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.
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.
Link to meeting agenda and documents in the committee title.
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.
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:
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.
Tenant engagement and communication action plan
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
Prepared by Cllr Gareth Kitchen based on councillor activity in November with updates from Cllr Linda Cohen & Cllr Catherine Braun. #sdc
A beautiful day to show the Stroud District Council Strategic Leadership Team around Wotton Ward with fellow district councillors Linda Cohen and Catherine Braun. I took some notes.
Spent most of Wednesday on a bus visiting key places around the district where SDC are involved with projects.
First off to Stroud Rail Station and to hear about ideas for the regeneration of the area on both sides of the tracks as well as step free access to the station.
Then we travelled down to Brimscombe Port, a former inland port dating back to the 1780s which was in-filled after the Second World War. The site has been cleared and awaiting development.
We stopped off on Selsley Common which is home to ground nesting birds like skylarks and meadow pipits and numerous other rare plants and animals. It is therefore important that dogs are kept on a short lead. SDC manage a number of other commons across the district too.
A quick tour of The Pulse Leisure Centre of in Dursley and talk of the range of services they offer which also link in with the NHS provision. A short discussion of how operations are going to be merged with Stroud Leisure Centre.
The tour concluded with a visit to the Cotswold Canals Trust Western Deport at Eastington. We met canal volunteers and learnt more about the Canal Restoration Project.
I was constantly thinking, with all the investment going into the canal, how Wotton, North Nibley and Stinchcombe can benefit from the economic pie that's being baked!
The photo is of the canal being dredged next to the Queen Elizabeth II Playing Fields. My other photos included pictures of the council officers, and I recall that publishing photos of them isn't allowed!
A worrying casework issue. I was asked by a resident if there has been a 'change of use' for one of the shops on the High Street.