing, and a safe place to live and thrive. Without a home, none of this can happen, and so it’s vital we tackle the housing emergency, and strive to provide a home for everyone. 

What will we achieve? 

We will deliver good quality housing that is genuinely affordable. Homes that can be adapted to meet changing needs over the lifespan of the building, while enabling local people on low incomes to stay local. We will ensure that suitable, good quality accommodation is provided for homeless people, and will help them to move into more settled accommodation in the long-term. We will continue to maximise the opportunities presented by our own assets as well as explore innovative routes to progress affordable housing provision within the district. 

How will we do this? 

• Work with our partners to deliver more affordable homes 
• Understand everyone’s housing needs 
• Deliver the new Local Plan 

Supporting Communities

Why is this important?

The health and wellbeing of our residents is generally good - above England and regional averages. The Cotswold district is one of the safest, with levels of crime, and we’re lucky enough to be surrounded by beautiful countryside. But we do face some challenges – including barriers to service access, as well as loneliness and isolation due to the rural nature of our location.  

We know sustainable behaviour change can only be achieved when residents are involved in the design and implementation of services, and so we’re committed to working with community, voluntary and public sector partners to tackle these challenges and improve our residents’ health and wellbeing for good.  

What will we achieve? 

We want our district to be the best in the UK for health and wellbeing. We want to ensure all our neighbourhoods are safe and enjoyable places to live, where we know – and can rely on – our neighbours, with access to leisure opportunities and a vibrant cultural scene to enrich our lives.  

How will we do this? 

• Strengthen our links with town and parish councils and key stakeholders 
• Encourage community health and wellbeing 
• Support our residents in crises 
• Deliver the new Local Plan 

Supporting the Economy

Why is this important?

The Cotswold economy is home to businesses of all sizes and across all sectors forming the cornerstone of our local economy. The visitor economy – built on the back of our beautiful landscape, towns and villages – accounts for a significant proportion of employment and has been severely impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic. However the Cotswold economy is about much more than tourism, and there is potential for even greater diversity. We will manage government investment funds to support those interventions that provide the conditions for businesses and their employees to thrive and grow.  Through our economic recovery plan, we want to enable businesses to become more resilient, by enhancing their digital presence and looking at different business models.  Our green economic growth strategy puts the climate agenda at the heart of future growth. 

What will we achieve? 

We want to nurture a dynamic, vibrant and balanced economy, and to grow high value, highly skilled, low environmental impact businesses in the Cotswolds. Our region is already home to some highly creative and innovative businesses. Exciting projects in the agri-tech, cyber and digital, medical equipment and environmental technology sectors promise to provide great opportunities for local people and businesses. As a business-friendly council, we won’t just communicate regularly with our local business community – we will work with them and our partners to grow the district’s economy to provide better opportunities for local people. 

How will we do this? 

• Develop the skills of our residents 
• Grow a strong and sustainable economy 
• Manage the opportunity and impact of the visitor economy 
• Deliver the new Local Plan 

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