SDC Councillors' report - January 2025

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 (layout, scale, external appearance of the stadium and the landscaping of the site)
  • Permitted - unanimous
• Forest Green Rovers, New Lawn, Forest Green (Existing Site) - S.18/0815/OUT
  • Resubmission of S.17/0850/OUT - The demolition of the existing FGR Stadium to provide up to 95 dwellings and community use
  • Up to eight years to complete the new stadium before construction can start
  • Permitted - unanimous
• Bentley Cottage, Vicarage Street, Painswick - S.24/1747/HHOLD
  • Erection of a two storey side extension and single storey front extension
  • Officers recommended refusal for a number of reasons
  • Refused - after lengthy discussion (just one abstention)
• Very little revenue being generated by way of fees (29% of what was expected for the year).  Fee increases likely.
• Video recording

Environment Committee - 5th December

• Approved the collection of household batteries and vapes/e-cigs from the kerbside from April 2025
• New additional materials to be collected at kerbside – most likely including small electricals – in similar timeframe
• Approved two Community Infrastructure Levy projects – feasibility studies for a new Doctors’ practice and a Health Hub in Cam
• Funding for the Nailsworth Cycle track were not approved, work will continue with County
• Video recording

Housing Committee - 10th December

• Depooling is the separation of service charges from rents. 
  • Approved with caps and mitigations for hardship. 
  • Separate charges from 01 April 2025.
• Housing budget and HRA medium term plan reviewed and approved
  • Increase in temporary accommodation cost against budget, maybe covered by grant.
  • Overall position much better than this time last year.
  • Possible spike in right to buy due to reductions in discounts coming.
  • Social and affordable rents to increase by 2.7%
• Video recording

Community Services and Licensing Committee - 12th December

• Performance and budget monitoring along with revenue forecasts
  • Pressures: CCTV replacement, Ubico costs, Housing benefits, Public spaces & Stratford Park in-house
  • Savings: Revenue & Benefit salaries
• Approved Active Lifestyles Be Active concession scheme.
• Approved Active Lifestyles Leisure Oversight Board membership and seek approval of the terms of reference for the board.
• Video recording

Full Council - 19th December

• Approval given for £630,000 to purchase commercial units being developed at Brimscombe Port.  Ensuring the Council has more control over the space provided and the development is in line with the council’s and key stakeholder’s vision.
• Agreed to sign the UK100 Charter for Collaboration which supports the ambition of delivering clean energy alongside climate goals.
• Agreed to support Ubico's request to explore growth opportunities with potential new shareholders and fund a share of those exploratory costs.
• Video recording

Other news 

• Rushmire is closed from 6th Jan for 24 weeks.  Please use the official diversion via Dursley to minimise the frustration of getting stuck on single track back roads.
• Cllr Braun, SDC Leader, gave an update on English Devolution and the fate of Stroud District Council. A summary by our local democracy reporter here Gloucester News Centre.
  • Gloucestershire County Council is lining up an urgent decision to apply for Unitary Status by the deadline of 10 January at a meeting of the Cabinet on Wednesday 9 January.
  • Agenda item 5. More details here.
• Museum in the Park's Annual Report has been published.

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