By Cllr Chris Brine

 

COMMUNITY Services and Licensing Committee meets on Thursday, December 1, with a wide variety of agenda items which affect many people in different ways.

The committee will consider reports on issues relating to taxis and private hire vehicles – CCTV inside vehicles and rules on emissions, Woodchester Mansion, the Museum in the Park, and Stroud Lido to name a few.

The results of the survey on whether there are local circumstances that would make it proportionate to impose mandatory CCTV in Stroud licensed taxi and private hire vehicles will be up for debate, and the committee will be asked to consider an Interim Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Emissions Policy ahead of formal consultation.

The Museum in the Park’s annual report shows that more than 31,000 visitors walked through the door between April and October this year, and although that is down on pre-pandemic figures, there are signs of recovery.

A report on Stroud Lido’s summer season and plans for the future will also be considered, as will an update from Woodchester Mansion from Councillor Steve Robinson. Woodchester Park is owned by the National Trust, but the Mansion and 23 acres of land around it are owned by Stroud District Council and managed by Woodchester Mansion Trust. Trustees were grateful for an SDC grant to towards the improvements to the North Range, and tours for visually impaired people are being developed.

The meeting can be watched online or members of the public are welcome to attend and observe as well. The full agenda can be viewed from: www.stroud.gov.uk/council-and-democracy

As we head in to the last month of the year, Goodwill season is upon us and Friday (December 2) sees Stroud Goodwill evening take place with entertainment on the Subscription Room forecourt from 5.30pm followed by a lantern procession. And from 3.30pm on Saturday, Stonehouse Goodwill Fest will see street entertainers and donkeys as well as live music and food in the High Street.

These events and many other similar ones around the district are a great tradition – please do support them if you can.

Finally, this week bookings open for the The Holiday Activity Fund (HAF) programme in the run-up to Christmas - children and young people who receive free school meals have opportunities to be entertained, active, educated, safe and fed, funded by the Department for Education. Full details will be on our social media channels and website.