Column by the leader of Stroud District Council, Doina Cornell.

SUMMER is officially over and as autumn gets underway, we’re into a new cycle of committee meetings. First up is housing committee which met this week, with the adoption of the New Council Homes Strategy and Action Plan for 2020-2024. Affordable housing remains a key priority for the Council and this is even more important now as the economic downturn caused by the crisis will see many local people’s incomes suffer.

Despite the challenges of the last few months, we are seeing the Housing Team’s best year for delivery to date with completions of 196 units in total (against an average of 120 per annum), with a mixture of rented units and shared ownership. Of these, 10 were completed on a rural exception site.

The new build programme is continuing apace with new schemes due to come on track or about to apply for planning permission across the district, in Nailsworth, Eastington, Cashes Green, Cam and Dursley. In line with the council’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions, new properties will be built to a high environmental standard with a minimum SAP rating of 86.

As each year some homes are sold under the Right to Buy scheme, the council is also using right to buy receipts to purchase existing properties, for both permanent homes and for temporary accommodation. The Committee this week also considered a plan to be able to purchase more land, so as to bring even more homes on track.

The Council’s work on building and renovation also plays an important part in supporting our local economy, so it remains a top priority for us in the coming months. I am writing this column ahead of the announcement expected from Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday – any changes to Council services will be communicated fully via our website, press releases, email and social media channels.