SDC Councillors' report - February 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 - 21st January

• Update on planning changes

  • Due to the Government’s reform of the National Planning Policy Framework in December, and changes to rules on housing land supply, Stroud District is now assessed as having only a 3.24 year housing land supply, as against the required 5 year housing land supply. As a result, a so-called ‘tilted planning balance’ now applies when planning applications for housing developments are considered.
  • This 'tilted balance' makes it much harder to resist housing applications on sites that haven't been consulted on, identified and allocated by the district council, through our Local Plan process, as the most suitable places for new development. Its aim is to boost house building in line with the new Government’s policy. In particular it is now much harder to refuse speculative housing applications on land on the edges of the district's towns and villages, outside the settlement limits. The harm from such development now needs to be demonstrably much greater than before, to warrant refusal of planning permission.

• Land At Betworthy Farm, Coaley - S.24/0672/FUL

  • 17 dwellings including 6 affordable
  • Speculative application in open countryside
  • Permitted - Despite concerns about sewerage infrastructure
  • Video recording

Environment Committee - 23rd January

• Important questions from members of the public
  • Litter Management (Action) Plan
  • Consultation responses on the new NPPF have been "almost entirely" ignored
    • Govt. raised housing need from 620 to 840 a year
    • Planning applications now considered on 'tilted balance' basis
• Recommend the Draft Council Plan 2025-2029 to Strategy & Resources Committee
• Approved Air Quality Strategy for Stroud District
• Video recording

Audit and Standards Committee - 28th January

• Out of Hours Service Update - Improved
• External Audit 2023/24 Approved
• Approved prudential indicators and Treasury Management Strategy
• Strategic Risk Register update
• Review Internal Audit progress
• Video recording (only from #9 technical issues)

Community Services and Licensing Committee - 30th January

• Recommend the Draft Council Plan 2025-2029 to Strategy & Resources Committee
• Household Support Fund - Delivery Plan - Approved
  • Important funding for Food Banks and Community Hubs etc.
• Community Safety Partnership - Review & Refocus
  • Focus on ASB, VAWG and Community Cohesion
  • Powerful videos due on impact of ASB (featuring Rope Walk toilets) and knife crime
  • Funding concerns esp. from OPCC
• Resolved to support Dr Jenner House Museum's application for World Heritage Site status
• Stroud Funding round two open for applications
• Video recording

Other news 

• Local Government Reorganisation
  • Stroud District Council is working with Gloucestershire County Council and the other five districts to explore options for one or two unitary councils in the county, and for alignment with a new or existing strategic authority. We await details from Government of their proposed timeframe and tests for change to the current local government structures.  GAPTC will be part of discussions as part of the Place Model workstream looking at reorganisation for Gloucestershire.  
• We are set to invest more than £1million in extra improvements to our district.
• We asking for peoples’ views on a new policy which will ensure that equality, fairness, inclusion, and good relations are at the heart of everything it does. Consultation here.
• Museum in the Park reopens with its annual snowdrop celebration.
• Careline scam warning
• Work started on the site for eight homes for affordable rent Gloucester St/Bradley St.
• Public Notice - Audit of Accounts 2023/24

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

Update: 11th Feb. Added detail on 'tilted balance' and 'devolution'.

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