Cllr Gareth Kitchen

Stroud District Council passes Green budget

February 21, 2026•915 words

Stroud District Council passes Green budget that ‘invests fairly in the whole District’

Summary

The Green-led administration at Stroud District Council has passed an “investment budget” for Stroud District, balancing the challenge of cuts in government funding with an ambitious programme that puts over £4.6million in council priorities and new measures across the district.

Detail

The Green-led administration at Stroud District Council last night (Thursday February 19) passed an “investment budget” for Stroud District, balancing the challenge of cuts in government funding with an ambitious programme that puts over £4.6million in council priorities and new measures across the district.

The budget was proposed in the context of last-minute changes to the financial settlement, which will significantly reduce Government funding to district councils like Stroud from April 2027 onwards, along with reductions in funding from business rates, which are also decided nationally.

Councillors noted that it was impossible to confidently plan for the future when the Government changed its mind on council funding just days before five-year budgets were finalised.

Alongside the budget, the council approved the updated Council Plan, a revised blueprint for council priorities and objectives.

The plan outlines the Council’s commitment to supporting communities, addressing inequalities, protecting and enhancing the environment, strengthening the local economy, and improving affordable and social housing provision. The Council Plan and budget priorities also emphasise the importance of strong local partnerships and the need to prepare for forthcoming local government reorganisation.

Commenting, Cllr Chloe Turner (Green, Minchinhampton) said: “This is a budget that considers the needs and ambitions of our whole district. On top of the valued local services that the council already provides, this budget will see positive and targeted investments into our communities. This includes: grant funding for cultural activities and small projects, investment in the wonderful Museum in the Park, and continued support for our work on tourism and the local economy, to bring in spending to the district’s businesses. This year, we’ve also stepped up our investment in social and affordable homes, supporting community-level walking and cycling projects, and through our new and ambitious climate and nature strategy, we’ll be adapting to the changing climate, which studies show will affect communities right across our district.”

Cllr Turner noted: “Some council services will see significant new spending, for example, on our work to meet the Government’s latest planning rules with a new local plan, but not all new areas of spend come with a big price tag. By working in partnership and providing match-funding contributions, we can unlock additional investment and contribute towards positive change in our communities, as we have done with the Stroudfunding scheme to help local fundraising projects.”

Commenting, Stroud District Council Deputy Leader Catherine Braun (Green, Wotton-Under-Edge) said: “Fairness is at the heart of our budget, and we are committed to making sure that residents’ cost-of-living concerns are addressed with support available to anyone who needs it. We have reaffirmed our commitment to the Council Tax Support Scheme, which currently helps more than 5,000 low-income households in Stroud district by reducing their council tax bill by up to 100%.”

Cllr Braun added: “For the year ahead, we’ve committed £1.3million to community services, health and wellbeing and community safety initiatives, as we know how important these services are for residents. This includes support to the community hubs, and the district’s front-line community officers, who are out and about daily, assisting parishes, the police and local organisations to resolve local concerns. We will also be continuing our commitment to youth services, so that the voices of young people are also heard in council decision-making.”

As part of the budget setting, the council also agreed its ‘Housing Revenue Account’, which will see the council continuing to invest in its large and growing council housing stock. The budget confirmed a 4.8% increase in social and affordable rents in line with national guidance, supporting an average weekly rent of £111.62. This is alongside a five-year capital programme that prioritises major works, heating and electrical upgrades, damp and mould remediation, fire and water safety, and a new asset management IT system.

The housing budget also backs vital service enhancements to meet new regulatory standards, including Awaab’s Law and strengthened consumer regulations, while progressing regeneration and new homes schemes in Nupend – near Stonehouse – and Dursley and additional funding of £5million per year to investment in acquisitions.

Commenting, the Chair of the Housing Committee, Cllr Gary Luff (Green, Painswick), said: “We are really proud of the District’s social housing, and I am delighted that the council has committed to investing a further £9.9million in new council homes for next year. Nationally, Stroud District is in the top 30 council house builders in the country, building more council homes than Manchester. Over the next year, we’ll also be continuing the programme to modernise our independent living schemes for older people. Our Tenant Support Fund remains available to help those who are struggling to cope with housing cost increases, and we will be putting additional funding to support the homeless, given the increasing challenges that people face finding somewhere affordable to live.”

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