SDC Councillors' Report
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.
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.
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
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