Local elections 2024: List of candidates competing for a seat on Stroud District Council
Voters in Stroud district head to the polls on Thursday (May 2) to elect their representatives on the District Council.
All 51 seats at Ebley Mill are up for grabs at the which is currently led by a co-operative alliance of the Green, Independent Left, Community Independent and Liberal Democrat Groups.
Going into the elections, the Conservatives have 18 seats, the Greens 14, there are four Community Independents, four Independent Left councillors, four Labour members, three Liberal Democrats and two non-specified councillors. There is also a vacant seat in Nailsworth due to the death of much-respected Norman Kay in December last year.
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Each of the main parties and groups have set out below the reasons why they believe people should vote for them on May 2.
Community Independents
Stroud District Community Independents is a network of community leaders and independent councillors, who practise politics based on kindness, compassion and common decency.
We're not politically led and we aren't told what to do, say or think by any national political party. We do not serve the interests of others, only our communities.
We have chosen not to field candidates for every ward in Stroud as other groups have done. We don't agree with this practice which leads to increased hostility between political parties and instead we choose to put forward people who we know will give everything to their communities in wards close to where they actually live.
We have four candidates standing: Charlie Mitchell in Cainscross, Thea Pilikian in Stroud Slade and Helen Elliott-Boult and Robin Layfield in Rodborough.
If you want to elect someone who cares about what you think more than what's being shouted about in the newspapers then vote for us.
Conservative Party
We urge residents of the Stroud District to cast their votes in favour of your hard working local Conservative candidates in the forthcoming elections.
Over 12+ years, Stroud has experienced the challenges of governance under a fragmented coalition. This has resulted in missed opportunities for vital funding, exemplified by the loss of over £16 million in Levelling Up Funding due to administrative inefficiencies. Moreover, the local planning process, lacking resident input, has faced significant setbacks, including a ten-month pause prompted by fundamental concerns from planning inspectors.
The coalition of Greens, independent groups elected as Labour councillors, and the Liberal Democrats has failed to provide cohesive leadership or tangible progress.
By electing Conservatives, Stroud stands to benefit from:
· Promoting business growth and fostering supportive environments.
· Ensuring sound financial management.
· Facilitating the development of purpose-built housing in suitable locations.
· Enhancing community involvement in the planning process.
· Strengthening collaborative ties with neighboring authorities for mutually beneficial outcomes.
Green Party
The Green Party is growing, with more councillors than ever before in Stroud District. Stroud Greens have a practical vision of positive change, based on the Greens’ commitment to investing in communities, our shared environment, and the local economy.
This builds on many years of Green councillors’ experience at the District Council, and the past two years that we’ve been leading it. Green councillors put social justice, nature and the climate crisis at the heart of everything we do.
We thrive on collaborative working, with many of our biggest achievements securing backing from all the political parties. We have a plan to build more energy-efficient council homes, to support training for new jobs in the renewable energy and building sectors, to invest in market towns, to develop health and wellbeing services, to support cultural activities and to renew play areas, amongst other things.
If you like our manifesto, please join us!
Labour Party
Voters will have a full slate of Labour candidates on ballot papers, whichever ward they are in, for the first time in over 20 years.
Labour has outlined a programme of work they plan to implement if they win control. They plan to reduce energy bills through new sustainable, locally owned, community energy schemes. Work is already underway thanks to an expert team pulled together by Dr Simon Opher, Labour’s MP candidate and local GP.
Labour has also pledged to work with tenant groups in the Stroud District, making community engagement a priority, and work to bring all social and private rented homes up to a good living standard. Labour has successfully worked with Community Land Trusts to build more affordable homes and plans to continue this work to help to reduce the housing waiting list.
If elected, Labour councillors plan to maintain free car parking where it already exists, and review parking charges in Stroud town.
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats exist to build a fair, free and open society in which no-one is enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity. In very tough times, now more than ever people deserve A Fair Deal.
When budgets are tight it’s more important than ever that local residents are championed at Stroud District Council. Liberal Democrat Councillors fight to retain all the amenities and services that make each community, whether village or town, across the District such special places to live.
In these elections Liberal Democrats stand for:
A cleaner, safer environment
Improved roads and local transport networks
Better, more accessible local health services
A vibrant and sustainable local economy in every community
When elected our councillors have a track record of successfully fighting to keep local bus services and other community assets, of road safety initiatives, and of responding effectively to individual resident issues. Liberal Democrats get things done, for all of us.
Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) is standing 279 candidates across 55 authorities, including four candidates in the Stroud District in May’s elections in England. Every TUSC candidate is committed to stand up to the establishment parties, including Reform, who have all shown themselves to be virtually indistinguishable when it comes to representing the interests of working class people – in domestic policy and foreign policy too.
We believe we need a new political party to represent the interests of ordinary working class people. The TUSC core policy platform for our 2024 council candidates is that every one of them will be a stop the cuts and stop the war candidate in the May 2nd polls.
We oppose austerity, the cuts and privatisations that are destroying our public services and causing widespread poverty. This economic crisis is the result of the greed of the wealthiest 1 per cent and their representatives in all the main political parties.
Stroud District Council election candidates by ward
Amberley and Woodchester
Canning, Sarah - Green Party
Chisholm, Colin - Conservative Party
Williams, Lesley - Labour and Co-operative Party
Berkeley Vale
Ashton, Liz - Labour Party
Cutcher, Martyn - Green Party
Easby, Nick - Liberal Democrats
Green, Lindsey Jane - Conservative Party
Hilliard, Bob - Green Party
Lydon, Steve - Labour Party
Medley, Susie - Green Party
Smith, Jo - Labour Party
Tuffin, Charles James - Conservative Party
Turner, Paul - Conservative Party
Bisley
Brown, Martin Andrew - Green Party
Davies, Stephen - Conservative Party
Hughes, Neil William - Labour Party
Rhys Jones, Rod - Liberal Democrats
Cainscross
Crews, Kate - Green Party
Dahdouh, Fraser - Labour Party
Matthes, Dave - Labour Party
McClafferty, Gavin - Green Party
Mitchell, Charlie - Independent
Mossman, Alan - Green Party
Pickering, Donna - Conservative Party
Richards, Sue - Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
Stanley, Elizabeth Ross - Labour Party
Whitehead, Adam Ashley - Conservative Party
Williams, George - Conservative Party
Cam East
Bonallack, Anna - Green Party
Gray, Victoria Elizabeth - Conservative Party
Hamilton, Ian - Labour Party
Hill, Milly - Labour Party
Naumann, Steven Cherknocke - Green Party
Tipper, Brian - Conservative Party
Wilsher, Richard Christopher - Liberal Democrats
Cam West
Baxter, Bridget - Conservative Party
Bywater, Ben - Green Party
Evans, Christopher David - Conservative Party
Haynes, Chris - Labour Party
Kinnison, Terri - Labour Party
Pickering, Sally - Green Party
Wilsher, Rhianna Sian - Liberal Democrats
Chalford
Boyle, James - Green Party
Fearnley-Whittingstall, Gail Ann - Conservative Party
Fenton, Helen - Green Party
Hawkins, Kim - Conservative Party
Hughes, Alex - Labour Party
Knight, Jed Peter Heatchote - Labour Party
Stanley, Stephen Michael - Labour Party
Watson, Tricia - Green Party
Westlake, Time - Conservative Party
Coaley and Uley
Cook, Claire Louise - Labour Party
Pearcy, Martin Richard - Green Party
Stanton, John - Conservative Party
Dursley
Blacklock, Ann - Liberal Democrats
Broady, James Stuart - Green Party
Caton Hughes - Helen Rose - Labour Party
Cook, Terry - Labour Party
Hughes, Bob - Labour Party
Jayaseelan, Lucia - Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
Meadowcroft, Tom - Green Party
Patrick, Lorraine Vivienne - Conservative Party
Patrick, Matt - Conservative Party
Savvidou, Danae - Green Party
Williams, Carwyn Haines - Conservative Party
Hardwicke
Macgregor, Simon John Nicholas - Labour Party
Oldman, Adrian - Green Party
Owen, Alexandra Caroline - Liberal Democrats
Oxley, Gill - Conservative Party
Patient, John - Green Party
Ryder, Mark Andrew - Conservative Party
Terry, Keith William - Labour Party
Turner-Wilkes, Demelza Jane Rachel - Conservative Party
Williams, Thomas Hugh
Kingswood
Long, Allison - Conservative Party
Lyons-Tsai, Hannah - Green Party
Randell, Val - Labour Party
Simkiss, Holly - Liberal Democrats
Minchinhampton
Archer, Christo - Liberal Democrats
Carter, David James - Labour Party
Greenaway, Duncan Robert - Conservative Party
Moore, Stephen - Labour Party
Morris, Philip - Conservative Party
Thomas, Gill - Green Party
Turner, Chloe Isobel - Green Party
Nailsworth
Cain, Adam - Liberal Democrats
Daniels, Ian Michael - Conservative Party
Dutton, Maggie - Labour and Co-operative Party
George, Tom - Conservative Party
Howells, Max Oliver John - Conservative Party
Kay, Kate - Green Party
Nelson, Rod - Green Party
Rider, Shelley - Labour and Co-operative Party
Robinson, Steve - Labour and Co-operative Party
Rothwell, Colleen Angela - Liberal Democrats
Thresher, Rosie Louise - Green Party
Painswick and Upton
Castle, David Anthony - Conservative Party
Kennedy, Pete - Green Party
Lowin, David - Conservative Party
Luff, Gary Alan - Green Party
Osborn, Richard Paul - Liberal Democrats
Sargeant, Matthew James - Green Party
Smith, Ashley Robert Wickens - Labour Party
Snelgrove, Anne Christine - Labour Party
Treacher, Andrew Christopher Charles - Labour Party
Williams, Tim - Conservative Party
Randwick, Whiteshill and Ruscombe
Cosh, Marcia - Conservative Party
Edmunds, Jon - Green Party
Holmes, John Stuart - Liberal Democrats
Sztumpf, Paul Michael - Labour Party
Rodborough
Blomberg, Phil - Green Party
Elliott-Boult, Helen - Independent
Hillary, Liz - Green Party
Hofmann, Katy - Labour Party
Jones, Sarah - Conservative Party
Layfield, Robin Mark Hesketh - Independent
Prenter, Nigel Andrew - Labour Party
Whittaker, Tom - Conservative Party
Severn
Brown, Robert Geoffrey - Conservative Party
Clee, Isa - Green Party
Greenway, Nathan - Labour and Co-operative Party
Maisey, Richard - Labour and Co-operative Party
Mannan-Rahman, Hena - Conservative Party
Shannon, Moya - Green Party
Stayte, Mike - Liberal Democrats
Stonehouse
Brinkworth, Sonia Faye - Conservative Party
Callinan, John Michael - Labour Party
Goulcher, Adam Mark - Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
Housden, Nicholas Edward - Conservative Party
Jewell, Robert Mark - Liberal Democrats
Kambites, Carol - Green Party
Linforth, Karen Frances - Labour Party
Malik, Surjeet, Conservative Party
Maraboli-Roman, Madelaine - Green Party
Parker, John Charles - Labour Party
Smith, Rachel Mary - Green Party
Thomson, Wendy Joy - Independent
Stroud Central
Cursham, Susan - Conservative Party
Drew, David - Labour and Co-operative Party
James-Hodges, Cate - Green Party
Stroud Farmhill and Paganhill
Ananthan, Shyama - Labour Party
Saunders, Val - Green Party
Silvey, Richard Elliott - Conservative Party
Stroud Slade
Lyons, Rachel - Labour Party
Malpass, Anthony Roger - Conservative Party
Pilikian, Thea - Independent
Rothwell-Warn, Natalie - Green Party
Stroud Trinity
Moore, Chris - Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
Purves, Philip - Liberal Democrats
Schoemaker, Lucas - Green Party
Sugars, Sharon - Conservative Party
Theaker, Andy - Labour Party
Stroud Uplands
Dixon, Sarah - Green Party
James, George William - Liberal Democrats
Moore, Cath - Labour Party
Tomblin, Jessica - Conservative Party
Stroud Valley
Baxendale, Martin Joseph - Green Party
Fealty, Mick - Labour Co-operative Party
Lee, Brian - Conservative Party
The Stanleys
Godfrey, Marisa - Green Party
Harper, Julie Marie - Labour Party
Hynd, Steve - Green Party
Jewell, Elaine Joyce - Liberal Democrats
Miles, Jenny - Labour Party
Studdert-Kennedy, Nigel William John - Conservative Partty
White, David Julian - Conservative Party
Thrupp
Aldam, Beki - Green Party
Beer, Rod - Labour Party
Stacey, Charlie - Conservative Party
Wotton-under-Edge
Bloxsom, John - Labour Party
Braun, Catherine - Green Party
Carr, Lisa - Liberal Democrats
Cohen, Linda - Liberal Democrats
Curley, Rachel - Labour Party
Kitchen, Gareth - Green Party
Mackay, Steven Richard - Labour Party
Meehan, Eleanor - Green Party
Nolan, Allan - Conservative Party
Reynolds, Andrew - Conservative Party
Smith, Graham Steven - Conservative Party
Walter, Mark David - Liberal Democrats