COLUMN BY Natalie Bennett, deputy leader of Stroud District Council. 

LAST week I attended the annual conference of the District Councils’ Network, where new national research “Districts Deliver” was launched.

A substantial proportion of people who took part in the research agreed that their district council understands the local area, has the interests of local people at heart and delivers services that matter to their residents.

Here in Stroud SDC News our annual council magazine is hitting the doormats of more than 54,000 households across the district and highlights the Council projects and services we are delivering for all our residents.

These align with the Council’s three main priorities: - Environment and Climate Change, Community Resilience and Wellbeing, and Economy, Recovery and Regeneration, as set out in our Council Plan that as politicians we created and are elected to deliver on to make Stroud a better place to live, work and visit.

SDC recently received the final report from the Local Government Association corporate peer challenge review panel.

I am pleased to say that their feedback was very positive about where we are as a Council.

The report stated that “Stroud is in many ways a unique place with a strong industrial heritage, but with a real focus on the future and ensuring both the development and sustainability of the district…

"The peer team found that what underpins all of this is strong partnerships between the council and its communities and both staff and council members who are real advocates for the council and the district.”

There will always be room for improvements, but I am proud to be part of the team that puts our communities first and provides services that make a difference to our residents across the district.

Many people in Stroud District are continuing to struggle with the ongoing cost-of-living crisis and information about support that could help you or someone you know can be found on our dedicated web page at www.stroud.gov.uk/costofliving.