Cllr Gareth Kitchen

Information | Community Newspaper | SDC | Council Meetings Green Party District Councillor for Wotton-under-Edge, North Nibley & Stinchcombe, Gloucestershire, UK. Elected 2nd May 2024. Serving on the SDC Audit & Standards Committee and Gloucestershire Police & Crime Panel. 📧 cllr.gareth.kitchen@stroud.gov.uk ☎️ +44 7396 840710 For urgent and secure messaging use Signal: eco_g_20.24 or less securely, e-mail. (Voicemail & SMS messages are responded to most evenings after work.) ℅ Cookability, 35 Long Street, Wotton-under-Edge, GL12 7BX Privacy Policy - https://www.stroud.gov.uk/privacynotice Promoted by Rob Brookes on behalf of Stroud District Green Party, at 17 Great George St, Bristol BS1 5QT. Like all donations, Bitcoin (on the Thank menu) cannot be given anonymously and is subject to Electoral Commission rules. Find me on the Fediverse (Social media without adverts, algorithms or outrage) here:-

https://stroud.social/eco-g

North Nibley Parish Council - June 2025

June 5, 2025•1,151 words

North Nibley Parish Council 4th June 2025 I attended the meeting at the Village Hall last night along with SDC Cllr. Braun, GCC/SDC Cllr. Cohen sent her apologies. These are my hastily written, informal notes. The photo this month commemorates the buddleia shrub which partly died and fell over long ago. The team from Ubico had been diligently mowing around it (a prescriptive contract, no doubt). Recuperating from my recent health problems, I thought it would be good exercise to wander ov...

SDC Councillors' Report - June 2025

June 1, 2025•547 words

Wotton-under-Edge, North Nibley & Stinchcombe 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. Development Control Committee - 20 May Hunts Grove Phase 4, Hunts Grove Drive, Hardwicke, Gloucester, S.20/0103/REM Reserved matters applic...

SDC Consultation and Engagement Survey

May 28, 2025•2,038 words

The Council is running a short survey on how it consults and engages with its communities and stakeholders to ensure that they are listened to and can influence decisions that are made. I encourage you all to respond to this survey. If you want change, it starts here. ;) However, personally, this simple consultation about engagement has triggered all sorts of thoughts. Earlier this week I had yet another stay at GRH and had plenty time to dump of all of these thoughts onto my blog. I'...

Wotton Town Council - May 2025

May 21, 2025•1,421 words

Wotton Town Council Annual Meeting 19th May 2025 I attended the meeting at the Civic Centre on Monday along with SDC Cllr. Braun and GCC/SDC Cllr. Cohen. These are my informal notes. Lots (maybe 50+) members of the public were present. The meeting started with the formality of electing the Mayor for the civic year. Paul Smith is continuing in that role and Roger Claydon is continuing as deputy. Just one apology for absence. The session jumped straight to the issue of footpath access to ...

Stroud District Councillors’ Annual Report

May 19, 2025•1,251 words

Annual Parish Meeting 2025 Affordable and energy efficient housing Work is underway to build 97 new council homes across the district. In March 2025, the Council was awarded £5.2 million funding from Government, which will enable investment in hundreds of older council homes to make them warmer, healthier and more energy efficient. Stroud District Council was a finalist in the 2024 UK Housing Awards in the category of Best Older People’s Landlord. Eight new council homes for afford...

Wotton-under-Edge - News, updates and information

May 16, 2025•195 words

Community Drop-in Event Date: Sunday 18th May Venue: Town Hall 2pm to 5pm Everyone is invited to see what's happening in the town There will be displays from our many fabulous community groups and organisations on what they have been up to and their aspirations for 2025. You can check out plans and progress by the Town Council on the major repairs to the Town Hall and Chipping Hall, the rebuilding of the Old Town Toilets, refurbishment of Symn Lane Play Area, and the development of the ...

SDC Councillors' report - May 2025

May 6, 2025•2,032 words

Wotton-under-Edge, North Nibley & Stinchcombe 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 & Standards Committee - 1st April Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit (CFEU) Report The Council is required to proactively tackle fr...

Bump in the road - 4th April 2025

April 4, 2025•237 words

I've hit a bit of bump in the road, some of you noticed that the shop was closed last week. I had a mild heart attack last Monday. I've had a couple of stents put in. I'm OK, back home, recuperating, just feeling a bit battered. I think it was a close call. Completely out of the blue and I don't tick many of the risk factors either apart maybe from 'stress'. So, I've been told by the Stroud District Green Party, Stroud District Council, Cllr Catherine Braun and esp. Cllr Linda Cohen to ta...

SDC Councillors' report - April 2025

April 2, 2025•2,447 words

Wotton-under-Edge, North Nibley & Stinchcombe 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. Development Control Committee - 4th March Aston Down, Cowcombe Lane, Chalford, Gloucestershire, S.20/0716/FUL A hybrid planning applicatio...

Bolster Wotton - 25th March 2025

March 26, 2025•1,214 words

Bolster Wotton Meeting 25th March 2025 I attended a busy Bolster Wotton event last night. My local Councillor chums, Catherine and Linda were also there to help support the town in whatever way they can too. These are my informal notes. Personal comment The wise amongst us realise that there is little Councils (Town, District or County) can do directly regarding the High Street. Everything, more or less, falls to the entrepreneurial spirit of residents and risks taken by existing busine...

Stroud District Council - Extraordinary Meeting - 20th March

March 21, 2025•664 words

English Devolution - Local Government Reorganisation - LGR An excellent discussion at Stroud District Council this evening. As a Green there is no party line, so we are free to contribute in the best interests of the residents and business who we represent. I said what I thought needed to be said. The recommendation passed unanimously and I feel the wide ranging opinion will help shape and deliver the best possible outcome. I acknowledge that our leaders do a remarkable job of keeping the who...

Wotton Town Council Meeting - March 2025

March 18, 2025•1,856 words

Wotton Town Council Meeting 17th March 2025 I attended two meetings at the Civic Centre last night along with SDC Cllr. Braun. SDC/GCC Cllr. Cohen arrived later as there was another parish meeting in her ward. There were a few parishioners present. These are my informal notes. Annual Community Meeting (I can't find a link to a publicly available agenda) To meet statutory obligations the purpose of this meeting was to arrange another community meeting at 2pm on 18th May 2025, to be held ...

Gloucestershire Police and Crime Panel - March 2025

March 17, 2025•1,489 words

Summary - Shire Hall 10th March A meeting summary and some personal notes authored by Cllr. Gareth Kitchen, SDC. Brief report feeding into the Community Services and Licensing Committee at SDC will soon be here. Webcast of meeting. Agenda packs etc. Minutes here The fire alarm went off at GCC just prior to the start of the meeting so everyone decamped to the street outside. False alarm! New Green Party co-oped member Cllr. Clare Turner from Blockley Ward over in Costswold District, g...

Wotton, North Nibley & Stinchcombe Ward Update - March 2025

March 15, 2025•134 words

I have to apologise for not hitting the 'e-mail send' button recently! A quick recap recent posts:- Affordable Houses on Bradley/Gloucester Street Work is well underway now. There was a 'Meet the Contractor’ event, the other week, at Wotton Baptist Church. As SDC don't actually build houses themselves I thought I'd share some of the detail I've gathered. SDC Councillors' report - March 2025 Lots of activity at SDC with the Council Plan being adopted and budgets set. North Nibley Parish C...

Stinchcombe Parish Council Meeting - March 2025

March 13, 2025•329 words

Stinchcombe Parish Council Meeting 12th March 2025 Attended Stinchcombe Parish Council meeting earlier this week along with SDC Cllr Braun and GCC/SDC Cllr Cohen. Here are my personal notes. Normal meeting formalities. Sadly, no members of the public to ask questions or present ideas to the Council. Update on matters arising from previous meeting and minutes agreed. I can't recall any questions on either the District Councillors or County Councillor report. Three planning application...

English Devolution

March 8, 2025•415 words

You may have seen recent press coverage about the government’s plan to reorganise local government. I thought it might help to explain what we know so far, and what it may mean for us in Wotton-under-Edge, North Nibley and Stinchcombe ward. This is only a short summary - do contact me if you’d like to discuss it in more detail. In the English Devolution White Paper, published just before Christmas, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities & Local Government set out a plan to dissol...

Old Town Toilets

March 6, 2025•886 words

Background Info Wotton Town Council owns the freehold of the Old Town toilets. The story dates back to 2015 when the service provided by Veolia, the contractor who cleaned and locked the toilets overnight, would be discontinued. A new company called Ubico was being created later that year who might have been able to deliver a similar service. Costs and arrangements were unclear. Little was done. Veolia service was discontinued in the October and the Town Council caretaker was tasked with loc...

North Nibley Parish Council Meeting - March 2025

March 6, 2025•256 words

North Nibley Parish Council Meeting 5th March 2025 As always it was pleasure attending the Parish Council meeting last night along with Cllr Braun. Cllr Cohen sent apologies. Here are my personal notes. Cllr Roland Brown was confirmed as the new Chair of the Council. A member of the public presented some good work undertaken seeking funding of and installation (with the involvement of the Cotswold Wardens) of three kissing gates on a local footpath. I didn't catch the precise location...

SDC Councillors' report - March 2025

March 3, 2025•1,067 words

Wotton-under-Edge, North Nibley & Stinchcombe 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. Housing Committee - 4th February Recommend the Draft Council Plan and the accompanying Delivery Plan to Strategy & Resources Comm...

Affordable Houses on Bradley/Gloucester Street

February 28, 2025•520 words

Following Stroud District Council recently awarding a contract to Speller Metcalfe for the construction of these homes I've been asked lots of questions! There was a 'Meet the Contractor’ event, last week, at Wotton Baptist Church. As SDC don't actually build houses themselves I thought I'd share some of the detail I've gathered. Since space is limited on the site the contractors are having to use smaller machines than normal. The site has recently been stripped. Foundations and service...

Police & Crime Panel - SDC Report February 2025

February 24, 2025•467 words

Community Services and Licensing Committee - Report The main purpose of the meeting was to support the proposed precept from the PCC. The PCC recommended that the Police and Crime Panel support the Council Tax precept increase of £14 in 2025/2026, giving a Band D Council Tax of £322.08 for 2025/2026, an increase of 4.54%. The maximum he is permitted to levy. The PCC kicked off with an overview of the budget. Wide pressure across all forces. Government hasn't given them full cover for pay rise...

Wotton Town Council Meeting - February 2025

February 18, 2025•1,200 words

created_at:2025-2-18 Wotton Town Council Meeting 17th February 2025 I attended a meeting at the Civic Centre on Monday evening along with SDC Cllr. Braun and SDC/GCC Cllr. Cohen. Agenda here. These are my informal notes. Apologies received from Roger Claydon, Paul Jones and Jane Tyler, no declarations of interest, minutes approved. No residents to ask probing questions of the Council. Standing orders rescinded and #19 brought forward for an update on Brown's Piece (Hack Hill). D...

Stinchcombe Parish Council Meeting February 2025

February 17, 2025•309 words

Stinchcombe Parish Council Meeting 12th February 2025 Again, it was a pleasure to attend Stinchcombe Parish Council meeting last week along with SDC Cllr Braun and GCC/SDC Cllr Cohen. Here are my personal notes. Normal meeting formalities. No parishioners present to speak at the public forum. :( The Chair ran through many of the actions from the previous meeting (which I missed, apologies given). A new format for the minutes makes action points really easy to spot ensuring items don't s...

Gloucestershire Police & Crime Panel - February 2025

February 8, 2025•1,245 words

Summary - Shire Hall A meeting summary and some personal notes authored by Cllr. Gareth Kitchen, SDC. Brief report feeding into the Community Services and Licensing Committee at SDC is here. Webcast of meeting. Agenda packs etc. A few apologies. Space on the panel for a Green Party member. Minutes of the previous meeting approved and no declarations of interest. The main purpose of the meeting was to support the proposed precept from the PCC. The PCC is seeking the full £14 (4.5% i...

SDC Councillors' report - February 2025

February 3, 2025•676 words

Wotton-under-Edge, North Nibley & Stinchcombe 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. Development Control Committee - 21st January Update on planning changes Due to the Government’s reform of the National Planning Policy Framew...

Wotton Town Council Meeting - January 2025

January 21, 2025•1,911 words

Wotton Town Council Meeting 20th January 2025 A rolled car on Blackquarries Hill 20th Jan 2025. I attended a packed meeting at the Civic Centre on Monday evening along with SDC Cllr. Braun and SDC Cllr. Cohen. Agenda here. These are my informal notes. The normal formalities. Apologies from two councillors. A Cllr. declared an interest relating to the KLB grant application 8c. Previous minutes were approved. In the public forum a spokesperson for the Heritage Centre, advised that they ...

Rumours of Geckos at Potters Pond confirmed

January 17, 2025•208 words

Great news. Plans have finally been produced for the installation of electric vehicle charge-points in Potters Pond car park, Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire. There maybe some minor disruption at the beginning of March when they will be installed. These chargers have been a long time coming. It was originally hoped that the Geckos could have been installed in the Chipping Car Park. However, due to various factors locating them, including proximity to trees, electricity sources and tren...

Time to boycott Facebook, Threads & WhatsApp

January 12, 2025•385 words

Zuckerberg is now urging Trump to stop the EU from fining US companies. The tech bro billionaire, like Elon Musk before him, wants to spread divisive harm, misinformation and AI slop with no responsibility whatsoever. No doubt other US tech corporations will follow, demanding more and more outrageous immunities. I firmly believe countries like the UK need to start properly protecting their citizens. Yet each and every UK govt. department, council, institution and political party embrace an...

SDC Councillors' report - January 2025

January 3, 2025•660 words

Wotton-under-Edge, North Nibley & Stinchcombe 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. Development Control Committee - 3rd December Land at M5 Junction 13 west of Stonehouse (New FGR Site) - S.23/1484/REM Reserved matters (layou...

Devolution shake-up will be ‘just like Brexit’

December 23, 2024•628 words

As a follow-up to the Fears Gloucestershire councils shake-up will be ‘just like Brexit’ article here are some personal thoughts. I can't help thinking this post will get me into trouble! Hey ho. Read the Gloucester news centre article first. It'll set the scene. Thanks to Barbara Lawrence for posting it on Facebook and bringing it to my attention. https://gloucesternewscentre.co.uk/fears-gloucestershire-councils-shake-up-will-be-just-like-brexit Make no mistake, I think Westminster's de...