Clear political divisions emerged at Stroud District Council’s full meeting last week, as the Green administration successfully passed a motion opposing the Labour Government’s proposed rollback of environmental protections.

The motion, proposed by Deputy Council Leader Cllr Catherine Braun, criticised Part III of the Planning & Infrastructure Bill, which would allow developers to bypass on-site nature protections by paying a “nature restoration levy” to fund habitat improvements elsewhere. The Bill has drawn widespread condemnation from national environmental bodies – including the Wildlife Trusts, RSPB, and Woodland Trust – and has been branded “the worst attack on England’s ecosystems I’ve seen in my lifetime” by environmental writer George Monbiot.

Despite an official Labour Group position supporting the reforms, numerous Labour councillors broke ranks at Thursday night’s meeting to back the Greens’ motion, highlighting how many Labour councillors remain concerned about the government’s approach.

Cllr Braun said:

“Like Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust and others, we’re calling for Part III to be withdrawn. Letting developers pay to destroy irreplaceable habitats like Rodborough Common or the Severn Estuary is a dangerous precedent. It’s naïve—or underhand—to suggest these special places can simply be replaced elsewhere.”

Labour group leader Cllr Katy Hoffman defended the reforms, citing the urgent need for housing and system overhaul. But Green councillors argued that the focus should be on building the social and affordable homes we need and this should start with the 1.4 million houses that already have existing permission.

Green group leader Cllr Chloe Turner added:

“This isn’t just about wildlife — it’s about people. Access to nature is essential for health and wellbeing and must not become a luxury. Every community deserves nature-rich green space on their doorstep — not compensation schemes that excuse destruction.”

Thanks to the Green-led motion, the Council’s Chief Executive will now write to local MPs urging them to oppose Part III of the Bill. Since the meeting, the Government has proposed minor amendments, but leading nature organisations warn they do not go far enough to stop the weakening of environmental protections.

Pictured: Cllr Catherine Braun, who proposed the motion, with Cllr Chloe Turner, Green group leader.

Notes:

The motion’s resolution reads as follows:

Council RESOLVES to: 1. Request the Chief Executive of the Council to write to the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, relevant Secretaries of State, as well as local MPs, expressing the concerns in the motion on pages 189-192, and calling for the withdrawal of part 3 of the Planning and infrastructure Bill.

2. Ask our district’s three MPs, Dr Simon Opher MP, Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP, and Dr Roz Savage MP, to oppose measures in part 3 of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.

3. Share this resolution with neighbouring councils, local civic groups, nature organisations and the local press, to encourage wider opposition and coordinated advocacy.

4. Adopt Gloucestershire’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy, to include bringing it to full council, as soon as it is available and in such a way as to become a material consideration in planning decision making.

• The full supporting text is available here:

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Apart from the fact that it seems odd that Labour would want to politicise the community hubs, this statement is a complete falsehood. 

It ignores the funding given to the hub network by Stroud District Council and Stroud Town Council, and the fact that many Greens are actively involved in their local hubs as volunteers. 

Labour has been peddling throughout their election campaign the untruth that the Greens voted with the Conservatives at Shire Hall to cut funding for the hubs. 

Again, this is a distortion of the facts, as the Labour canvassers know. The minutes of the County Council meeting in question can be read. Click here to read the relevant minutes, where the relevant pages are 15-22.

Labour are doing a disservice to the residents of Stroud in perpetuating this inaccuracy, which the Green Party addressed in a post at the beginning of April. https://stroud.greenparty.org.uk/news/2025/04/02/labour-canvassers-making-inaccurate-claims-about-greens/

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Cllr Maisey was elected to Stroud District Council last year for the Severn ward, which includes the Parishes of Arlingham, Eastington, Frampton on Severn, Fretherne-with-Saul, Great Oldbury and Whitminster.

He served on the Environment and Development Control committees.

Cllr Maisey was the agent for Simon Opher MP’s successful parliamentary campaign last year.

Cllr Catherine Braun, leader of the council, said: “I was shocked and saddened to learn of Richard’s passing. I really enjoyed working with Richard and his good humour, commitment to local residents and cross-party engagement on environmental and many other issues always shone through.

“He will be sadly missed at Stroud District Council, and I’d like to extend my sympathy to his family and fellow Labour councillors, as well as to his colleagues and friends in the communities of the Severn Ward.”

Cllr Adrian Oldman, coordinator of Stroud District Green Party, said: “I would wholeheartedly echo Catherine’s sentiments about Richard. He was a thoroughly committed champion of the environment, a pragmatist, and an extremely hard working Labour activist. I’d like to send my sincere condolences to Richard’s family, friends and his Labour Party colleagues.”

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