Gloucestershire councils have collectively spent more than £780,000 on non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), raising concerns about transparency and public accountability. Cheltenham Borough Council alone has signed 25 NDAs, which are believed to be related to significant development projects in the area. These agreements prevent details about negotiations and settlements from being disclosed to the public.
Meanwhile, the Forest of Dean District Council has declined to release information about its use of gagging orders, drawing criticism from local residents and transparency advocates. The widespread use of NDAs by local authorities has sparked debate over the balance between protecting sensitive information and maintaining open governance.
As major developments continue across Gloucestershire, the reliance on confidentiality agreements highlights ongoing tensions between councils' legal strategies and the public’s right to know how local projects are managed and funded.