Tuesday, June 28
Housing Committee, 7pm, Ebley Mill

THE first meeting of this committee had a packed agenda covering finances, tenant involvement, and a look at the council’s housing assets which include homes, flats, garages, shops, and play areas.

We often talk about assets and finances, as we obviously need to provide value for money services but we need to remember that all of our work is ultimately about people.

The new approach to improving how we can engage with more of our tenants and the discussion and debate on how we are modernising our sheltered housing schemes showed this very clearly.

In fact, one of our sheltered housing managers even received a round of applause from the committee when she fed back on how staff were working closely with elderly tenants to relocate them to new properties.

In a world of Twitter, Facebook and email it showed how making the time and putting in the effort for proper, one to one communication can make a real difference

You can view a recording of the meeting online at stroud.gov.uk/webcasts


Thursday, June 30
Gloucester City Council

A meeting with Paul James and Jon McGinty, leader and managing director of Gloucester City Council respectively.

Sharing a common boundary, we looked at various issues including housing, infrastructure and transport.

Whilst our local plan has been adopted, the Joint Core Strategy of Gloucester, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury borough is currently undergoing inspection with the government’s planners.

These critical plans will mean that we will need to work together very closely over the next few years.


Friday, July 1
Somme Commemorations

The alarm was sounded at Ebley Mill at 7.28 to start the two minutes’ silence in remembrance of those who served at the Battle of the Somme 100 years ago.

Whilst I joined the local community to pay my respects at King’s Stanley war memorial, Cllr Chas Townley laid a wreath on behalf of the council and the people of the district at the Theipval Monument in France where 70,000 British and Commonwealth soldiers with no known grave are commemorated.


Monday, July 4
Food Safety Week

Reducing food waste is the theme of this year’s food safety week. We’ve posted  information at stroud.gov.uk/foodwasteweek2016


Saturday, July 9
Leonard Stanley Village Fair, 12.30pm-4pm

Just a gentle plug for my local village fair where I’ll be on hand helping the local scouts.

A bouncy castle, football tournament, children’s entertainment and a slow bicycle race are just some of the activities that will be laid on, and there’s even a ‘Scruffs’ competition for local dogs.

There will be plenty of food and drink too. The only thing we need now is for the rain to hold off!

Find out more at leonardstanley.org.uk