Stroud District Council has approved a budget that will invest in communities, tackle the climate emergency, cut tenants’ fuel bills, support the local economy, and invest in health and wellbeing.
New budget items include extra funding to replace diesel waste and recycling vehicles with electric versions, supporting the purchase of temporary accommodation to prevent homelessness, more resource to support climate change projects, retrofitting council homes to improve energy performance, a new play area strategy including capital investment, and a new tourism post to support our market towns.
Council Leader Doina Cornell said after the last full council meeting where the budget was approved: “We know that our residents, businesses and communities are counting on us more than ever before and this budget addresses our priorities as laid out in our new Council Plan of Environment and Climate Change, Community Resilience and Wellbeing, and Economy, Recovery and Regeneration.”
An average council tax rise of less than 10p per week per household was approved, which means an increase of 2.3% by £5 to £222.52 at Band D. Although Stroud District Council bills residents, most of the bill is paid out to Gloucestershire County Council, with police and parish or town councils also getting a share.
The budget will help pay for key services which residents rely on including waste and recycling, planning, environmental health, parking, parks and recreation, leisure centres, The Museum in the Park, canal restoration, animal welfare, benefits administration and advice, elections, youth work, upkeep of open spaces including Selsley Common and Cam Peak and Long Down upkeep, plus licensing and flood management.
Stroud District Council and the district itself were again rated well above the national average in the most recent independently conducted residents and businesses satisfaction survey.
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