STROUD District Council leader Geoff Wheeler keeps you up to date with what is happening at the council

Friday, September 25 – South West Councils, Taunton

A LARGE number of council leaders from across the region attended this briefing. Finances were at the top of the agenda. Local government employees have had salary increases below inflation. What will happen next year? Furthermore, the introduction of the government’s National Living Wage in April 2016 will mean that pay for many workers in the care sector will have to go up. Stroud District Council already pays the living wag to its staff and we don’t subcontract care services but for the county and unitary councils that do, there is great concern about the impact on finances when further funding cuts are expected.

Thursday, October 8 – Living Waterway Awards, Westminster

I’VE mentioned recently how the district’s £20m canal project, funded mainly by the Heritage Lottery Fund, SDC and the Cotswold Canals Trust, has been shortlisted for these awards. Whilst the canal restoration has won many awards in the past, this evening is seen as hugely important. A win in the Restoration and Historic Environment category will be a tremendous boost for the bid for more money from the Heritage Lottery Fund for the next phase. See canalrivertrust.org.uk

Thursday, October 15 – Council meeting, Ebley Mill, 7pm

A BUSY and varied agenda for tonight’s council meeting. Not surprisingly, the ‘We are Gloucestershire’ devolution bid will be considered, with the council looking at the work undertaken so far and how we intend to continue with the project with our partner authorities. Councillor Martin Whiteside has put forward a motion for the council to support the resettlement of refugees in the district and to provide Gloucestershire Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers with a grant of £5,000. Council tax recommendations will also need approved. There’s an item to increase the council tax charge to 150 per cent for some properties which have been empty for two years, and then there’s the issue of continuing our council tax support scheme., which ensures that those on benefit continue to receive it, despite the loss of funding support we receive from the government. Two licensing items also require rubber stamping by the council – one which covers our approach to gambling in the district and the other is a ‘statement of policy’ for activities relating to the sale of alcohol and entertainment. To watch the meeting live visit stroud.gov.uk/webcast