17/08/2026
From the Mayor's blog... ๐ฃ๏ธ
As discussed in previous columns, elections for Gloucestershire's new โโunitary authorityโโ will take place next May. By May 2028, that council will have replaced both Gloucestershire County Council and Stroud District Council, bringing the biggest change to local government in a generation.
Where similar reorganisations have happened elsewhere, town councils have often found themselves taking on services and assets previously managed by larger councils. That's why Stroud Town Council is already preparing, looking at how we can help protect the parks, leisure facilities, public toilets and other services that matter most to our community.
Last week, members of our staff team visited Yeovil Town Council in Somerset, which went through the same process three years ago. We are extremely grateful for the time their staff spent sharing their experiences and giving us advice as we begin our journey.
Following Somerset's reorganisation in 2023, Yeovil Town Council was given the opportunity to take on a wide range of local assets, including the beautiful Yeovil Country Park, which covers 157 acres; Yeovil Recreation Centre, with its golf course, Olympic-sized athletics arena, football pitches, tennis courts and amazing play area; and Westlands Entertainment Centre, including full-sized theatre, bar/cafรฉ and meeting rooms. Their unitary was under severe financial pressure and the town council had only a limited time to decide what they wanted to rescue before some services faced closure or mothballing.
Community involvement was key, and Yeovil now works with around 90 volunteers across its expanded range of services and assets. Without this support, Yeovilโs highly-valued local facilities would simply not be the thriving successes they are today.
Yeovilโs experience also highlighted the importance of having a balanced mix of assets. Income from facilities such as cafรฉs, bars and cultural venues can help fund important community services that do not generate much income, such as community centres, parks and leisure facilities. Yeovil Town Council increased council tax to take on assets and services, but income from these assets helped keep the increase low. Residents supported the decision because they recognised the value of keeping these assets under local ownership. Of course, as in Stroud, those most economically vulnerable are exempt from council tax and therefore were not expected to contribute towards the increase.
For Stroud, the message from Yeovil is encouraging. The reorganisation of our councils will undoubtedly mean challenges, difficult choices and a great deal of work. But it also creates opportunities to bring decisions closer to local people and strengthen local control over the places and services we value.
Last year, Stroud Town Council made a formal commitment to working closely with our community. As plans for our reorganisation develop, we'll be asking you what matters most to you in Stroud, and your guidance will help us prioritise.
If there was one piece of advice from Yeovil that summed everything up, it was this: be brave, be prepared, and help shape the future you want, rather than waiting for someone else to shape it for you.
