The district was formed on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972. It covered the whole area of four former districts and parts of another three, which were all abolished at the same time:[2]
The new district was named Stroud after its largest town.[3]
Boundary reviews in 1991 saw the district gain the parish of Hillesley and Tresham from Northavon and cede the parish of Quedgeley to Gloucester.[4][5]
The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new arrangements took effect on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows:[10][11][12]
Of the independent councillors, four sit together as the "Community Independents" group, five form the "Independent Left" group and the other three are not aligned to any group. All the Community Independents and Independent Left councillors had been elected in 2021 as Labour councillors.[15][16] The council's administration is formed by a co-operative alliance of the Greens, Independent Left, Community Independents, Liberal Democrats and an independent (no group). In October 2023 a Labour Party councillor quit the party and joined the Independent Left political group.[17]
One of the Conservatives has left the party's group on the council whilst remaining a member of the party.[18] The next election is due in 2024.
Premises
The council is based at Ebley Mill in the parish of Cainscross, a suburban town adjoining the west side of the town of Stroud. The mill was built as a woollen mill in 1818 and is a grade II* listed building. It was converted to become the council's offices between 1987 and 1990.[19]
Since the last full review of boundaries in 2016 the council has comprised 51 councillors representing 27 wards, with each ward electing one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.[20]
The district is entirely covered by civil parishes. The parish councils for Berkeley, Cainscross, Dursley, Nailsworth, Stonehouse, Stroud and Wotton-under-Edge take the style "town council". Some of the smaller parishes have a parish meeting rather than a parish council.[21]
Notable Members of Stroud District Council (and predecessors)
Margaret Hills (née Robertson) was the first woman elected to Stroud Urban District Council in 1928.[22] where she stood as a representative of the Stroud Women's Citizens Association (SWCA).[23] She remained a member until 1936 when the council was expanded to cover Cainscross and Rodborough.[24]
David Drew is also a former member of the council originally representing the Stonehouse Ward and more recently the Paganhill and Farmhill Ward.[25]Tom Levitt is also a former member and served for a short time before moving to High Peak in the early 1990s.[26]
^Harrison, Stephen (30 April 1998). "Close contest as Labour battles to stay in control Voters across the Midlands go to the polls next Thursdaymay7. Today, Local Government Correspondent Stephen Harrison looks at the looming ballot battle in Gloucestershire". Birmingham Post. p. 4.
^"Council minutes". Stroud District Council. 22 July 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
