What Stroud District Council does

Stroud District Council is a statutory local government authority in Gloucestershire, England, established in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972 to serve the residents, businesses, and communities of the Stroud District. The council delivers the full suite of district-level public services including council tax and business rates administration, housing register management and homelessness prevention, waste collection and recycling, planning and building control, licensing and permitting, environmental health, leisure and cultural facilities (two Active Lifestyles leisure centres, Museum in the Park, Stratford Park Lido), and benefits administration. It is funded primarily through council tax on domestic properties, non-domestic business rates, fee income from chargeable services (garden waste subscriptions at £58.50/bin, bulky waste collection at £25 for up to three items, pest control, pre-application planning advice), housing rents from council-owned properties, and central government grants.

The council's technology and service delivery platform is built around the My SDC Account portal (openportal.stroud.gov.uk), which provides 24/7 self-serve access to council tax, business rates, housing benefit, and council tax support accounts, supported by the Public Access planning system (publicaccess.stroud.gov.uk), Civica epay for online payments, GovDelivery for email alerts, and OnCreate for online form submissions. Customer segments span residents (primary), local businesses, private landlords (newly enlarged under the Renters' Rights Act effective 1 May 2026), and armed forces veterans (with dedicated champions and a 20% leisure discount). Service distribution operates through online self-serve, telephone contact centre (01453 766321), in-person access at Ebley Mill headquarters, and partner locations across the district.

Strategically, the council is operating in a defined transition window: the UK Government announced in July 2026 that a single unitary council will replace Stroud District Council and the other six Gloucestershire authorities on 1 April 2028, with shadow authority elections scheduled for 6 May 2027. In the interim, the council is advancing the New Local Plan 2026 (planning for ~846 new homes per year), implementing the Renters' Rights Act, managing the £5M Stratford Park Lido refurbishment following its first closure in 90 years, and collaborating through the Future Gloucestershire Partnership to manage the reorganisation. No external funding rounds, M&A activity, or AI/ML capabilities are documented.

Name

Stroud District Council

Legal name

Stroud District Council

Website

https://stroud.gov.uk

Company type

Public

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Stroud District Council is a statutory local government authority in Gloucestershire, England, delivering council tax, planning, housing, waste, licensing, leisure, and benefits services to residents and businesses of the Stroud District, funded by council tax, business rates, and fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Local Government Services

NAICS

Solid Waste Collection (562111), Waste Collection (56211), Services to Buildings and Dwellings (5617)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953), Sanitary Services (4950), Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Works & Municipal Infrastructure (Streets, Stormwater, Facilities) (BPAIACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Solid Waste & Recycling Services Administration (BPAIACAH), Housing & Neighborhood Services (Local Housing Programs) (BPAIACAJ), Street & Public Space Litter Collection (Municipal Cleaning) (BPALAAAE), Public Works / In-House Municipal Collection Operations (EUAIAAAF)

Keywords

• Local government services
• Council tax administration
• Waste collection services
• Planning and building control
• Council housing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Stroud

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Council Tax: Property tax levied on domestic properties to fund local services. Charge depends on property band and parish.
2. Business Rates: Non-domestic rates tax on business properties to fund local council services.
3. Fees and Charges: Various service fees including garden waste subscriptions, bulky waste collection, pest control services, planning application fees, pre-application advice fees, licensing and permit fees.
4. Housing Rents: Rental income from council housing properties.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Stroud District Council delivers statutory local government services to residents and businesses of the Stroud District in Gloucestershire, including council tax administration, business rates, housing register and homelessness services, planning and building control, waste and recycling collections, leisure facilities, environmental health, licensing and permits, and community grants. Services are delivered via the stroud.gov.uk website, the My SDC Account portal, the OpenPortal account management system, the Public Access planning portal, telephone contact centre, in-person at Ebley Mill headquarters, and partner locations including Household Recycling Centres.

Product overview

Stroud District Council provides a comprehensive portfolio of local government services delivered through an integrated digital platform. The core offering consists of resident-facing online services including My SDC Account (unified account management for council tax, business rates, and benefits), Online Payment Services (processing payments via Civica epay), Report It (issue reporting), and Apply For It (service applications). These are supported by specialized services for Planning and Building Control (including Public Access planning portal and pre-application advice), Housing Services, Benefits Administration, and Licensing and Permits. The council also operates leisure facilities (Active Lifestyles Stroud and Dursley, Museum in the Park) and manages Stratford Park Lido (currently closed for safety-critical repairs). Waste services include garden waste subscriptions, bulky waste collection, and recycling centre coordination. The council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation with a single unitary council planned for April 2028.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ebley Mill: Council offices location in Stroud

Products and services

• Garden Waste Collection Service Subscription-based fortnightly garden waste collection service from February to November for residents of Stroud District. Wheeled bin subscription at £58.50 per bin per year and bag subscription at £48 for 2026 (reduced rate), including 50 compostable paper sacks and pre-booked fortnightly collections.
• Bulky Waste Collection Service Chargeable collection service for large household items for Stroud District residents. Standard rate £25 for up to 3 items and £5 per additional item, payable by credit or debit card at booking. Discounted rate of £5 total for the first 3 items for residents receiving Housing Benefit or Council Tax Support.
• Bins, Rubbish and Recycling Services Comprehensive waste management service for Stroud District including bin delivery, kerbside recycling, garden waste subscription collections, bulky waste collection, commercial waste collection, clinical waste collection, and street cleaning.
• Pest Control Services Low-cost pest control service for rats, mice, grey squirrels, wasps, fleas and other insects for residents and businesses of Stroud District. Priority is given to public health pests, with discounts available for residents on income-related benefits. A £65 call-out charge may apply in certain circumstances.
• Planning and Building Control Services Planning application search, submission and comment system; pre-application advice; building control; conservation; biodiversity; listed buildings; and planning enforcement for Stroud District.
• Public Access Planning System Online planning portal for viewing, tracking and commenting on planning applications from 2005 onwards, with historic decision notice search capability dating from 1948.
• Pre-Application Planning Advice Service Fee-based guidance service for developers and residents before submitting formal planning applications, with a 4-6 week turnaround for written advice.
• Housing Services Council housing services including housing register applications, council tenant management, homelessness prevention, housing transfers, private housing guidance, and independent living support for older people in Stroud District.
• Benefits Administration Administration of housing benefit, council tax support, universal credit coordination, benefit calculators, change of circumstances reporting, and cost of living support for Stroud District residents.
• Council Tax Support Financial assistance scheme for low-income households in Stroud District to help pay council tax. Eligibility requires a capital threshold of £16,000 and residency requirements.
• Council Tax Services Council tax billing, payment administration, bands and rates, discounts and exemptions, billing information, and fraud reporting for domestic properties in Stroud District.
• Business Rates Services Business rates billing, payments, reductions, exemptions, discounts, revaluation information, and VOA coordination for non-domestic properties in Stroud District.
• Licensing and Permits Statutory and regulatory licensing services including alcohol and entertainment, animal licenses, environmental permits, food premises registration, gambling, HMOs, pavement licenses, street trading, taxis, and Martyn's Law compliance for Stroud District.
• Business Health and Safety Services Environmental health enforcement of food safety and health and safety legislation including the cooling tower register, training courses, radon guidance, and Legionella control, jointly enforced with the Health and Safety Executive.
• Active Lifestyles Stroud Council-run leisure centre (formerly Stratford Park Leisure Centre) offering fitness activities, gym, and sports facilities for residents of Stroud District.
• Active Lifestyles Dursley Council-run leisure centre (formerly The Pulse) offering fitness activities, gym, and sports facilities for residents of Dursley and the surrounding area.
• Museum in the Park Council-operated museum in Stratford Park showcasing local history, art and cultural exhibits, including significant fossil specimens from Court Farm archaeological discoveries. A permanent display of these fossils is planned for 2027.
• Stratford Park Lido Outdoor swimming pool opened in 1937 featuring a Grade II listed diving platform. Closed for the summer 2026 season due to safety-critical repairs required on the pool lining, pump, valves and pipework, with refurbishment estimated at approximately £5 million.
• Culture Grants Programme Funding programme supporting cultural activity in Stroud District with three grant rounds per year. Available grants include 2x Main Grant (£2,500), 10x Medium Grant (£1,000) and 10x Small Grant (£500).
• Parking and Travel Services Parking permits, community transport information, taxis, flyposting, temporary road closures, public transport information and roadworks coordination for Stroud District.
• Events Platform Council events listing and promotion platform for festivals, markets, sports, cultural activities and community events taking place across the Stroud District.

Quantifiable outcome

• 24/7 online account access for council tax, business rates, housing benefit, and council tax support

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Lifecycle UKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStroud District Council partnered with Lifecycle UK to provide free bike stands for businesses and organisations across the district. Businesses can apply through Lifecycle's website for free bike rack installations.
• eat:FestivalsminorStrategic or Co-development Partnereat:Festivals is a not-for-profit social enterprise that organizes the eat:Stonehouse food festival. The council hosts this event which connects communities with local food producers.
• Friends of Stratford Park LidocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity group working with the council to explore fundraising and partnership opportunities for the Stratford Park Lido. A Working Group has been established involving councillors, officers, and community representatives.
• Gloucestershire County CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGloucestershire County Council operates Household Recycling Centres in the area. Stroud District Council refers residents to these facilities for recycling. County council also responsible for highways, education, social care, and transport.
• Museum in the ParkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for fossil discoveries from Court Farm excavation. Significant specimens donated to the museum. Museum staff participate in public engagement events. Permanent display planned for 2027.
• Gloucestershire Resources and Waste PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing cigarette butt ballot bins for council deployment in town centres as part of litter reduction initiatives.
• SSAFA (Armed Forces Charity)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSSAFA provides support to armed forces regulars, reserves, veterans, and their families including National Servicemen. Council signposts veterans to SSAFA services.
• Help for HeroesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity supporting armed forces community with physical and mental health, welfare issues, housing, and benefits. Council signposts veterans to this support.
• The Veterans CharityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides vital provisions including food shopping, clothing, household goods, utilities support, smartphones/tablets, and temporary emergency accommodation for veterans.
• Royal British LegionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides grants for crisis support, home assistance, recovery programs with adaptive sports and arts. Council signposts to RBL services and supports Poppy Appeal.
• Veterans UKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment body providing veterans helpline, Veterans Welfare Service, Defence Transition Services, and injury/bereavement compensation. Council signposts to this service.
• Future Gloucestershire PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration of all seven Gloucestershire councils (Cheltenham Borough Council, Cotswold District Council, Forest of Dean District Council, Gloucestershire County Council, Gloucester City Council, Stroud District Council, and Tewkesbury Borough Council) for local government reorganisation.
• Vilednik Holdings LtdminorOthersOwner of Tricorn House since end of 2022. Has converted the derelict building into 44 residential apartments. Council's involvement is minimal as the building is now privately managed.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Forest of Dean District Council: Gloucestershire district council delivering equivalent local authority services (planning, waste, housing, leisure, licensing) with similar rural/district population profile. Co-participant in Local Government Reorganisation transition to a single unitary authority.
• Cheltenham Borough Council: Urban Gloucestershire borough council providing equivalent local government services including waste collection, planning, council tax, and leisure. Slated to merge into the same unitary authority on 1 April 2028 alongside Stroud.
• Tewkesbury Borough Council: Borough council in Gloucestershire operating the same statutory services as Stroud (council tax, planning, waste, housing). Direct peer through shared reorganisation pathway and Future Gloucestershire Partnership membership.
• Cotswold District Council: Adjacent Gloucestershire district council providing the same portfolio of local government services (planning, housing, waste, council tax, leisure). Most directly comparable peer as a co-member of the Future Gloucestershire Partnership and slated for the same unitary merger on 1 April 2028.
• Gloucester City Council: Principal urban authority in Gloucestershire delivering the full local government service catalogue. Direct peer through shared unitary reorganisation and provision of overlapping council tax, waste, housing, and licensing services to its own resident base.

Broad incumbents

• Gloucestershire County Council: Tier-2 county authority providing wider strategic services (highways, education, social care, transport, household recycling centres) across the same geography as Stroud. Current operating partner via recycling centres and highways reporting, slated for absorption into the same unitary authority.

Others

• Cotswold Waste Partnership: Cross-council waste partnership involving multiple Gloucestershire authorities (including Stroud). Comparable as a service-delivery mechanism for municipal waste collection, recycling, and disposal that Stroud participates in.

Regional players

• South Gloucestershire Council: Neighbouring unitary council in the South West region delivering comparable district-level services. Useful as a regional benchmark for service delivery model and digital platform approach, though not part of the same Gloucestershire reorganisation.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/StroudDistrictCouncil
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stroud-district-council
• Instagraminstagram.com/strouddistrictcouncil

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Stroud District Council