Stroud
District Councillors’ Report
Stroud
District Councillors’ Report
Stroud District Council.
You will be aware that we have already appointed 3 new Strategic Directors to head up our forward-looking Council, it its aim to become ‘exemplar’. For several reasons, the appointment of the 4th was cancelled and it was advertised. There were 13 candidates and 7 of these attended a preliminary interview session at Ebley Mill on 25th November. Today (2nd December) we read through all the CV’s and background information on the candidates and selected 4 for full interview, which will be held on 16th December. Again, we have some high calibre candidates and we are confident that one of them will fit the new senior management team we are creating to support our new CEO, Kathy O’Leary. (Cllr Tucker)
Community Services and Licencing Committee - Cllr Tucker. 28th November 2019
The Committee reviewed SDC’s Youth Work Strategy for 2020-2024. We received an excellent presentation by members of the Stroud District Youth Council, to hear what their needs and expectations are in the support of our teenagers. The proposals were accepted, but it is expected that a full review of youth service provision will be held during this period.
The CS&L Revenue estimates for 2019-20 were presented and are roughly in line with expectation.
The CS&L Budget Monitoring Report, covering General Fund, Revenues and Benefits and Capital Expenditure Programmes were also presented. Again, these were very close to predictions.
Each year, SDC makes grants available to local causes and charities, which is known as the ‘Community Grant Scheme’. The Stroud CAB receives £120,000, about one third of the total. There are some anomalies in the grant allocation system and councillors have requested that there is a full review in 2020, before further grants are made.
Several member and internal/external reports covering a wide range of were received and discussed.
Investment & Development Panel - Cllr Tucker. 25th November 2019.
SDC’s I&DP met to discuss the progress of the proposed environmental and engineering infrastructure works to support the necessary canal basin project, as well as the proposed housing and community building on the Brimscombe Port site. The final selection criteria for each of the contractor bids were approved and also the weightings given to each of the various sections of potential contracts. Following final cost approval at Full Council, contracts will be invited in the New Year.
SDC Finance Future Investment Advisory Group (Cllr Tucker) – 6 Nov
The final meeting of the Investment Advisory Group was held on 6th November. Members had previously received presentations from a number of investment groups covering two different aspects. One a straightforward investment in Unit Trusts/Share portfolio etc and the other in property investments. A number of ethical restraints were placed on companies and selections were previously presented to us that mainly met these criteria. Following lengthy discussions, the seemingly ‘best’ offering in each of the two groups was agreed. To widen our portfolio, some smaller investments in those companies that came second are also under consideration, all of which will all be ratified at December’s Full Council.
Meetings attended in November – Cllr Tucker.
4 Nov North Nibley Parish Council.
5 Nov Alliance Leader’s meeting.
6 Nov SDC Finance Workshop.
12 Nov Meeting on Rough Sleeping awareness.
12 Nov Housing Review Panel.
13 Nov SDC Group Leader’s meeting.
14 Nov 1-2-1 Feedback session with CEO.
15 Nov Meeting the bin men at Dryleaze at 0630 to check collection quality.
18 Nov Walkabout at Dryleaze with SDC officers and residents.
18 Nov Wotton Town Council meeting.
19 Nov Attended Planning Committee site visit in Wotton.
21 Nov SDC Cultural Awareness Training.
25 Nov Investment & Development Panel meeting.
26 Nov Panel member at Licencing Appeal Hearing.
26 Nov Debrief for forthcoming Strategy & Resources Committee meeting.
27 Nov Political Group Leader’s meeting.
28 Nov Met with SDC officers at Dryleaze to try and resolve refuse problems.
28 Nov Community Services & Licencing Committee.