Apols - I haven't been keeping blog up-to-date with Council and other stuff this week - here is an attempt to do a quick roundup with some of the meetings I've been to this week plus other news bits...
Snow - some 40 cars were still left up near Edge - abandoned last night after the snow came down - I love it - well when I don't have to get anywhere - and managed to even have a go sledging - very exciting! Got the sledge from a neighbours skip when they emigrated - it is brilliant despite not loads of snow (see photo)! However it meant I was already exhaused when it came to...
Ward newsletter delivery - I started delivery in Westrip and bits of Randwick of a ward newsletter - it takes some 16 hours to deliver to the whole ward - I managed a couple of hours today - and wow was it gorgeous - beautiful winter wonderland - the other parts of the ward will have to wait a little but if you want a pdf version let me know and I can send one. 
I wanted to write lots more but ended up rather throwing it together to meet printers deadline and also get it out with the Green party's newspaper - 'Green Around Stroud' - a couple of bits in there also about me but wanted to add more to explain in the section why I joined the Greens...anyhow perhaps more of that in another blog....Floods - some 35mm of rain and trains stopped, roads flooded and reports of homes getting hit again - locally in the ward no reports of sewage in the brook after the heavy rains - shows the work Severn Trent have done is working at the moment - but Puckshole Lane was a river again - water over welly height - luckily no cars parked there....meanwhile some 700 homes in Bisley, Painswick, Amberley and more have been without power today due to weather.
....plus I've reported the large tree lying across the Pipebridge over Ruscombe brook and a fence - it needs moving before too long otherwise it could damage the pipe or fence seriously.
Grit bins - most seem to have been OK and in action locally - although one in Bread Street seems to have disappeared (see photo)? I am also looking to get improvements to these ugly plastic barrels that are so tempting to vandals to tip over.Planning applications - this ward doesn't get so many contentious applications - other than of course the Ruscombe fields (click on landbanking label below) - I often have contact with various householders regarding applications - and not being on the Development Control Committee any longer I am able to get more involved - infact have been looking at three local applications recently - and I have to say I was very disappointed that residents objections were over-ruled last week regarding the proposed three-storey property off Upper Kitesnest Road - it is now set to go ahead.
Assault near Woodcutters Arms in Whiteshill - we are fortunate in this ward to have a low crime rate - there has recently been some damage to cars - this incident is out of the ordinary - it occurred 1.48am on New Year's Day - a 24year old was left with facial injuries - apparently there was a witness who is being urged to come forward although an arrest has already been made. Call Gloucestershire Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting incident number 167 of January 1st or ask to speak to an officer at Stroud Police Station.
Stroud Green party meeting - in Star Anise cafe on Wednesday night (I like the refit they have just done) and about 25 of us went through the monthly agenda - covering elections coming up in May - many candidates now selected and voted on - thankfully my seat is not up for another two years - anyhow we also looked at events, policies and lots more - would love to cover stuff here but a look at the Glos Green party website is a good way to see the issues we are looking at - County waste is a big issue (I'm helping draft a response at moment) and the Governments approval of nukes (see last blog entry) - mind lots of stuff coming up like Cheltenham Boroughs likely support for Staverton Airports expansion - Lib Dems are supporting it despite a national policy of no airport expansions - it makes no sense to me - see my letter already noted on this blog here. The Regional Spatial Strategy is out and needs a response - it has got lots of nonsense in it - plus on a more positive note is Stroud's Sustainable Communities consultation - here is a real chance to influence policy - again I'll be writing more in coming weeks.
Scrutiny meetings - Tuesday night three hours plus spent at Ebley Mill in the evening for a Scrutiny meeting - then nearly four hours on Thursday night for another Scrutiny - you can watch them on the Council website webcast system and minutes will soon be in the web - but to give a flavour here are some issues raised...the first meeting looked mainly at the budget - I enclose as an example a question from Cllr Martin Whiteside - the answer was mostly reassuring but for the roll-out of the Stanleys waste trial - I've covered on blog previously this trial and the need to expand it across the District - at last that looks set to happen - however it would appear that costings are still not clear! This is worrying.
The second scrutiny meeting looked at it in more details and also made a couple of important recommendations - firstly that the District should note the success of the trial blah blah - basically saying if we can reach such good recycling targets in such a short time we do not need to go for a monster incinerator which it would appear the County want - scroll down here previous blogs for more on this - especially letter on 10th December 2007. Secondly we've called on a Scrutiny committee to invite supermarket bosses to look at how they can cut packaging - an issue I have been on about for ages - previously I have been told that the cOuncil is doing that but in answer to several of my questions it became apparent that they have only spoken to the small Coop in relation to the Stanleys trial.
Another issue we looked at was Stratford Park leisure centre - customer numbers are up and I have seen an improvement in recent months - still needs work - one of the frustrations is to get them to do more re energy efficiency - because they only have a three year contract there is no incentive - Dursley pool in contrast is Council owned and now has a pool cover - why not Stroud - the most I got from my questioning was an agreement of a report to consider green measures. Anyhow I am more than happy to talk more if anyone is particularly interested or has thoughts on these issues or others....enough now - have had several other meetings with officers but more of that in future blogs - time for something to eat now!!
Green party question from Cllr Martin Whiteside: Whether the funds allocated are sufficient to meet all the 2008/09 outcomes committed to in the SDC Environmental Strategy (including pro-rata targets if the outcome commitment is beyond 2008/09)?
Here is the answer given: Sufficient resources have been set aside to deliver the ‘immediate priority actions’ set out on pages 4, 7, 9, 12 and 13 of the Strategy. Any variations in delivery timescales will be set out in the Corporate Delivery Plan 9-month update being reported to Cabinet on January 31. In terms of the Council’s performance targets (main outcomes) there are 8 set out in the Strategy. It should also be noted that there are 8 ‘Community Aspiration’ targets which are not dealt with here as they are subject to long-term monitoring. The following summarises current progress in terms of the Council’s performance targets. Sufficient resources are currently available in each case and any potential risks in terms of a requirement for significant additional resources in the future are identified.
- (Page 5) By 2010 all households in the District will have a convenient and easy-to-use collection services, enabling them to recycle and compost at least 70% of their rubbish. The exact resource needs and timescales for implementation will be dependent on the outcomes from the evaluation of the Stanley’s Waste Trial (due to take place in the summer of 08) and discussions concerning the Joint Municipal Waste Strategy. The financial implications will need to be clarified during the winter 2008/08 budget cycle. It should be noted that an initial £525k was set aside in last years budget for this purpose.
- (Page 8) To reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the council’s direct operations (electricity, heating and transport) by a minimum of 3% per annum. The Council is currently developing a carbon footprint. The estimated net carbon dioxide emissions for 2006/07 are set out below and have been calculated using current DEFRA guidance. All figures are subject to confirmation.
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