The impact

2030 strategy
(case study 1)

Given the plan was only adopted this year it is still early for the kind of significant results we are aiming to achieve however there are already some very clear impacts. These are a direct result of a clear and visible presence to the 2030 Strategy and Masterplan and a growing sense of engagement and ownership from all our directorates and services, from our communities and from our service delivery partners. Some early achievements include:

17 citizen led Climate Action Neighbourhoods

A Domestic Energy Efficiency Advice Service in place for 20 years and with our delivery partner success in bids to BEIS LAD 1 and 1a funds to support our vulnerable residents. In the last financial year alone, this service secured lifetime carbon savings of 1,657 tonnes through 72 installations across our District.

As a pathfinder for our heritage buildings, the Council owned Brimscombe Port Mill and will showcase Water Source Heat Pump technology at an investment of £1.4m.

Our canal regeneration work has involved over 500 volunteers and realised 100 nesting boxes, new wetland habitat, fish and eel passes to support migration to breeding grounds of the critically endangered European Eel and improved nature corridors across our district.

New build plans for our social housing are assessed to achieve Energy Performance Rating C exceeding national targets set for 2035 and will be EV ready and powered by PV.

Although not a transport authority we have completed 5.5 miles of fully accessible multi-use path and wildlife corridors, used by 250,000 people per year and have a strategy to do more.

6 electric vehicles and two e-cycles are now included in our small fleet and, with our waste partner the first electric refuse fleets are expected within 24 months/

In Autumn a new salary sacrifice scheme, similar to that already in use for bicycles will encourage our staff to make the switch to e-cars.

Our award-winning Rural Sustainable Drainage Systems became a National Government Case Study Exemplar this year. It involves working in partnership with 42 different landowners and includes 390 woody dams and 1,500 trees planted.

Our new project with Gloucestershire Community Energy Co-operative on our Independent Living Homes will demonstrate the benefits on our own buildings and attracting local investors to the share scheme is a great engagement route with huge co-benefits.

Our residents are in the nation’s top recyclers with more than 60% recycling rates here. More than 13,000 residents use the ‘Freegle’ initiative and have rehomed more than 31 tonnes of potential waste through this service.

Natural flood management scheme
(case study 2)

The Environment Agency document `National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy for England’ praises the Stroud Rural SuDS, claiming “a strong local, supportive partnership is a key strength of the project.”

Cllr Doina Cornell, Leader of Stroud District Council said: “The climate is changing very repidly due to the greenhouse gases already in the atmosphere, and adaption will be crucial part of the council's future plans, as we all need to be preparing for these changes in our climate. It is excellent news that great work from the community flood groups, Stroud District Council, the Environment Agency, Gloucestershire County Council and of course all the landowners who've bought into and supported it from the get go had been recognised as a national level.

It is worth noting that the Stroud natural flood management scheme is one of the most cost effective schemes in the UK."