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#Stroud Funding

15th December 2024

UTEA Smashes Stroud Funding Target

UTEA's old lighting system was failing and needed replacing. The group worked out what money they needed and set-up a project on the new crowdfunding platform for Stroud district (called Stroud Funding) which is run in partnership with the company, Spacehive.

Spacehive provided a bit of help which enabled the project to be shared far and wide to raise the funds. Lots of people shared the project and that helped boost local support.

The target was smashed (106%) a week before the deadline so Stroud District Council will also contribute towards the project too! Wow!

A spokesperson for UTEA said:-

Yes it's a brilliant scheme! Thrilled that we were able to hit our target and receive the pledge from SDC to bring us up to our total. We've been very lucky to get some very generous pledges from various groups that use the hall and will make use of the new lighting equipment. Anything surplus is going to be spent on new chairs which will be very welcome too.

Ultimately, it became very much a joint effort of sharing the platform far and wide via various social media channels but we got there!

The spokesperson added:-

A big thank you for all the donations and a special thank you to our administrator, Sam and co-opted committee member, Debs for pulling together all that was required for getting the project off the ground. Without our donations and our volunteers we wouldn't be able to achieve what we do so, thank you.

Stinchcombe Playground & Community Space

Another project that is active in the ward is the Stinchcombe Playground & Community Space. As I write this 57 backers (including me!) have pledged £12,426 with 83 days left to go. So please, please share this link with family and friends in any way you can! ;)

https://www.spacehive.com/stinchcombe-play-and-community-space

Fantastic funding opportunites for other Wotton Ward community groups

There should be another opportunity for funding in Spring 2025 so get your thinking caps on!

Spacehive, the company partnering with Stroud District Council, to deliver Stroud Funding has the highest success rate of any crowdfunding platform meaning that nearly 9 out 10 community projects hit fundraising targets.

As I write this the Stroud Funding scheme has 17 projects across the district with 961 backers and pledges of £159,252. Spacehive's fees of 7.5% for the use of their platform, expertise and processing payments etc. are always added to project targets at the onset, so there are no unexpected costs either.

Contact me directly if you want to chat about any project ideas you might have. Given the success of this scheme to date I'll be pushing for it continue beyond 2025.

1st December 2024

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.

Audit and Standards Committee – 19th November

• Reviewed Treasury Reports paying attention to the ratings for Environmental, Social and Governance aspects of the council's investments. Discussed losses on two property funds which are a small portion of the overall investments.

• Reviewed Internal and External Audit activity. The internal reporting system is bedding in.

• Progress was noted against the Annual Governance Statement Action Plan

• Contract Management Framework – noted progress in embedding the Framework which has been developed to provide a clear and consistent approach to contract management across the council, to manage contracts for goods, works and services.  

• Noted Code of Conduct complaints, from the last year, relating to eight parishes in the district.

• Video recording

Strategy and Resources – 21st November

• Brimscombe Port SDC redevelopment project: reviewed final Heads of Terms for SDC development agreement with St Modwen Homes and agreed in principle that SDC would purchase the commercial units on the site and let them on commercial terms to ensure control over the businesses on site.  The project will include: 

  • up to 150 new homes with a mix of 1, 2, and 3 beds with 30% council homes for rent and shared ownership.

  • reinstatement of the canal, port basin and associated infrastructure

  • 24 moorings, with 8 to be residential and 16 permanent and/or visitor class

  • new community facilities

  • public realm for residents and visitors 

• Canalside Site – Stonehouse (former Ship Inn) update on progress and agreement to allow more time for the community enterprise group to develop their business plan for the site to become a community space connecting Stonehouse residents to the canal. 

• Cotswold  Canals Connected project board update. 

• Market towns vitality fund decisions to support locally led projects(link) 

• Community wealth building update.

• Video recording

Extraordinary Housing Committee – 26th November

• Tenant engagement and communication action plan

  • to improve and monitor the plan for improved engagement and communication. 

• Adopt a new Fire Policy, Radon Policy & Gaining Access Policy

• Update on the Independent Living modernisation update programme.

  • including Dryleaze House where work began in September and is due to complete in January

  • Dryleaze House is designated to become a Hub (as defined in the Independent Living Strategy)

• Update on preparations to meet new Consumer Standards set by the Regulator of Social Housing.

• Update on the £18m of work on decarbonisation and energy efficiency of council housing

• Video recording

Other news 

• Date set for Brimscombe Port redevelopment consultation
• Transform your community: Stroud Funding projects are now open for support
• Applications are now open to join the councillors' allowances panel
• Lighting up high streets in time for Christmas
• Recycle electrical items at Ebley Mill until Christmas
• Stroud District Council was shortlisted for the Best Place to Work, at the Local Government Chronicle awards.  
• Government's English Devolution Bill
  • expected in December
  • Likely to propose devolving some powers from Westminster to local authorities, merging district and county councils to form new unitary authorities, requiring combined authorities of unitary councils to have an elected mayor
  • No information yet on what the implications will be for parish and town councils

Prepared by Cllr Gareth Kitchen based on councillor activity in November with updates from Cllr Linda Cohen & Cllr Catherine Braun. #sdc