The leader of Stroud District Council, Doina Cornell, keeps you up to date with council matters.

Like so many others across the world I joined the climate strike last week, first stopping by Ebley Mill to plant a symbolic cherry tree. It’s symbolic because it’s the first of many we will be planting on Stroud District Council land as part of our strategy to become a carbon neutral district by 2030.

At the Strategy & Resources Committee (S&R) on 3 October members will hear details of our plans to use five acres of council land near Salmon Springs, in Stroud, to plant a woodland. This has the potential to offset carbon emissions, enrich biodiversity and reduce local flooding. SDC owns pockets of land across the district which we’ll be reviewing for similar opportunities. If you own land that might be suitable for woodland planting then email estates.admin@stroud.gov.uk.

The S&R committee will hear proposals to make compulsory purchase orders for land along the canal corridor to ensure we get the land we need to deliver the canal project successfully.

Our green spaces are essential and therefore I welcome the detailed study of Green Infrastructure, as well as an audit of playing fields and facilities across the district that has just been completed and will inform the new Local Plan. There is an incredible variety of sports and activity going on, do take a look on our website at the maps of your area, and importantly it also shows where the shortfalls are which will help inform investment that is needed.

Owning an empty property is estimated to cost up to £10,000 a year in loss of rent, maintenance costs, insurance and Council Tax, so on Empty Homes Week it’s timely to remind people that SDC can offer interest free loans of up to £15,000 to bring an empty property back into use for affordable rented housing. Email environmental.health@stroud.gov.uk.

As the autumn rains set in, we need to keep ourselves active - I’ve just heard the welcome news that Dursley will soon have its own boules court – perhaps a game will remind us of sunnier climes and lazy summer days!

Finally, good luck to all the participants in Sunday’s Five Valleys Walk in aid of Meningitis Now, and of course thank you to the many fantastic volunteers who make the event happen. I’m still out of action due to an injury to my Achilles tendon, but I’ll be there in spirit.