After a gap of about five years I recently attended a Police Powers Scrutiny Panel and was struck by how much the process has improved since I was last there.

The panel is now far more representative of our community, bringing diverse voices to the table to examine police body-worn camera footage. It is encouraging to see a genuine effort to engage citizens in the oversight of policing powers.

However, I feel that this progress in representation stands in stark contrast to a worrying regression in the data that feeds the panel.

The 'community complaints trigger', the automatic mechanism that once ensured community oversight and continuous improvement, has long gone. Now, complaints are largely kept within the constabulary's internal systems, with a very slim chance of ever reaching their scrutiny panel.

The result is that the panel, however well-composed, is left to review only a tiny fraction of stops and 'use of force' via dip samples. On complaints, the panel is blind.

I've also been very concerned, for some time, about the Constabulary's use of strip search. I raised it at the last Gloucestershire Police & Crime Panel and although I asked for a 'considered response' my request didn't make it into the draft minutes; the PCC chose to answer a different question.

This structural gap is not just anecdotal. It has now been illuminated by the latest Home Office data for Gloucestershire, year ending March 2026, which reveals deep-seated issues that our current scrutiny model is ill-equipped to catch:

• Accountability Gaps: In the realm of strip searches, the data is more than alarming. Of the 38 full strip searches conducted, one involved a child, yet it is recorded as “not known” whether an appropriate adult was present. Furthermore, for 97% of these searches, the location was “not known”, and supervisor consultation was “not known” for all of them.
• Disproportionate Impact: Black people were stopped and searched six times more often than white people relative to their share of the local population.
• Low Yield: For most searches (57%), the reason was drugs, yet 60% of all searches resulted in no further action, with only 18% leading to an arrest.
• Use of Force Disparity: Black people were involved in use of force reports 7.8 times more often than white people relative to population proportions.

These statistics suggest that the problems here in Gloucestershire are not merely about the outcomes of individual searches, but also about the systemic recording and oversight of the encounters themselves. If a force cannot reliably record the location of a strip search or confirm the presence of an appropriate adult for a child, how can a Scrutiny Panel effectively review the conduct? A strip search of a child where it is 'not known' whether an appropriate adult was present is not a data quality issue. I consider this a serious safeguarding failure.

I've reviewed the minutes produced by the Police Powers Scrutiny Panel and these have improved immeasurably, however it was clear from conversations that there is no staff capacity to adapt them for release into the public domain. I have not been able to find published minutes since March 2024; I'm told this is due to budget cuts. If I'm wrong, I'd welcome correction. HMICFRS noticed similar in the latest PEEL inspection saying that “publishing this more often should help to build public trust and confidence”.

The improved composition and working of the Police Powers Scrutiny Panel is good news for local democracy. However, the Terms of Reference for the panel remains elusive, I've asked for sight of it but it's not been forthcoming. Personally, I think that document should be signed off by the Gloucestershire Police & Crime Scrutiny Panel. But without transparent data and a mechanism to surface complaints that bypass internal filters, the Constabulary's own panel risks becoming a forum that reviews a minute selection of events rather than the reality of policing on our streets.

Trust and legitimacy are built on the assurance that misconduct and procedural failings will be detected and addressed. By allowing critical data fields to remain blank and removing the automatic triggers for community review, we are eroding that trust.

We must ensure that the Police Powers Scrutiny Panel has the tools and the data it needs to hold the constabulary to account, rather than watching from the sidelines as the feedback loop remains broken. I am asking the OPCC to assist in getting the Police Powers Scrutiny Panel's Terms of Reference and summaries of their minutes into the public domain.

Along with residents' casework and in addition to council and training meetings at Ebley Mill, Cllrs Kitchen, Braun & Cohen attended the regular council meetings at North Nibley, Stinchcombe & Wotton-under-Edge.

Local Government Reorganisation

The Government announced on 29th October that it is 'minded to' confirm a single unitary authority for Gloucestershire. A pause in the LGR process and a full review of decisions had been announced in September following legal challenges. A final decision is expected before Christmas, and in the event that the single unitary council decision is confirmed, elections to the new Gloucestershire Council would take place in May 2028, ahead of vesting in April 2029. There may also be elections to Stroud DC in May 2028 for the final year of the district council.   

Council meetings

Link to meeting agenda and documents in the committee title.

Strategy and Resources Committee – 8th October 🔗

• The Old Town Hall, Stroud – A Community Asset Transfer from SDC was agreed to the Stroud Valleys Artspace and Stroudwater Textiles Trust of the Old Town Hall for a nominal sum to develop a Centre for Textile Arts.
• Woodchester Mansion Agreed £245k to support the Woodchester Mansion Trust in funding the next stage of project development and an application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund in order to secure a sustainable future for the council-owned Grade I listed building, in partnership with the National Trust which owns the surrounding Woodchester Park.
• Kingshill House An urgent funding request from the trustees of Kingshill House Limited was not supported by the Committee as it was assessed as not being permitted under the Subsidy Control Act 2022 and not compliant with the council’s fiduciary duties. It was however agreed that the council officers would urgently meet with the Trustees to see whether a long term restructuring plan can be found which would return the trust to long term viability.
  
• Compulsory Purchase, May Lane/Prospect Place, Dursley The committee authorised compulsory purchase powers to acquire land for a scheme delivering up to 17 new affordable council homes, along with service road widening.
• Warm Homes – Social Housing Fund The committee recommended to Council to accept an increased grant offer from Government for an additional £550k of 'supplementary solar funding' to increase the number of homes delivered under the Warm Homes Wave 3 programme and raise more homes to EPC C standard. SDC had already been awarded £5.3m to deliver retrofit works to 507 properties. The additional funding will allow an extra 65 properties to receive solar PV and battery installations, reducing energy bills for tenants and helping SDC to ensure all council homes are at least at an EPC C efficiency rating.
• Local Authority Housing Fund An additional grant offer of £3.9m from Government was recommended for approval by the Committee which would enable 16 new homes to be purchased in the district, with 8 to be provided for people on the Afghan Resettlement Programme and 8 to be provided for temporary accommodation for homeless people.
  
• Housing Capital Budget Committee recommended that a further £10m be included in the Housing Revenue Account capital budget to acquire new council homes. Demand for affordable housing in the district remains high, with over 3,000 households on the Homeseeker Plus register and 1,169 assessed as being in significant housing need. This additional capital funding will enable the council to partner with developers to buy new s106 affordable homes which may otherwise be converted to open market housing. A financial assessment for each property would ensure that the ongoing borrowing costs by the Council are fully funded from the ongoing rental income.
• Summary of Member/Officer Reports
  • Leadership Gloucestershire Proposed abolition of the Police and Crime Commissioner model by May 2028 and replacement by Policing and Crime Boards (PCBs) comprising local authority Leaders, Mayors and independent co-opted members. These boards will be responsible for budgets, precept setting, scrutiny and appointing or removing the Chief Constable. Functions are expected to transfer to a new PCB rather than council leadership directly, though the OPCC may remain as a separate legal entity. Discussed the new Gloucestershire Business Board, comprising up to 15 senior business leaders, to give local businesses a stronger voice in shaping the county's economic future.
    
  • City Region Board Investment of £279m by government at the barracks in South Cerney for the Army's cyber unit; though local recruitment is not guaranteed despite construction and contractor opportunities. There was also an update on the Golden Valley development in Cheltenham with a cyber sector focus. The county-wide business rates poolhad generated an £8m gain in 2025/26 with over £1.5m allocated to the Strategic Economic Development Fund. No further contributions are expected due to the Government's reset of business rates baseline. A Local Plans update noted progress across the county with local plans and the consultation on a Spatial Development Strategy (SDS) to create a more strategic planning framework across Gloucestershire which is now open – from 2 Nov to 14 Dec 2026, and includes drop in events and online webinar sessions.
    
  • Regeneration and Investment Board Brimscombe Port following positive market engagement, procurement for a developer for the site has now launched, with a contract award targeted for April 2027. Cheapside and Stroud station work is progressing with rail sector partners including the station forecourt redesign and wider regeneration plans. Canal Project – the project to create a new canal channel under the M5 is on target, but the programme is forecast £1.9m over budget, with a partnership approach needed to close the gap. Funding programmes impacts and legacy – Noted that the UKSPF, REPF and Market Town Vitality Fund delivered significant benefits to market town projects (£200k, and Wotton received funding for our Christmas lighting). No further Government funding is available for these schemes. But SDC is launching a new Sustainable Economy Fund for the district (see Other news section below for details). A Cultural Asset Audit is proposed in partnership with councils and Arts Council England. Small Modular Reactor (SMR) and data centre proposals there are emerging energy and digital infrastructure proposals within the Severn Edge area (Berkeley and Oldbury), including discussions relating to SMRs and associated data centres. Proposals are at an early stage, with no planning applications submitted.

[ ▶︎ ] Video recording (241 views)

Licensing Sub-Committee – 15th October – Postponed 🔗

• New date 6th November 2026

Full Council – 15th October 🔗

Recommendations from Housing Committee – To accept a £3.9m grant for the HRA capital programme, to deliver additional housing for those fleeing conflict and those in need of temporary accommodation. – To accept a £550k grant through the Social Housing Fund Wave 3 project, which will allow Stroud District Council to further increase the number of homes delivered through the Wave 3 project, and increase the number of homes to EPC C. – To agree an additional £10m into the Housing Revenue Account capital budget for acquisition of new homes, mainly from developers via S106 agreements.

Recommendations from Strategy and Resources Committee – Budget Strategy and Draft Medium Term Financial Plan: This will be used in setting the budget for the 2027/28 year. A 2.99% increase in Council Tax is planned, as this is expected by Government. The Council faces a considerable decrease in funding over the coming years. – The Old Town Hall, Stroud: Following the S&R Committee decision to approve the transfer of The Old Town Hall, Stroud, to Stroud Valleys Artspace to develop a 'Centre for Textile Arts' Council agreed for £70k to be added to the capital programme (from earmarked reserves) to replace the gas heating system as the council had required.

Updates to the Constitution. Amendments to the Constitution were approved. Most changes were mundane but the paper also contained changes necessary to reflect the Government's new National Scheme of Delegation which took effect on 31 October 2026. This aims to streamline the planning decision-making process and means that most minor applications (including developments up to 9 homes) will be decided by a planning officer and cannot be referred to the council's Development Control Committee for wider debate.
There was unhappiness with these imposed changes which reduce local voice and participation in the planning process and led to 21 abstentions.

Appointment of Independent Persons. Agreed to appoint Duncan Chittenden and Alan Darlington as Independent Persons to assist the council when making its decisions on an allegation that there has been a breach of the code of conduct and Cllr Richard Halpin as a Town and Parish representative until any merger takes effect.

[ ▶︎ ] Video recording (82 views)

Development Control Committee – 20th October 🔗

S.26/0850/COU – Permitted Change of use from residential dwelling (Class C3) to residential institution (Class C2) as a children's home for up to two children.

Parish council objected because of impact on the adjacent properties, unsuitability, limited parking provision. Residents have similar concerns.

The Local Plan also supports the provision of new care facilities within the district with a strategic objective to provide 950 care home spaces by 2031. [ ▶︎ ] Video recording (75 views)

Audit and Standards Committee – 27th October 🔗

An overview of the more interesting snippets at the meeting.

Revised Strategic Risk Register. The most significant takeaway is that the Council is adopting a clearer, more transparent approach to managing its biggest strategic risks.

Annual Complaints Update. In April 2025 the council introduced a new complaints case management system which has improved the data available for reporting. Councillors discussed SDC's commitment to effective complaints handling, transparency and continuous improvement while noting that performance in some areas remains below expectations. e.g. Only 55% of complaints were responded to within the Council's published service standards. Council Housing is by far the most complained-about service, receiving 266 accepted complaints. Of these, 41% were Upheld (the Council admitted fault), 37% were Partially Upheld, and 23% were Not Upheld (%'s rounded). The vast majority of complaints were resolved at Stage 1. It has been noted that complaints are becoming “more complex and voluminous”, partly due to the increasing use of AI by complainants. SDC has plans in place to improve performance.

Annual Performance Review of Our Service Standards.The Customer Contact Centre now handles 60% of all calls to the main council number. While they resolve 95% of Waste & Recycling calls and 90% of Council Tax calls at the first point of contact, resolution rates for Environmental Health & Licensing remain much lower.

The council has implemented a new cloud-based contact centre solution (Liberty Converse CX) which includes features like real-time dashboards for managers, call recording for training, and a planned chatbot/live chat capability.

Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Policy The report explicitly states that while the Council is governed by the same legislation as banks, it is considered “low risk” in terms of exposure to money laundering.

Q1 Treasury Management Activity Report The Council's investment portfolio holds an overall low exposure to ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) risks and a blended credit rating of A+.

Extension of Term of Office for Independent Co-opted Member Approval to extend the term of appointment of Jonathan Wood, the Independent Co-opted member of the committee.

[ ▶︎ ] Video recording (39 views)

Other news

• New Sustainable Economy Fund for Stroud district businesses, charities, community organisations and education providers are being invited to apply for grants of up to £5,000 through Stroud District Council's £100,000 Sustainable Economy Fund.
• Fly-tipping Make sure your waste ends up in the right place. Many people don't realise that they have a legal Duty of Care when arranging for their waste to be removed. If your rubbish is fly-tipped and can be traced back to you, you could still be held responsible, even if you paid someone else to take it away. Fight Fly-Tipping Fortnight.
• Award for the Canal Project Cotswold Canals Connected achieves prestigious building with nature award.
• Planning changes SDC are advising of forthcoming changes to the planning system in England being introduced by the Government from 31 October 2026.
• Museum in the Park shortlisted for two Cotswolds Awards in landmark anniversary year.
• Local Transport PlanIf you have any views on the priorities for transport in Gloucestershire, please do take a moment to complete the survey on the draft Local Transport Plan which is open until 15 November.
• Local Plan– SDC has now formally started the 30 month long process to prepare a new Local Plan, with completion of a 'Gateway 1' self-assessment. Feedback from the summer early scoping consultation and the proposed local plan timescale has also been published. The next formal consultation is planned for summer 2027.

Prepared by Cllr Gareth Kitchen 🔗 (Green) & Cllr Catherine Braun 🔗 (Green) based on councillor activity in October with updates from Cllr Linda Cohen 🔗 (Lib Dem).

Work is formally under way on a new Local Plan that will help shape how the Stroud district develops over the coming years.

Stroud District Council has reached the first formal milestone in the Government's new planning system by completing its Gateway 1 Self-Assessment. This marks the official start of a 30-month process to prepare the new Stroud District Local Plan 2026.

The Local Plan is an important document that helps guide decisions on issues such as housing, employment land, infrastructure, town centres, transport, climate change and the natural environment.

The council has published several new documents on its website, including a summary of feedback received during early scoping work carried out in summer 2026, reports from stakeholder workshops, and a proposed timetable for preparing the plan.

At this stage, the new Local Plan is still in the very early stages of development. No decisions have been made about future development locations, site allocations or the overall strategy for future housing growth across the district.

More details here:–
https://www.stroud.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control/planning-strategy/new-local-plan-early-engagement/

Early Engagement Workshops summary for Wotton-under-Edge Ward

The report produced for the plan runs to 82 pages so in a not very scientific fashion, I've attempted to pull together a ward summary:-

Specific points Flagged issues directly relating to Wotton included the need to extend GP facilities or create new integrated medical provision, more facilities and play areas for young people, secondary school capacity, affordable and starter homes, flooding and flood risk management, protection of historic character and heritage assets, nature conservation sites, empty shops, affordable workspace, youth employment and tourism opportunities, road safety, car parking, EV charging and improved bridleways. In the district-wide housing distribution exercise, the Infrastructure workshop allocated 2,000 homes to Wotton-under-Edge, justified on the basis that a larger allocation could unlock investment in new retail, services and infrastructure, though constraints noted included topography and conservation area policies.

Implications The emphasis on infrastructure before development, GP capacity, secondary schooling, flood risk and transport connectivity in and around Wotton aligns closely with issues regularly raised by residents. The significant gap between the district housing target and the south cluster's ability or willingness to identify sites locally signals that difficult spatial choices lie ahead, and that early engagement by the town council and residents in the next stages will matter.

You can dig down for the detail in the original report linked to above.

Panel Info: https://glostext.gloucestershire.gov.uk/mgCommitteeDetails.aspx?ID=650

Date of meeting: 11th September 2026

Summary of Meeting

The Panel received four substantive items: the Constabulary's Words Matter reporting guidelines, an update on the Combatting Drugs Partnership from Deputy PCC Nick Evans, the OPCC Community Engagement Strategy, and progress on the recruitment of a permanent Chief Constable. The Chief Executive's report covered the force financial position, Raneem's Law, the Sentencing Act 2026 and the Government's policing White Paper.

On Words Matter, the guidelines set reporting standards for police communicators on male violence against women and girls, requiring the active voice, precise naming of offences (for example “rape” rather than “serious sexual assault”), and language that does not shift responsibility onto victims. During question time I introduced the peer-led StopWatch study, Girls and Young Women's Research Project, which examined the experiences of young women and girls subjected to stop and search and strip search. I raised concern that many participants were not given records of the searches, were not told the reasons for the encounter, and in some cases experienced procedural failings apparently inconsistent with statutory requirements. I asked how local scrutiny arrangements, including stop and search scrutiny panels, legitimacy panels and the new Youth Advisory Group, would identify and respond to similar issues in Gloucestershire, referencing the former Community Complaints Trigger which referred matters for community scrutiny after a single complaint. Current arrangements differ from that policy. I asked for a considered response; this request does not appear in the draft minutes and I am querying it. The PCC responded on stop and search find rates, but the matter was not resolved at the meeting.

The Combatting Drugs Partnership was established in 2022 following Dame Carol Black's independent review. It brings together Public Health, the Constabulary, education, youth justice, treatment providers and people with lived experience, working to three national priorities: breaking drug supply chains, delivering a world class treatment and recovery system, and reducing demand. Since 2022 the county has moved to the provider Via, increased the number of adults and young people in treatment, and achieved retention rates in the top national quartile. Continuity of treatment for prison leavers remains difficult as the county has no prison within its borders; the rate of prison leavers entering community treatment within three weeks is 35%, meeting the current target, with an ambition of 44% in 2026/27. Ketamine use among young people was identified as a serious emerging concern and prompted a dedicated task and finish group. School-based prevention was acknowledged as the area of least progress, with a stronger focus planned in the 2026 to 2029 work programme.

The Community Engagement Strategy sets four priorities: increasing public understanding of the OPCC and Constabulary roles, building trust and confidence, ensuring diverse community voices are heard, and expanding engagement across all communities. The Trust and Confidence Survey identified women, people aged 16 to 35, and ethnic minority communities as underrepresented in current samples. Focus group work with the Gloucestershire Deaf Association is planned over coming months, and a Youth Advisory Group for ages 16 to 25 is being recruited through schools, colleges and community events. This discussion referenced work on strip search procedures where issues have been identified.

Recruitment of a permanent Chief Constable follows the retirement of the substantive post holder in July 2026. The timetable is: national advert live 3 September 2026; applications close 24 September 2026; shortlisting 28 September 2026; stage 3 interviews at the Sabrina Centre 12 October 2026; final interview panel 13 October 2026; Panel confirmation hearing 20 November 2026. A community consultation survey is being run for the first time, with responses themed to inform the first stage of interviews.

The Chief Executive's report noted a projected force overspend of £0.5m on a £185m budget to the end of July. Efficiency savings are forecast at £7.1m against £9.0m assumed in the budget, offset by £1.5m of savings in minimum revenue provision due to lower capital spend in 2025/26. On national developments: Raneem's Law will place domestic abuse specialists in force control rooms, with just over £100,000 secured for two specialists in the Force Control Room (domestic abuse is approximately 20% of recorded crime); key provisions of the Sentencing Act 2026 are implemented, including a presumption that custodial sentences of 12 months or less will normally be suspended and a Progression Model allowing release after roughly one third of sentence, with £195k offered to each PCC through a Surge Fund for victim support; and the White Paper, From Local to National: A New Model for Policing, remains under development. The PEEL inspection assessment is due to be published within weeks.

Key Issues for Members to Note

• Financial pressure: a £0.5m projected overspend and a £1.9m shortfall in efficiency savings against budget assumptions.
• Demand and vulnerability: domestic abuse at approximately 20% of recorded crime, and new funding for two control room specialists under Raneem's Law.
• Emerging risk: ketamine use among young people, with school-based prevention identified as the weakest area of the drugs programme.
• Scrutiny of police powers: identified failings in strip search procedure and the absence of a single complaint referral mechanism for community scrutiny.
• Legislative change: Sentencing Act 2026 provisions on suspended sentences and earlier release, with associated victim support funding.
• Governance: the policing White Paper may alter local governance and funding arrangements; the PEEL assessment is imminent.
• Leadership: appointment of a permanent Chief Constable, subject to Panel confirmation on 20 November 2026.

Future Meetings: 20th November 2026 Report Submitted By: Gareth Kitchen Date: 23rd October 2026

The HMICFRS PEEL 2025-27 inspection report into Gloucestershire Constabulary landed recently, and frankly it makes for grim reading. I sit on the Police and Crime Panel, so I've been through it properly, and it raises serious questions about how our county is policed and who should be held to account.

What the Inspectors Found

The report grades the force's leadership and management, and its investigation of crime, as inadequate. Most other areas, including safeguarding, responding to the public, and neighbourhood policing, require improvement. Only one area has improved since the last inspection. Several have got worse.

Two formal causes of concern stand out.

On leadership and management: the force's operating model is hamstrung by financial constraints and poor IT. A £10.5 million request to the Minister of State for Policing for essential funding was refused outright. The force is raiding reserves to balance the books. Meanwhile morale is rock bottom, with only around a third of staff surveyed saying they'd recommend the constabulary as a place to work, and many unable to take the leave they're owed.

On investigating crime: serious criminal investigations have been handed to officers who simply haven't had the training. As of April 2026, just 13 of 68 constables in the criminal investigation department held the accredited qualification for investigating serious crime. Open crime files rose from around 7,900 to 9,600 in a year. Fewer victims see their case end in a charge than in comparable forces.

There are bright spots. Stop and search has improved dramatically, with 98.4 percent of searches showing reasonable grounds. Emergency call answering has got better too. And on one point, the report confirms what I and others have been banging on about for ages: Black people were five times more likely to be stopped and searched than white people. But the overall picture is of a force that's under-resourced, overstretched, and struggling to deliver the basics for victims.

My Position on the Panel

I want to be constructive here. This isn't about kicking a force when it's down. It's about making sure the people of Gloucestershire get the police service they pay for and deserve.

Name the funding failure. The report is explicit that the constabulary faces extremely challenging financial circumstances, and that a direct request to government for investment in IT and infrastructure was refused. When the Panel scrutinises police performance, we must also scrutinise the government decisions that got us here. I'll be pressing for the Panel to put the funding context formally on record, and the PCC should be challenging ministers publicly with the evidence in this report.

Evidence, not assurances. HMICFRS has given the force six months to act on its recommendations. I want the Panel to get measurable progress reports against each one, with actual numbers: accredited investigators, open cases, neighbourhood officer abstraction. The reassurances we've had in the past were not enough.

Protect neighbourhood policing. Neighbourhood officers keep getting pulled away from their communities to plug gaps elsewhere, sometimes weekly. The report links this directly to weaker prevention and problem-solving. I want the force's own target of 85% of neighbourhood time spent on visible, community-focused work reported to the Panel every quarter, with someone senior, like the PCC, actually owning it.

Fairness and data integrity. Black people were five times more likely to be stopped and searched, and almost seven times more likely to have force used against them, compared with white people. Inspectors also found officers often don't ask people to self-define their ethnicity, meaning the force's own analysis may rest on inaccurate data. The inspectors were told that the external scrutiny panel does valuable work, though I've yet to see much evidence of that in what the Panel is shown about the Legitimacy Panel's activity. Scrutiny is only as good as the data behind it, as I raised at the last Panel meeting.

The Bigger Picture

I acknowledge, as the Chief Inspector did, that officers and staff are working under enormous strain. Most joined to serve their communities and are being let down by the conditions they work in. But sympathy isn't a substitute for standards. Victims of crime in Gloucestershire, particularly vulnerable victims, deserve better than unresolved cases and untrained investigators.

And as a Green, I'd add this:

The report shows exactly what happens when public services are hollowed out year after year. A police force that can't invest in its people, its systems or its communities can't keep people safe. The answer is proper resourcing rooted in prevention.

I'll be raising these issues at the Police and Crime Panel with what little agenda space we get to ask and I'll report back here.

Cllr Gareth Kitchen, Stroud District Council and Gloucestershire Police and Crime Panel

I've had a lot of correspondence about the party conference “Zionism is Racism” motion, much of it from Jewish constituents and party members who are worried about what it signals. I've listened carefully, and I want to set out where I'm at.

First, anti-Jewish racism is real, rising, and incompatible with everything the Green Party stands for. Criticism of Israel's documented conduct must never become hostility towards Jews as people. I hold both commitments without hesitation, and if I ever fall short of that, I expect to be told.

The case for the motion is about conduct, not definitions. The UN Commission of Inquiry found in September 2025 that Israeli authorities have committed and continue to commit genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. This is on top of earlier findings of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Settlement expansion in the occupied territories has continued through every peace process since Madrid under frameworks that have never constrained the strongest party. Those are documented findings, not rhetoric.

And before anyone claims the Greens have become extreme: the formal position that Zionism is a form of racism and racial discrimination was UN General Assembly policy from 1975 until 1991, when Israel demanded its removal as a condition of attending the Madrid conference. The United States used its weight to push through the revocation.

What followed is well documented. Peace negotiation after peace negotiation collapsed, yet settlement expansion continued. A pattern that repeats, time after time.

Now the ground is shifting anyway. The most recent Pew survey shows majorities on both sides, 56% in Israel and 68% in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, see no way for Israel and an independent Palestinian state to coexist.

In the United States, half of non-Orthodox Jews under 35 back a bi-national state, according to polling by the Jewish Voter Resource Center.

The two-state consensus is dissolving from both ends.

The motion was democratically arrived at, and I took it seriously enough to feed my input in earlier this year. As a Green Party ward councillor, I consider it my job to represent policy our members have decided.

On the doorstep, I don't get many questions about foreign policy, but I've learned plenty from the ones that arrive in my inbox. People do hold deep attachment to Israel and horror at its government's conduct at the same time. My job is to hold the government to account without dismissing the attachment.

So, I don't think restoration of the UN position is as radical as it's being made out to be in mainstream media.

I think this policy position opens the way to a fresh approach to peace: equal democratic rights for everyone, with equal commitment to fighting anti-Palestinian racism and anti-Jewish racism alike.

If you think I've got this balance wrong, I'd genuinely like to hear from you.

🔗Fediverse discussion.

🏠 Three-year rent freeze – Breathing space for renters until at least end of 2029

🌍 Nature as a security issue – The biodiversity crisis gets national security focus

📺 Mutualise the BBC – Public control, licence fee abolished

💧 Water in public ownership – Renationalise now, not someday

🐑 Halve animal farming – Support farmers to go sustainable

🛒 Food price intervention – Fair prices for consumers and producers

✊ Councils empowered for BDS – Boycott, divest, sanction

🇵🇸 Zionism is Racism – Names the ideology as racist; calls for one state with equal rights and protections for all.

Policy priorities arrived at democratically by members! 💚

https://join.greenparty.org.uk/

#GreenParty #nhs #ClimateAction #BDS #palestine #BioDiversity #zionism #ukpol

So, the “Zionism is Racism” motion passed at conference, and as a Green Party councillor I will represent the policy our members have democratically decided.

I raised concerns before the debate, and I meant them, but the decision has been made. What matters now is how we carry it forward.

I’m encouraged by the statement from our MPs and leaders, which points to the common ground we share: standing against genocide, apartheid and occupation, defending the rights of Palestinians, and recognising there is no conflict between that and the rights and safety of Jewish people.

That’s the commitment I’ll be working to honour, and I know many colleagues across the party will too. Our solidarity with Palestinians is strongest when it goes hand in hand with the active fight against antisemitism. For Jewish friends and members worried about what this motion means for them: you belong in this party, and your safety and voice matter to me. Now the work begins.

#palestine #zionism

Along with residents' casework and in addition to council and training meetings at Ebley Mill, Cllrs Kitchen, Braun & Cohen attended the regular council meetings at North Nibley, Stinchcombe & Wotton-under-Edge.

Council meetings

Link to meeting agenda and documents in the committee title.

Community Services and Licensing Committee – 10th September 🔗

Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) for Stroud and Dursley: PSPOs allow authorities to impose reasonable restrictions in specific public areas to reduce nuisance and anti-social behaviour. Both the Stroud and Dursley PSPOs grant Police and council officers powers to tackle alcohol-related anti-social behaviour, including the seizure and disposal of alcohol where necessary. Resolved

Stroud District Youth Action Plan: A delivery-focused plan created through extensive consultation with over 350 young people and community stakeholders using systems modelling workshops. The plan aligns with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport's National Youth Strategy, Gloucestershire County Council's One Plan, and the Council Plan, centring on themes including youth voice, mental health, workforce development, safety, climate action and accountability. £179k in external funding will be held in earmarked reserves allocated across priority areas over two years. The plan seeks to ensure young people are happy, healthy, safe, included and empowered while strengthening partnerships with key youth organisations including The Door and Family Action to provide continuity and effective delivery across the district. Resolved

Motion calling For Kingshill House Grant Funding: Stroud District Council completed a new lease with Kingshill House Limited in 2025, taking responsibility for structural repairs. The Trust is running a deficit due to marketing costs, urgent beam repairs causing lost venue revenue, and an unrentable cottage. Further council support of £25k was requested to prevent closure.

Committee recommended this motion to the Strategy & Resources Committee which meets on 8 October. However the report for this next Committee meeting has a proposed decision not to support the £25k grant since this has been assessed legally as not permitted under the Subsidy Control Act 2022 and does not comply with the council’s fiduciary duties. It is hoped that Kingshill House Limited, which has operated for almost 30 years, may be able to source the grant funding required from another source.

Officer Report

Stratford Park Lido Update & Emerging Padel Tennis Opportunity: Stratford Park Lido successfully reopened following £476k in repair works. The original £900k capital budget proved insufficient for major repairs. The temporary works enable safe operation through the 2026 and 2027 seasons while long-term sustainability planning continues, with improvements including pool shell repairs, new fittings, poolside re-levelling, mechanical plant upgrades, and a new café offering. The reopening has generated overwhelmingly positive community feedback, though the full funding needed for the lido's permanent future remains unavailable within the current council budget. With the lido project complete, the Leisure Team is now exploring a padel tennis opportunity at Stratford Park through partnership arrangements to minimise financial exposure, while other delayed leisure works such as gym equipment replacements are now back in planning. Noted

[ ▶︎ ] Video recording (65 views)

Housing Committee – 15th September 🔗

Nominations of Tenant Representatives: Mike Richter and Ian Allen were appointed as Tenant Representatives allowing tenants to have a direct voice in housing committee decisions. Resolved

Compulsory Purchase Powers to acquire land at May Lane, Dursley: To deliver up to 17 new affordable houses along with necessary works including widening an existing service road and altering residential and HGV delivery parking arrangements. A complex development. Recommended

Housing capital budget acquisitions: Agreed an additional £10m for the Acquisition of Housing capital budget for 2026/27, building on the £15m approved in 2025/26. The budget funds purchase of existing homes including Right to Buy buy-backs, S106 affordable homes. With over 3,000 households on the Homeseeker Plus register and approximately 1,169 in significant housing need, the council has successfully acquired or contracted 56 homes across sites. Recommended

Revised Damp and Mould Policy: To update the original 2023 policy to reflect current best practice and align with regulatory changes introduced through Awaab's Law 🔗 effective October 2025. Resolved

Opportunity for additional grant funding: The Social Housing Fund Wave 3 project would allow Stroud District Council to increase the number of homes delivered and raise more homes to EPC C standard. SDC’s proportion of this additional grant funding is £549k. Resolved

Officer Reports: Anti Social Behaviour Annual Report 2025/26:Covers 200 reported cases (9 in Wotton 🔗), with noise-related nuisance comprising 45% of complaints. Most cases were low to medium risk, managed through early intervention. Enforcement included 19 injunctions and 5 evictions for persistent serious cases. However, tenant satisfaction is below average, prompting a focus on improvements to boost resident confidence and service effectiveness. Noted

[ ▶︎ ] Video recording (53 views)

Environment Committee – 17th September 🔗

Members Questions: Cllr Maggie Dutton (Lab) asked about 'swift bricks' in the new NPPF (National Planning Policy Framework) guidance. The NPPF's edge of village development 🔗 guidance is relevant to Wotton ward too, see here for details.

Introduction Of Setup Fee Structure For Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) Habitat Banks: To establish a fee structure allowing Stroud District Council to recover costs for processing Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) Habitat Bank applications, while retaining regulatory influence over habitat locations and quality within the district. Resolved

Consultation Results For Dog-Related Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs): To set out the Council's position regarding the four existing Public Spaces Protection Orders, to provide the results of the consultation and to agree the extension of the PSPOs for a further 3-year period. Public support high, ranging from 85 to 96%. See earlier CS&L Committee note. Resolved

Member / Officer Reports:

Update On Flexible Plastics (Plastic Bags And Wrappings): The Government has delayed the requirement to collect flexible plastic packaging from 2027 to 2030 due to limited domestic capacity for processing and lack of established end markets. Consequently, SDC is no longer under a statutory obligation to introduce this before 2030, although the option remains. The incumbent recycling contractor has also advised they will defer acceptance until around 2030. Whilst there is capacity on current vehicles, there is no practical opportunity for standalone processing. Full re-procurement of haulage and sorting services is scheduled for 2028 regardless. Committee is keen to advance this service regardless of government delay. Noted

Climate and Nature Grants Report: This Committee has committed £50k for Climate and Nature grants in 2026-27, plus an additional £20k for schools and churches projects. This builds on last year's successful programme where £47k was awarded to 33 projects across the district. So far this year, £45k has been committed to 29 projects with two more in progress, while the Schools and Churches fund has allocated £9k to five projects. Wotton-based organisations have received £6k 🔗 Noted

Stroud District Council 2025 Carbon Accounts Report: The Council's 2025 carbon accounts show total emissions rose from 20,000tCO₂e (CO₂ equivalent, tonnes) in 2024 to almost 24,000tCO₂e in 2025, primarily due to the inclusion of major project accounting (Canal Project added 5,000tCO₂e).

For operational emissions:

• Scope 1 (the council's direct emissions from burning fuel) fell 69% following fleet transition to Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil and heat pump installations;
• Scope 2 (indirect emissions from purchased electricity) remains net zero via 100% renewable electricity;
• Scope 3 (indirect emissions from purchased goods and services) reduced 4.4% with procurement and pensions as main sources. Methodological improvements were introduced in 2024 with spend-based procurement tracking and in 2025 with major project carbon accounting. Noted

[ ▶︎ ] Video recording (42 views)

Development Control Committee – 22nd September 🔗

S.26/1185/PIP: Land at, South Street Uley: Erection of a phased development of up to three self-build dwellings (Class C3). Outside but immediately adjacent to the settlement limit on grade two land. Parish council objects. Refused in line with officer recommendation

S.25/2101/OUT: Land south of, Grange Road, Gloucester: Outline planning application for the erection of up to 49 dwellings (including 30% affordable). It constitutes a major development proposal and a departure from the adopted development plan, involving residential development outside defined settlement development limits. The proposal has generated a significant level of public interest. Called in by Chief Planning Officer. Granted in line with officer recommendation.

S.26.0782.REM: Land off, School Lane, Whitminster: Application for approval of reserved matters following outline approval S.22/0423/OUT for the erection of 44 no. dwellings with associated drainage & attenuation, open space & landscaping. Parish council has concerns and also asks for a transport plan to protect children accessing school. Granted in line with officer recommendation

[ ▶︎ ] Video recording (136 views)

Audit and Standards Committee – 29th September (Postponed) 🔗

Other news

• Major milestone reached at affordable housing development in Cam: Glebelands development in Cam has reached a significant milestone with the first roofs now installed on the 23-home affordable housing scheme. The site includes eight one-bedroom flats, ten two-bedroom houses and five three-bedroom houses, with four flats specifically designed for older residents. This forms part of the council's wider affordable housing programme, which includes ongoing work at Queens Drive in Cashes Green and recently completed schemes at Gloucester Street, Bradley Street in Wotton-under-Edge and Cambridge Avenue in Dursley.
• Unravelling creativity: Textile Study Group: Their exhibition opens at the Museum in the Park until Sunday 8th November 2026, marking their first collective show in Stroud since 2017. The exhibition explores unmaking as a creative process, using unravelling, cutting and reworking to discover new possibilities in contemporary textile art. Alongside the display, visitors can attend workshops.
• Residents asked to help recycling crews: Please assist waste and recycling crews with three simple actions: flatten large cardboard boxes to recycling box size, place recycling loose rather than in plastic bags, and recycle batteries and vapes safely via the kerbside service. Flattening cardboard maximises collection vehicle space, while keeping materials loose helps crews identify them easily and reduces contamination. Batteries and vapes pose fire risks if placed in household bins, so the council offers kerbside collection of up to 10 batteries and five vapes weekly in separate clear bags placed on the food waste bin lid.
• Pause of Local Government Reorganisation: Government unexpectedly announced that Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) is being paused and reviewed, including proposals affecting Gloucestershire, and therefore Stroud District Council. The Government says the review will ensure the reorganisation process is robust, complies with legal requirements, and aligns with its wider plans for devolution and local government reform. An update on this LGR review is expected to be provided when Parliament returns from conference recess, in the week commencing 12 October. More information here: https://futuregloucestershire.org.uk 🔗
• Local Plan: While a new-style Local Plan is getting underway, following early consultation this summer, the previous draft Local Plan remains under examination with the Planning Inspectors, who have now announced a Dedicated Transport Hearing Session on 20 October 2026, at Ebley Mill. Participation in this session will be limited to representatives from Stroud District Council, Gloucestershire County Council, National Highways, and South Gloucestershire Council. This will be the first in-person session held by the Planning Inspectors since they started the examination over 3 years ago. link 🔗

Grant Funding

GBE Partnerships Grant: Local authorities in England working with Community Energy Groups can apply for grant funding of up to £40,000 or £100,000 depending on project stage, supporting solar, wind, storage and other renewable technologies. The fund totals up to £5 million over the 2026-2027 period with an eight-week application window now open. Full guidance is available at https://www.gbe.gov.uk/funding/gbe-partnerships-grant 🔗

Prepared by Cllr Gareth Kitchen 🔗 (Green) based on councillor activity in September with updates from Cllr Linda Cohen 🔗 (Lib Dem) & Cllr Catherine Braun 🔗 (Green).

Government is fundamentally changing the guidance on how planning applications are decided locally.

Background

In practical terms, this means that if you object to a new development on your doorstep, your ward councillor will no longer have the power to demand it goes to DCC (for public scrutiny) based on community objections alone.

More applications will be decided behind closed doors by council officers rather than elected members, with fewer opportunities for democratic oversight and public challenge.

Changes to Stroud District Council's constitution will be sought at full council on 15th October to ensure compliance before the 30th October deadline.

🔒 Loss of Democratic Power

Current mechanisms available to ward councillors are being removed: – No more power to call cases in for committee consideration – No automatic referral triggers based on objection numbers – All referrals now require dual agreement between officers and the DCC chair.

📋 Two-Tier Decision Structure

Schedule 1 – Mandatory Officer Decisions: – Householder development – Minor commercial sites – Residential up to 9 dwellings on under 0.5 hectares – Discharge of conditions – Certificates of lawfulness

Schedule 2 – Presumed Officer Decisions (Referral Possible): – Major applications – Listed building consent – Tree preservation orders – Section 106 modifications – Reserved matters for large schemes (500+ homes or 50,000+ sq m)

⚖️ High Bar for Committee Referral

For Schedule 2 applications to reach committee, both conditions apply: – Chief Planning Officer AND committee chair must both agree – Application must raise significant economic, social or environmental impact OR constitute a significant planning matter

Where disagreement exists, the officer decision stands.

💭 Why This Matters Locally

This change shifts planning democracy away from ward representation toward technical delegation. Councillors lose meaningful intervention points on developments that genuinely concern constituents, even when technically compliant with policy.

🔗https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/planning-committees-and-the-national-scheme-of-delegation-of-planning-functions-guidance-for-local-planning-authorities-in-england/planning-committees-and-the-national-scheme-of-delegation-of-planning-functions-guidance-for-local-planning-authorities-in-england