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

Stroud District Council is committed to a fast paced target of carbon neutrality by 2030. Meeting this ambitious objective will need everyone in the Stroud district to be involved. To this end the council has now published a draft 2030 Strategy and Master Plan. The proposed 2030 Strategy seeks to address the Climate and Ecological Emergency that is already upon us – to protect our District’s character and our communities.

You can view the 2030 Strategy and Masterplan, take part in a survey and find out how to register for a webinar at: stroud.gov.uk/draft2030strategy

The online events will include webinars for public sector organisations and Town and Parish Councils, and also events open for registrations by anyone.

The events include: Open events - 10th November, 10am - 12noon; 19th November 6pm - 8pm. / Community, Youth and Education event - 4 November, 4:30pm - 6.30pm / Climate Action Groups, 12 November, 6pm - 8pm / Business and Agriculture, 18-Nov, 8.30am - 10.30am.

I’m also pleased to say that Stroud District Council has been working with community groups to ensure that families whose children normally receive free school meals won’t go hungry during the Autumn half term holiday.

Covid has hit some families much harder than others, so making sure local kids have a decent meal can make all the difference to young lives.

With Halloween coming up, on Sunday 1 November Stroud Valleys Project and the Museum in the Park have a Self-Guided Autumn Tree Trail & Pumpkins in the Park event for families. Please book at: museuminthepark.org.uk.

And if you are carving a pumpkin, think about how you can bake the pumpkin flesh. One pumpkin in landfill is equal to 2.5 kg of greenhouse gases, and if 400 families compost or bake their pumpkins it stops 1 ton of carbon entering the atmosphere.