Column by the leader of Stroud District Council, Doina Cornell.

August is traditionally a quieter month for the council with less formal meetings taking place, so it’s been good to have a chance to pause and take stock before the autumn.

Ebley Mill is fully set up to be a Covid-compliant building, so staff who are able to can come back to work in the Mill, while those who can still work well from home will continue to do so.

Access to advice and services is essential, and those residents most in need have continued to receive this all through the crisis, but plans are also being made to re-open the Mill reception area safely.

Dog fouling and planning are on the agenda for this week’s Environment Committee. Last year the committee agreed to consult on extending existing Public Spaces Protection Orders relating to dog control for 3 years from 20th October 2020.

The consultation also asked for views on whether an amendment should be made to remove canal towpaths and cycle tracks from the specified areas where dogs should be kept on leads. Public responses were not in favour of this, so the proposals are to keep the orders unchanged.

The Committee will also hear a report from the Planning Review Panel around progress on the review of our Local Plan, as well as the Government’s proposed changes to planning regulations. SDC will compile a formal response to the current consultation, as the proposals if adopted could see some profound changes to the way planning permission is given.

Last but by no means least, the Committee is set to consider a motion to propose SDC supports the re-opening of the railway station at Stonehouse on the Bristol-Birmingham line.

You can find the Committee papers and the link to the public You Tube channel here: stroud.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/meetings/environment-committee/environment-committee-03-september-2020