Cllr Gareth Kitchen

Community News | SDC | Council Meetings | Wotton | Stroud 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 Secure Web Contact Form: https://cryptpad.fr/form/#/2/form/view/9q0gPl18J1obc9U++FOSQwaL2euErvZTXekMKQVGScw/ 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. Find me on the Fediverse (social media without adverts, algorithms or outrage) here:-

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North Nibley Parish Council Meeting - December 2025

December 5, 2025•559 words

North Nibley Parish Council Meeting 3rd December 2025 My informal notes from Wednesday's Parish Council meeting that I attended along with SDC Cllr. Braun and GCC/SDC Cllr. Cohen. Apologies from the Clerk so Cllr J Smith offered to take notes. Although some members of the public were present earlier they seem to had a change of heart so no one to ask questions in the public forum. The Chair rattled through the outstanding actions from the previous meetings, to fast for me to take notes. :...

Symn Lane Car Park - DCC 2nd December 2025

December 3, 2025•230 words

Development Control Committee - S.23/2101/VAR So, finally, the variation, effectively to complete the Symn Lane Car Park, was granted unanimously last night at SDC. SDC will ensure that the development will complete as soon as practically possible using a legal agreement called a section 106. The planning officer indicated this will likely mean June, July 2026. I felt I had to draw attention to the fact that this project has been dragging on for nine years. There remains great annoyance in...

SDC Councillors' Report - December 2025

December 2, 2025•1,643 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 Nov Swedish Timber Houses Site, Stinchcombe. An update to the Committee on highway safety and other key infrastructu...

SDC Report - Police & Crime Panel - November 2025

November 29, 2025•668 words

Joint Independent Audit Committee Annual Report The Joint Independent Audit Committee (JIAC) Annual Report. Effective supervision of external audit transition to Bishop Fleming, resulting in an unmodified audit opinion and a few recommendations. Completion of eight internal‑audit engagements by SWAP, with overall “reasonable” assurance and 30+ corrective actions logged. Challenges included persistent delays in receiving detailed financial‑savings data, limiting the committee’s ability to veri...

OPCC Meeting - 26 Nov 2025

November 27, 2025•364 words

Along with Cllr Richard Dean (Dursley) and Cllr Steve Robinson (Nailsworth) I attended an OPCC briefing at the constabulary yesterday. Stroud District well represented! Here are some of my informal notes and comment. The agenda was roughly:- Role of OPCC Performance Serious Violence Police and Crime Prevention Plan tbh, it became a bit free format with the sheer number of questions from the councillors. There was a hard hitting video by Josh Hall's parents and the devastating aftermath of...

LGR, Police & Crime Panel update and other news

November 22, 2025•999 words

November Update 23rd November 2025 You may have received a copy of the Wotton Ward News through your letterbox recently. If not, there's a copy here. If you could lend a hand delivering leaflets to your neighbours we'd appreciate the help. Local membership of the Green Party is now just shy of 1000 members. We are holding a local meeting in Wotton on Thursday 4th December at the Baptist Church. All Green Party members are welcome to attend. Contact me or Catherine for more details or wh...

Video Clips: Gloucestershire Police & Crime Panel - Nov 2025

November 21, 2025•294 words

Internal audits are evaluations conducted to assess internal controls, risk management, and operational efficiency and should be aimed at improving processes. I was more than a little concerned about a comment in backing papers. An unhappy auditor makes for a concerned councillor. :( I've been working for many years around the Scrutiny Panels at the constabulary. I've been perpetually frustrated with my enquiries but continue to work doggedly to seek improvement. And a decade later change...

Wotton Town Council - November 2025

November 19, 2025•827 words

Wotton Town Council Meeting 17th November 2025 My informal notes and personal comment from the Town Council meeting on Monday that I attended along with SDC Cllr Braun. GCC/SDC Cllr Cohen had sent apologies along with a few other town councillors. A few members of the public were present but none wanted to speak at the public forum. The Chairman said that he had visited the new Charfield station site and checked out the parking consultation. There will be a £2.80 charge for the day which ...

Update: Westridge Woods - Upcoming works

November 17, 2025•650 words

Westridge Woods - Upcoming works 16th November 2025 I spent Sunday afternoon up in Westridge Woods with a group of local residents and other councillors. We are all wanting to see sensible forest management at Westridge Woods unlike the last time the company, F&W Forestry, undertook work up there. As one of the ward's three district councillors I raised my concerns in a well researched open letter to F&W Forestry. Unexpectedly, they responded, not by acknowledging the shortcomi...

Stinchcombe Parish Council - November 2025

November 13, 2025•264 words

Stinchcombe Parish Council Meeting 12th November 2025 My informal notes from last Wednesdays Parish Council meeting that I attended along with Cllr. Braun. Apologies from a couple of Cllrs and Cllr. Linda Cohen. Quick discussion on previous action points. Playground signs ordered by Highways. One near to bench by Church. One coming up Wick lane mounted on an existing sign. Parish Council would like to see the trustees' village hall minutes for better collaboration. Various cleaned up pa...

Celebrate Remembrance Sunday

November 8, 2025•205 words

I've been reflecting on this official call to ‘celebrate’ Remembrance Sunday (on another social media platform). My grandfather fought in mainland Europe twice during WWII and was present at the liberation of Bergen‑Belsen. He rarely spoke about the horrors he saw, but I know they left a deep imprint on him. He chose not to take part in public commemorations and was critical of both the politicians and the monarchy who did. As an elected councillor, I will spend Remembrance Day with my famil...

North Nibley Parish Council - November 2025

November 6, 2025•694 words

North Nibley Parish Council Meeting 5th November 2025 My informal notes from Wednesday's Parish Council meeting that I attended along with SDC Cllr. Braun. GCC/SDC Cllr. Cohen sent apologies. A couple of Cllrs had sent their apologies. Four people in the public forum. Two spoke regarding planning item 7a. It was explained that they are residents and are looking to use their field for a horse stables and paddock purely for personal use. They need the stables to care for their horses which ar...

Wotton Town Council - Extraordinary Meeting - 3rd November 2025

November 4, 2025•1,409 words

Wotton Town Council Extraordinary Meeting 3rd November 2025 My informal notes and personal comment from the town council meeting on Monday. SDC Cllr Braun and GCC/SDC Cllr Cohen had sent apologies. Extraordinary Town Council Meeting Correction Prior to the meeting the mayor told me that my back of a beer mat calculation for the Old Town Toilet utility bill as per my previous report was hopelessly incorrect. Apparently, the costs attributed to the October payment schedule included two six...

SDC Councillors' Report - November 2025

November 3, 2025•1,277 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. Strategy and Resources Committee - 2nd October Approved a new framework to improve the way that the council undertakes consultation & eng...

Wotton Town Council - Extraordinary Council & Planning - October 2025

October 29, 2025•1,624 words

Wotton Town Council Extraordinary Meeting & Planning Meeting 27th October 2025 My informal notes and personal comment from the town council meeting on Monday that I attended along with SDC Cllr Braun. GCC/SDC Cllr Cohen had sent apologies. Extraordinary Town Council Meeting The primary purpose of this short meeting, prior to planning, was to approve the candidates who had put themselves forward for co-option on to the Town Council and in short order Paula, Fred, Lesley, Becky and Ros w...

Wotton Ward - October 2025 - Catch-up

October 25, 2025•311 words

Revised plans for Symn Lane Car Park Revised plans have been posted on the SDC Planning Portal; search for application S.23/2101/VAR. The main changes being the additional area with disable parking spaces off the internal road, updated landscaping and the start of the link footpath to the swimming pool (within the site). There's now a possibility that the application will come before the December Development Control Committee (DCC). This means that I'll finally get to present the petition ...

Stinchcombe Parish Council Meeting - October 2025

October 5, 2025•440 words

Stinchcombe Parish Council Meeting 2nd October 2025 My informal notes from last Wednesdays Parish Council meeting that I attended on my own as Cllrs. Braun and Cohen had other meetings to attend. Great to see a new Cllr joining the team; Jon Powlesland who recently moved to Stinchcombe. Chartered accountant by background and has worked for various corporates. Currently at the National Trust. One person arrived for the public forum arrived but left after talking with the Chair. They thou...

North Nibley Parish Council Meeting - October 2025

October 4, 2025•569 words

North Nibley Parish Council Meeting 1st October 2025 My informal notes from last Tuesdays Parish Council meeting that I attended along with SDC Cllr. Braun. I noticed a splendid mosaic on the wall of the village hall for the first time. I'm certain that it's a recent addition and took a quick photo on my way in. No members of the public present this months meeting. It's always a pleasure listening to Cllrs rattling through the action points from prior meetings. It appears that the Black ...

SDC Councillors' Report - October 2025

September 29, 2025•1,528 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 covered the regular council meetings at North Nibley, Stinchcombe & Wotton-under-Edge. Council meetings (Online links to agendas and other supporting documentation via underlined text) Development Control Committee - 2nd September 31 Kingshill Road, Dursley, Gloucestershire, S.25/0257/FUL - approved Adaptati...

Wotton Town Council - September 2025

September 19, 2025•1,007 words

Wotton Town Council Meeting 15th September 2025 My informal notes and comment from the town council meeting earlier this week that I attended along with SDC/GCC Cllr. Cohen & SDC. Cllr Braun. One apology for absence. The resignation of Cllr. Paul Barton was noted, no election had been called so the TC can co-opt. One Cllr. noted that he thought TC would be less good without him. Three sets of Town Council meeting minutes were approved for the 21st July, the Extraordinary Town Council ...

Police & Crime Panel - September 2025

September 13, 2025•1,135 words

Summary - Shire Hall 5th September 2025 A meeting summary, personal notes and comment. Authored by Cllr. Gareth Kitchen, SDC. This article formed the basis of my brief report feeding into the Community Services and Licensing Committee at SDC. Webcast of meeting. Agenda packs etc. Minutes. Normal meeting formalities and we go straight to the Independent Custody Visitors' Annual Report. The Independent Custody Visiting Scheme gives us real insight into conditions in custody and provide...

North Nibley Parish Council Meeting - September 2025

September 10, 2025•616 words

North Nibley Parish Council 3rd September 2025 My informal notes from last Wednesdays Parish Council meeting that I attended along with SDC Cllr. Braun and SDC/GCC Cllr. Cohen. Normal formalities, just one apology for absence and one member of the public to speak, but deferred speaking to the road safety agenda item. Previous minutes approved. The chair jumped around the agenda a little so some items maybe out of order. :) Dealing with previous actions. Cllr Braun reported back on the d...

Stinchcombe Parish Council Meeting - September 2025

September 10, 2025•380 words

Stinchcombe Parish Council Meeting 2nd September 2025 I attended Stinchcombe Parish Council meeting Tuesday night last week along with GCC/SDC Cllr Cohen. Here are my personal notes. Sadly, due to holidays and an unexpected apology the council was not quorate so only informal discussions were had, no decisions could be taken. One member of the public had taken time out to speak to the council. Cllr. Cohen gave a quick overview of her County Council report. Back to school and road safety....

Video clips - Police & Crime Panel - September 2025

September 5, 2025•368 words

Representing Stroud District Council on the Gloucestershire Police & Crime Panel also intersects with my volunteer work with Stroud Against Racism. The Constabulary along with the Community Legitimacy Panel hosted Community Engagement Forum up in Gloucester recently. I thought that this was an ideal platform to tell the story of a recent racially motivated attack in Stroud. The story demonstrates the lack of trust in policing by sections of the community. The Community Engagement Foru...

SDC Councillors' Report - September 2025

September 1, 2025•1,133 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 covered the regular council meetings at North Nibley, Stinchcombe & Wotton-under-Edge. Council meetings Link to meeting agenda and documents in the committee title. Licensing Sub-Committee - 14th August Application for a premises licence to allow 24 hr / 7 day per week sale of alcohol at a new retail unit, ...

Symn Lane Car Park Handover - Timeline

August 27, 2025•908 words

Background The development of the Symn Lane Car Park has been protracted, not least because of the Covid pandemic and the original developer selling the project on. However, the current developer left site nearly two years ago. The schedule of remaining works to complete the project is long and complex. As communications have broken down between the Wotton Town Council and the developer the SDC CEO was asked to help broker the completion of the project. Many residents have asked me what i...

Wotton Town Council - August 2025

August 19, 2025•1,099 words

Wotton Town Council Meeting 18th August 2025 My informal notes and comment from last nights town council meeting that I attended along with SDC/GCC Cllr. Cohen. Cllr Braun is taking a well earned break and sent apologies. The minutes from the 21st July and the extraordinary meeting on the 28th July had not been circulated and would not be available until the next planning meeting where another extraordinary town council meeting would be held to approve them. Although a number of people we...

SDC - Microsoft Cloud - Data Sovereignty

August 12, 2025•756 words

I've long had concerns about cloud storage. Personally, I use Proton as my main service provider for e-mail and cloud storage. Pretty much everything is end-to-end encrypted. Proton themselves have absolutely no idea what I store. In my humble opinion this is the only way to handle personal information. Customers of Microsoft, Google et. al. all have their data stored as plain text. This has long troubled me especially as Stroud District Council use Microsoft products extensively. But now...

Dog Poo Bins - Westridge Road - Outcome

August 2, 2025•224 words

Litter & Dog Waste Bins 2nd August 2025 Wotton's newest Litter and Dog Waste Bin has been installed on the corner of Westridge Road. 🎉 🎇 🎆 🎊 It is hoped that this will alleviate the capacity issues of the bin across the road at the top of Little Acre and encourage dog walkers not to leave dog poo bags along the route of the footpath, in hedges and on people's driveways etc. Ideally, positioning the bin up by the pony paddock might have been better but, trust me, the procedures and pr...

SDC Councillors' Report - August 2025

August 2, 2025•1,197 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. Cllr Cohen has also helped two families secure suitable Council housing. Council meetings Links to meeting agenda, documents and other info on the titles. Licensing Sub-Committee - 2nd & 4th July Holy Water, 11 Lan...