Paul James

Background

About Paul James

My passion is for economic development and regeneration. Having spent 16 years leading Gloucester's regeneration as the City Council's Cabinet Member for Regeneration (and over 12 of those years as Leader of the Council) and 24 years as a councillor, I moved onto a new challenge to help the Cotswold District recover from the Coronavirus crisis and grow the local economy. This time it's as a council officer rather than a councillor. My role encompasses pretty much everything that affects the local economy - from inward investment to training and skills and from broadband to town centres. I also deal with a number of Government funding streams, such as the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Rural England Prosperity Fund, as well as securing funding for new Changing Places toilet facilities for severely disabled people at locations around the District. I'm excited to be involved with the plans for a £100 million Innovation Village at the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester - see - and the potential for a Centre for Sustainable Aviation at Cotswold Airport. I'm also pleased to be involved with place shaping in town centres and, in particular, the biggest town centre in the Cotswolds - Cirencester. Despite all the challenges town centres have faced, it is thriving - with a vacancy rate of less than half the national average - and has the potential to be the best town centre of its type and size in the country.