Wotton under Edge Town Council is developing its priorities for the next five years and we need to know what matters most to our residents. These priorities will guide what the Town Council decides which projects and services to support.
WOTTON UNDER EDGE TOWN COUNCIL Future Vision & Strategy Resident Survey – June 2025
The Government has launched a Local Government Review (also known as Devolution) which would mean that Gloucestershire County Council and Stroud District Council will be replaced by a unitary model (to be proposed in November 2025) however this could mean an opportunity for Parish and Town Councils to take on some of their facilities and services.
Services Currently Provided by County and District Councils:
- County Councils
(like Gloucestershire) typically handle:
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- Education (schools, etc.)
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- Highways and transport (roads, public transport)
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- Social care (adult and children’s services)
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- Strategic planning (county-wide plans)
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- Waste disposal
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- Libraries
- District Councils
(like Stroud) typically handle:
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- Local planning (building applications, etc.)
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- Waste collection (rubbish and recycling)
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- Environmental health
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- Housing
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- Leisure and recreation facilities (parks, sports centres)
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- Council Tax collection
Potential Services for a Town Council:
- Waste and Recycling Collection: Taking over some responsibility for household waste and recycling from the District Council.
- Local Planning Applications: Reviewing and deciding on planning applications for smaller developments within the town.
- Parks and Open Spaces: Managing and maintaining local parks, green spaces, and playgrounds.
- Street Cleaning and Maintenance: Sweeping streets, emptying bins, and general upkeep of public spaces.
- Environmental Health: Investigating local issues like noise complaints, food hygiene, and public health nuisances.
- Community Safety: Working with local police and other agencies to address crime and anti-social behaviour.
- Leisure and Cultural Facilities: Managing local leisure centres, community halls, museums, art centres, and libraries.
- Community Support Services: Potentially taking on some responsibility for services for vulnerable residents, such as meals on wheels or community transport (although this may be more likely to be part of a wider unitary authority’s responsibilities).
- Housing: In some cases, Town Councils might take on a role in managing local housing needs.
- Local Highways and Transport: Depending on the level of devolution from a new unitary authority, the Town Council could potentially take on some responsibility for local roads and transport.
- Local Economic Development: Supporting local businesses and promoting the town as a place to live, work and visit; tourism.
The Town Council currently is completing the following projects in 2025/26:
- Town Hall and Chipping Hall major repairs
- New car park off Symn Lane once developer completes works to standard
- Refurbishment of Symn Lane play area
- Old Town Toilets demolition and newbuild
- Youth Service procurement
- Vitalisation of the town
- Business planning
- Website upgrade
The Town Council needs to know what residents want to focus on over the next 5 years, for example:
- Climate change and increasing biodiversity
- Improving quality and quantity of our public spaces and parks
- Supporting businesses and the vibrancy of the town
- Supporting community groups and volunteers
- Developing our community assets and services
However, residents may have other priorities, and we need to hear these from you.
We also want to hear what you think of the Town Council and what stops you being a Town Councillor. We need your views to improve our services and the way we work.
Please complete our survey using the following link and share your thoughts, it is being independently run and managed, your views are anonymised:
WOTTON UNDER EDGE TOWN COUNCIL Future Vision & Strategy Resident Survey – June 2025
Paper copies are also available in the Civic Centre.
The survey closes on 31st August 2025.
If you have any queries, please email: clerk@wotton-under-edge.com