24th January 2007

There will be an increase of less than four pence a week for the average householder in central Stroud, after councillors unveiled its £1.4 million spending plans for the next three years. At its full meeting Stroud Town Council approved a budget featuring 14 new projects for this year including new energy efficiency measures.

It comes with a below-inflation increase of around 2.7 per cent for Council Taxpayers in April. But levies from Stroud District Council, Gloucestershire County Council and Gloucestershire Police Authority have yet to be added to make up people's total bills. Those charges have not yet been set, but are expected to be 2.5 per cent extra for the district and 3.4 per cent more for the county.

The 18-member town council's spending plans include action to improve the town's footpath network and to protect local green spaces, as well a support for community groups and festivals.

There is £10,000 for a feasibility study into providing a new athletics track at Stratford Park and up to £65,000 towards tackling public concern about litter and illegal parking.

As the country's only Green Party- run town council, the environment is also a priority, with members keen to pioneer new grassroots initiatives to help tackle climate change.

Starting next spring, the council will run projects to promote energy- efficient products and to provide energy-saving advice to help households reduce emissions and save money into the bargain. The council has recently been given new powers allowing it to help Stroud make the shift to a low-carbon economy.

Cllr Dave Cockcroft, who is proposing the new initiative, said: "We hope this will be the start of some joined-up work by all levels of government so everyone can do their bit to avert the worse effects of climate change."

We are encouraged by SDC's progress towards a new environment strategy and hope to be able to work closely with them in the future."

The council will soon be assessing its own energy use and making savings and efficiency improvements where possible.

There will also be £25,000 towards improving threatened local green spaces, £60,000 for traffic calming schemes in Folly Lane and Paganhill Lane, funding for the Stroud Fringe and the Textile Festival and more than £30,000 of support to local community groups, including The Space, The Door and the CAB.