STROUD District Council leader Steve Lydon keeps you up to date with council matters

SDC has a committee system for agreeing policy and conducting business. The papers for each meeting are available to view and the meetings can be watched, all via the council’s website.

Two of the committees have met recently and below is my summary of some of the topics discussed.

Community services and licensing committee (September 8)

Stroud Taxi Association has requested a rise in the district’s taxi rates; the proposal appears to be a significant increase, therefore a Task & Finish Group has been created to investigate this, and recommendations will be made at the December committee meeting.

PCC Martin Surl delivered his annual report. Interestingly he spoke about the government’s idea that commissioners may take on the responsibility of the Fire Service and Youth Justice Martin’s colleague Richard Bradley also attended to outline the review of county community safety which is to be published next month. Part of this review includes an option to set up a County Community Safety Department. SDC will certainly have a view on such an organisation being formed.

The new Youth Strategy for 2017-20 was accepted by the committee.

Environment committee (September 15)

The Warm & Well programme, which provides free, impartial energy advice has been massively successful, drawing almost £30 million of outside funding into Gloucestershire. The work has been carried out by Severn Wye energy agency up till now but the future will see it go to tender. Several bodies are interested in continuing the work which is great, however The County Council have decided to withdraw their £92,000 worth of funding. The programme will continue, although at a reduced rate, so at a time when more people are sinking into fuel poverty fewer will be helped. The Warm & Well website is well worth a look for energy advice – warmandwell.co.uk The committee approved a sustainability checklist for local developers of housing and other new buildings which will now go out for consultation. It is important that developers consider the checklist issues as early as possible in order to incorporate provision for sustainability into their designs. This approach should ensure viability for sustainability solutions and avoid the need for costly late-stage design alterations. Additionally it provides a range of options of how sustainable construction and design can be delivered. In this way the checklist should enable a smooth process between the expectations of planning and building regulations by taking a more holistic approach to the development process. Early decisions about sustainable construction and design of new buildings can reduce energy use, conserve water and assist in the recycling of materials together with supporting healthier lifestyles.