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Forest of Dean District Council has agreed its budget for the next financial year, with the Council looking to manage the increased costs of inflation to continue to deliver local services and investment for residents across the district.

Forest of Dean District Council is working with partners from the Centre for Sustainable Energy in Bristol (CSE) to deliver workshops to local residents, organisations and businesses to help form a community energy group in the district.

‘Together We Can’, a charity based in Cinderford, recently received £1,500 through the Forest of Dean District Council’s Community Grant scheme. which they used to fund some  of the equipment and materials they use on their weekly activity nights. The community grant is a one-off payment that aims to support projects being carried out by community groups.

Forest of Dean District Council will use the £314,777 Homelessness Prevention Grant to reduce the need for expensive short-term, emergency accommodation and minimise uncertainty for individuals and families. 

Forest of Dean District Council is inviting interested parties, landowners, and developers to suggest sites that they consider suitable for future housing and employment to be assessed as part of the Strategic Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (SHELAA).

The planning application process has been updated by the Forest of Dean District Council to ensure any new applications better consider the local environment and biodiversity of their area; while also making the process more user-friendly for residents. 

Forest of Dean District Council has been allocated funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) as part of the government’s Levelling Up Agenda. The funding will be used to build communities, support local businesses and improve employment and skill-building opportunities.

Forest of Dean District Council is working alongside partners to deliver funding, including over £165,000 in supermarket vouchers in the past 12 months, as well as advice and support to communities across the district.

On Friday [13 January 2023], all local authorities in Gloucestershire set a significant milestone by signing an agreement to work together on a county-wide project to tackle transport decarbonisation and achieve Net Zero emissions by 2045.

Forest of Dean District Council has underlined its commitment to working with partners to help reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in the district, with Deputy Leader of Forest of Dean District Council and Cabinet Member for Communities, Cllr Paul Hiett re-elected as chair of the Community Safety Partnership for 2023, with Cllr Di Martin re-elected as vice-chair.

The Forest of Dean District Council has enabled the development of 200 affordable homes in 2022. Consisting of 35 social rented homes, 115 affordable rented homes and 50 shared ownership homes. All of which were rated highly on energy efficiency.

Forest of Dean District Council has been working with partners, businesses and residents throughout 2022 on the redevelopment and design of the new leisure, enterprise and education facility at Five Acres.