ANNUAL REVIEW APRIL 2019 TO MARCH 2020 SPONSORED BY BHIB COUNCILS INSURANCE

1 CONTENTS

Foreword 3

Hampshire ALC Reports 4

Financial Summaries 16

District Association Reports 18

Awards 38

2 FOREWORD

Rt. Hon. John Denham President of Association of Local Councils

Last year I wrote that making predictions was difficult. No one foresaw the national trauma of COVID-19 around the corner. The consequences, and maybe the virus itself, will be with us for a very long time.

In the past months we have learned much that is good about ourselves and our communities. Almost everywhere we have drawn on a deep well of mutual aid and support. It has made the difference in so many people’s lives. But, although the virus is a threat to all and families everywhere have lost loved ones, it hasn’t just been ‘all in it together’. Poverty, wealth, race, employment, age and housing have helped determine who was most likely to fall ill and to suffer the most serious consequences.

Most of these problems are not new; the funding of social care, for example, has been neglected for dec- ades. COVID-19 just held up a sharp mirror that reflected back the deep-seated challenges we must now sort out.

If we can draw on our community strengths, we can tackle those issues. Central and local government must trust Parish and Town Councils and very local communities to play their role. At the time of writing the messages are mixed: on the one hand the promise of more devolution; on the other, a threat to tear up planning rules and make Councils more remote from local people. It would be a shame to lose what we have gained this year.

3 HAMPSHIRE ALC REPORTS

4 WELCOME FROM THE CHAIR

Councillor Mike Evans— Chairman of Hampshire ALC

Welcome to the HALC Annual Review. I am both honoured and proud to be Chairman of this Association and de facto the Board of Directors who are the governing body of the ALC and responsible for its strategic direction and good practice. The ALC has been on a continuous improvement curve since 2005 and we are recognised as a leading service provider, offering the most extensive level of knowledge in the local council sector, backed by value for money fees and charges. Income generation for the ALC is vital and in last year’s report I mentioned that there was a growing demand from outside of Hampshire for our services. Since April last year, we have been providing membership services and training to another County Association and more recently we have been approached by a second County Association who are also seeking our services. This is testament to the excellent, dedicated and hard- working HALC team, ably lead by our Chief Executive, Dawn Hamblet. Our Partnerships are crucial, particularly our joint working with Hampshire County Council, to provide full and ongoing support for the devolution and locality working agenda so that services are more efficient and responsive to the needs of local communities by providing best value and quality. However, the ongoing pressures on the County budget has led to a significant reduction in their financial support to the Association. Finally, I am grateful to my fellow Board Directors for their continuing work and support to ensure that the ALC is a solid and financially sustainable social business.

5 OUR CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Chief Executive—Dawn Hamblet

Writing content for the annual review normally gives a welcome opportunity to pause and reflect on the financial year that has just gone by. This year however, I am writing this in far from normal times. I am sure in common with many of our members, I have found that time to reflect has been scarce as we all navigate our way through the significantly challenging times we have lived through since March this year. It is no exaggeration to say that, in common with the whole country, the sector has experienced unprecedented challenges as we have tried to respond to the pandemic. This has required significant and rapid change, the like of which we have not seen for many decades. It has been inspiring to see the way Parish and Town Councils across Hampshire have responded to these challenging times and have worked to put support in place for their local communities. The ALC team and I would like to acknowledge the huge dedication Councils have shown in working effectively with their communities and with each other during this time. At the ALC we have experienced another busy year. Parish and Town Council elections were held in many parts of Hampshire in May 2019 and we subsequently provided a large number of training courses for new Councillors, particularly in the first quarter of the year, in addition to our normal training programme. We also continued to work on improving and updating our internal systems, including IT systems, following our business process review. This proved to be a very valuable activity when we needed to provide our services remotely at short notice due to the pandemic.

6 Chief Executive—Dawn Hamblet cont. Last year, Bishops Waltham Parish Council won the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Village of the Year and although we have had to defer the event this year, we are looking forward to visiting nominated Councils again next year when we restart the competition. In a similar vein, we will not be holding our annual awards at our AGM this year. This is due to the current climate and because I believe it would be wrong to single out any particular individual or Council, given the huge amount of work that has gone on at many Councils over the last six months. These will, however, also return next year.

7 Policy and Communications

Policy Officer—Amy Taylor

Amy covered the Policy and Communications role this year, in addition to taking on the Member Support Services, which you can read more about on the next page. Brexit continued to be the main focus of attention this year which meant that there were not many government consultations to be involved with.

There was an independent review into local government audit undertaken by Sir Tony Redmond, whose remit was to assess the arrangements in place to support the transparency and quality of local authority financial reporting and external audit, including those introduced by the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 (the Act). This was still in review at the end of this report’s period. The Non-Domestic Rating (Public Lavatories) Bill was created and this is being progressed. We have continued to provide Councils with regular newsletters and are looking forward to expand these with funding opportunities and local community points of interest, as well as updated guidance and advice. There have also been briefing notes distributed regularly on COVID-19 matters towards the end of this reporting year in March, when it started.

If you would like to get in touch regarding our newsletter or website, please email [email protected]

8 Member Support Services

Member Services Officer— Amy Taylor

As you will all know, we sadly lost Vendy Treagust, our dedicated Member Support Officer in 2019 after a courageous battle with cancer. During Vendy’s illness, I covered her role to provide infor- mation, advice and guidance to member councils in response to procedural and operational queries. This also included co-ordination of the desk-top advice services provided by external specialists such as legal, financial/VAT and planning. I was also lucky enough to visit a number of your parishes by way of several bespoke training sessions that HALC ran during 2019 following elections.

I have since changed my role from Policy Officer to Member Services Officer to allow the continuation of the advisory service and I am now working on producing guidance and advice notes to compliment our A-Z online directory of advice and expand the information available to our members. To give you a clear view of the volume of enquiries HALC handle on an annual basis, the table below, shows the statistics for the last three years*.

(Ref No) Total number of Number of legal queries includ- % of legal queries included in to- Year queries ed in totals tals by type 2017 806 50 6% 2018 713 63 9% 2019 681 53 8%

*2019 is based on the financial year, data for the years prior to this were recorded as calendar year.

9 Member Support Services

The top four query types received this year covered:

•Meetings and Procedures •Finance •Policy, Legislation and Regulations •People (e.g. general HR advice, and LCPD desk-top service)

Of course, there are many other categories ranging from ‘elections and casual vacancies’ to ‘data and information management’ so the types of queries we receive are very wide-ranging and diverse. If you require specific advice or would like to submit a query, please email: [email protected]

10

11 Training and Development

Office Manager- Sarah Rowland

It’s been another busy year on the Learning and Development front. 2019 was an election year for many Parish and Town Councils and this saw a large increase in Councillor training courses, primarily our Knowledge and Core Skills Course which we ran 38 of (including bespoke courses).

We are pleased to have delivered 38 Open Courses and 28 Bespoke Courses as well as the annual AGM in Hampshire. We have also been providing training courses to our colleagues in the Berkshire ALC. The planned annual conference was deferred due to the Covid-19 situation.

We welcomed Di Morgan-Rawes to the team as our new training officer to complement our strong internal training expertise. We are fortunate to have strong relationships with our third-party trainers who continue to deliver a consistent high standard of training for our members.

As part of our member survey some additional courses were identified by Councils as training they would like to see, and we will look to build these into our future training programme. We are also developing some self-guided fully online courses.

A summary of learning and development activity this year is provided on the next page.

12 Name of Session/Course Number of HALC courses run in

Information & Networking Events Hampshire ALC AGM 1 Officer’s Update 2 Development for All Basic Planning for Local Councils 3 The Planning Framework 1 Managing People in Local Councils 1 Emergency First Aid 1 Introduction to Appraisals 1 Introduction to VAT 1 Officer Development What You Need to Know for new Officers 3 Budgeting & Financial Control 1 Local Council Finance for Officers 2 Minute Taking 1 Councillor Development Knowledge & Core Skills for new Councillors 11 Local Council Finance for Councillors 3 Chairing Skills 3 Qualifications Introduction to CiLCA 3 CiLCA Level 3 2 Bespoke Bespoke Courses 28

13 LCPD Support Services

HR Consultant—Sharon Nineham

Despite the unprecedented times 2020 has brought, HALC’s LCPD service has continued to provide professional and pragmatic HR advice and support to its members and adapted where necessary in order to continue with business as usual, as much as practicable to do so. In April 2020, the LCPD service was relaunched with 3 levels: Gold, Silver and Bronze with each offering increasing levels of service.

All LCPD members receive detailed HR advice, including on-going telephone and email employment and HR support and regular e-mails, keeping them up-to-date with the constant changes in employment law. Depending on which level of service they purchase they can also receive training courses, access to additional HR documents, audits of HR documentation and processes for example. All HALC and BALC (non LCPD) members receive a desktop HR service and can receive detailed advice on an adhoc basis or use our HR consultancy service for an additional fee. The improved service offerings have been received well with many Councils opting for the enhanced Silver and Gold levels. We increased the LCPD/HALC offerings by providing all HALC and BALC members with statutory employment policies and a standard employment contract template as well as introducing an online HR system to manage Council’s HR data and documents. All Gold LCPD members receive this service as part of their membership and all other LCPD members are able to access the system for an additional monthly/annual fee.

14 The LCPD pages of the HALC website have been updated and refreshed to make it easier to navigate and provide more information to members. A separate login is required to access these pages and is provided to all LCPD members as part of their membership. There were several changes in Employment Law in 2020, most notably the amendments to employment contracts and the introduction of Statutory Bereavement Leave. All of which have been incorporated into HALCS’s employment documents. Regular employment factsheets have been issued to members and officers updates have been delivered, providing information on the latest case and employment law changes and how these may impact on their Councils, which have all been well received.

15 FINANCIAL SUMMARY 2019/20—INCOME

Membership Services 88875.00 Additional Member Services 52604.92 Conferences and Training 31805.60 County Council Grant 57000.00 Business Operations 1819.82 Publications Sold 746.00 External Support Services 1300.00

16 FINANCIAL SUMMARY 2019/20—EXPENDITURE

Staffing Additional costs 19391.52 Website 16462.60 Travel Subsistence 8263.64 Business Operations 144799.73 District Council Grants 600.00 Additional Member Services 25,228.88 Publications Purchased 568.08 Village of the Year 600.00 Conferences and Training 12615.91

17 DISTRICT ASSOCIATION REPORTS

18 DISTRICT ASSOCIATION OF PARISH & TOWN COUNCILS

We have had another interesting yet challenging year and there is so much going on now where our 43 Parish & Town Councils can provide improved services to their communities. It has been really pleasing to have seen increasing attendance at our quarterly meetings. Also, I know that Basingstoke District Association of Parish & Town Councils continues to foster one of the best relationships with the Borough Council than any of the other District Associations in Hampshire. Unfortunately, our activities have been curtailed by the fact that our BDBC Liaison Officer has recently left and the significant challenges caused by the impact of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). The major topics during the last year have included: Final injunction granted for unauthorised encampments became the first borough in the county and one of a small number nationally to be granted the final injunction for unauthorised encampments for a period of five years. The injunction prevents unauthorised encampments and unauthorised developments being set up or items fly-tipped within a designated area covering the urbanised area of Basingstoke town, as well as some of the outlying areas. The injunction gives greater power to landowners and the police and means that anyone setting up an encampment in the injunction area will be prohibited from doing so and will be asked to leave immediately. The area covered in the injunction captures those communities most regularly experiencing the negative impacts of unauthorised encampments. An interim injunction had been granted to the borough council and the county council in July 2018, resulting in a significant impact on the number of unauthorised encampments in the borough. The number of unauthorised encampments dropped by 80 per cent when the interim injunction came into force and the number of days land was occupied by unauthorised encampments reduced by 96 per cent (comparing July 2017 to March 2018 with July 2018 to March 2019). Evidence presented to the High Court gave examples of where communities had experienced significant impacts arising from noise, nuisance, intimidation, human excrement evident in hedges and on roadside verges, large amounts of household waste left by groups in addition to other waste including large amounts of fly-tipped tree cuttings. Thanks to those Ward Councillors, local residents, landowners, partners and business that were most impacted who provided statements to the Borough Council to support the application for the injunction. Further details of the final injunction granted for unauthorised encampments, via the BDAPTC website or by clicking here

19 FIVE-YEAR LAND SUPPLY IN BASINGSTOKE Member Councils continue to be dissatisfied that Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council has not maintained its Five -Year Land Supply for planning purposes. This is likely to now result in land elsewhere in the borough being open to applications from developers and could result in planning approval by the Planning Inspectorate because the availability of a Five-Year Land Supply cannot be proved. This will put huge pressure on the smaller communities to forcibly accept additional housing as developers can freely apply for planning permission, especially on land submitted through the SHEELA process, completely disregarding earmarked development land in the Local Plan and invalidating many of the Neighbourhood Plans which parishioners have spent many months (and in some cases, years) working on and which BDBC has approved. It is worth calling out that BDBC has allowed the major Manydown site development schedule to slip. This project which is jointly owned by Basingstoke District Borough Council and Hampshire County Council does not rely on any third party to develop. Manydown would have reduced the need to impose excessive housing on other communities within the borough. Given the shortage in Five-Year Land Supply there is now a risk that we shall get both Manydown and excessive housing development within the borough.

Partnership working We continue to explore ways in which Finance can follow Function with District responsibilities managed by Parish and Town Councils – such as grass cutting, public toilets and car parking and where Parish facilities can be managed by the District – such as play areas.

Climate Change The Borough Council declared a climate emergency in September 2019 agreeing that action must be taken to work towards making Basingstoke and Deane a carbon neutral borough by 2030. We are looking forward to working with the Borough Council and other community groups across the borough to understand the actions currently being taken locally within the Parish and Town Councils and to find out what additional actions can be taken to achieve this. Thank you for all the hard work you do on behalf of your communities who are likely to need even more help and support over the coming years. There is so much going on now where Parish & Town Councils can provide improved services to their communities. Basingstoke District Association of Parish & Town Councils is the means to help deliver these benefits.

20

I’d like to record my appreciation for the invaluable support received from the Officers and staff at HALC, Hampshire and Basingstoke & Deane and many other groups with a care for our communities and personally, I’d like to thank Cllr Martin Slatford for his support as the Vice Chairman. This report would not be complete without also thanking our HALC Executive members (Martin Slatford, Malcolm Bell & Fiona Nicolson) who represent Basingstoke at the quarterly HALC Executive meetings, our Treasurer, Les Fryer and Alan Cox our Web Administrator.

For information about how to become more involved in BDAPTC or help with the planning of any future BDAPTC meetings please see our website at www.bdaptc.basingstoke.gov.uk

CLLR PAUL MAHONEY CHAIRMAN BASINGSTOKE DISTRICT ASSOCIATION OF PARISH & TOWN COUNCILS

21 BASINGSTOKE DISTRICT ASSOCIATION OF PARISH & TOWN COUNCILS

basingstoke district association of parish and town councils (bdaptc)

Ashmansworth PC & PC PC

Baughurst PC & PC Sherfield-on-Loddon PC

Bradley PM PC PC

Bramley PC PC PC

Burghclere PC Newnham PC Stratfield Saye PC

Candovers PC Newtown PC PM

Chineham PC PC TC (DA)

Cliddesdenn PC Oakley & Deane PC PM

Dummer PC & Lychpit PC PC

East Woodhay PC Overton PC & PM

Ellisfield PC PC Whitchurch TC

Hannington PC & Nutley PC PM

Herriard PC PC PC

Kingsclere PC PC *DA - Direct Access Council

22 EASTLEIGH DISTRICT ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL COUNCILS

Housing Developments have dominated yet again in all our activities. If we get say 4 member councils to a meeting then that represents 40% of the Parish and Town Councils in Eastleigh. Yet all of Eastleigh Borough, except Eastleigh Town itself, are parished. Eastleigh Borough is arranged, politically, in Local Area Committees covering several parished areas, so members frequently meet with local colleagues. EDALC meetings have previously tended to be in the Spring and Summer time. So since the last report we have not met in this Coronavirus status. Where appropriate, emails and telephone have sufficed, and of course elections have been deferred.

CLLR COLIN MERCER CHAIRMAN EASTLEIGH DISTRICT OF LOCAL COUNCILS

EASTLEIGH DISTRICT ASSOCIATION OF PARISH & TOWN COUNCILS

eastleigh district association of local councils (edalc)

Allbrook & North Boyatt PC Chandlers Ford PC Hedge End PC Fair Oak & Horton Heath Bishopstoke PC West End PC (DA) PC (DA) Botley PC Hamble-le-Rice PC *DA - Direct Access Council

Bursledon PC Hound PC

23 EAST HAMPSHIRE DISTRICT ASSOCIATION OF PARISH & TOWN COUNCILS

The Association covers the East Hampshire District which comprises forty Parish and Town Councils and has a population of approximately 121 000 citizens. It meets quarterly in Parish Halls and meeting rooms around the district. The meetings aim to address issues and concerns of parishes and inform them of developments with both the District and County Councils, the South Downs National Park as well as wider topics that affect our citizens across the District. This is done by way of invited speakers in addition to a forum for members to raise and discuss ideas and concerns. Each year the Association elects a Chair, Deputy Chair and two Executive members. The Chair is also a Hampshire Association of Local Councils (HALC) Board Director and all four Executive members attend the quarterly HALC Executive meetings which address issues across the county. EHAPTC work closely with EHDC and greatly values the collaborative working relationship. In 2018 EHAPTC and EHDC drew up a Parish Charter to formalise the working relationship between the District and Parish and Town Councils. This was the first such charter to be drawn up in Hampshire. The Chair and Clerk regularly meet with EHDC Executive Officers and Councillors to discuss matters affecting parishes.

Over the last 12 months the meetings have been joined by a series of speakers from outside the Association to address: • Dawn Hamblet HALC CEO – the new CEO addressed the Association on the Hampshire ALC, its finances and its ongoing projects • Tim Pointer Havant and EHDC Neighbourhood Quality and Compliance officer – upcoming public space dog control orders consultation • Inspector Korine Bishop – Rural crime and the latest developments being used to combat the particular issues of crime in a rural county • Terena Plowright – Climate Change and the Greening Campaign to respond to the Climate Emergency announced by the County Council • Jacqui Evans EHDC Communities Officer– S.106 monies and revisions to the process on accessing the money available to parishes from local development in their parishes

24 In addition to the above speakers many other issues have been raised and discussed including: Trees and tree wardens, community forums, walking and cycling strategy, wellbeing strategy, illegal traveller sites, SDNP parking policy, Parish Charter review and Coronavirus. No meeting was possible in June due to the COVID-19 restrictions on public meetings. During the lockdown the Association has been attending weekly meetings with EHDC, Community First, Citizens Advice Bureau, the NHS Primary Care Trust and Town Councils to assist and monitor the fantastic volunteer response to COVID-19. These meetings have now reduced to bi-weekly frequency but continue to monitor the dynamic situation as the lockdown measures are eased.

CLLR JIM MacDONALD CHAIRMAN EAST HAMPSHIRE DISTRICT ASSOCIATION OF PARISH & TOWN COUNCILS

25 EAST HAMPSHIRE DISTRICT ASSOCIATION OF PARISH & TOWN COUNCILS

east hampshire association of parish and town councils (ehaptc)

Alton TC Four Marks PC Petersfield TC

Beech PC Froyle PC Ropley PC

Bentley PC Froxfield PC Rowlands Castle PC

Bentworth PC Grayshott PC Selborne PC

Binstead PC Greatham PC Shalden PC

Bramshott & Liphook PC Hawkley PC Sheet PC

Buriton PC Headley PC Steep PC

Chawton PC Horndean PC (DA) Stroud PC

Clanfield PC Kingsley PC Whitehill TC

Colemore & Priors Dean PM Langrish PC Wield PC

East Meon PC Lindford PC Worldham PC

East Tisted PC Liss PC *DA - Direct Access Council

Farringdon PC Medstead PC

26 HART DISTRICT ASSOCIATION OF PARISH & TOWN COUNCILS

The three quarterly meetings that we have held this year (July, October, and January) were well attended by representatives from our twenty-one Parish and Town Councils and the officers from Hart District Council. Dawn Hamblet attended our July meeting and gave a presentation to members about the work of HALC and how it can provide help and support to Parish and Town Councils. The long-awaited Hart District Council Local Plan was eventually amended to substantially reduce the proposed number of dwellings and the complete removal of a new 5,000 plus dwelling Garden Village development before being adopted by the Council at the end of April this year. The future threat of the new Garden Village has not gone away as Hart have received £150,000 from the Government’s Garden Communities funding scheme to carry out a feasibility study to find a suitable site and the possibility of introducing it again in the future. This is of great concern to the rural Parish Councils that surround the proposed site and a joint meeting of these Parishes was organised by Hartley Wintney and major concerns have been raised regarding the lack of infrastructure, transport provision and employment facilities to support such a development. Many of our Parishes have now successfully completed and made their Neighbourhood Plans and these together with the adopted Local Plan are now being used by Hart when considering planning applications. The introduction of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) has still not been concluded and the recent introduction by the Government of proposed future amendments to the Planning System may well cause a further delay. Currently, the Parishes rely on occasional s106 contributions. Some initial work on preparing a Parish Charter document that can be adopted by Hart and the Parishes has been carried out but there is still more work to do. And then there was the Covid19 Pandemic which stopped many of the Parishes and our Association from holding normal meetings. Many of our Parishes have set up virtual meetings but the involvement of their residents at these meetings has been somewhat reduced. The community spirit of many of our Parish Councils has, however, come to the fore and many schemes have been introduced to check up on and support vulnerable residents during these difficult times. As always, we must record our appreciation for the support received from Officers and staff at HALC, Hampshire and Hart. ALISTAIR CLARK CHAIRMAN HART DISTRICT ASSOCIATION OF PARISH AND TOWN COUNCILS

27 HART DISTRICT ASSOCIATION OF PARISH & TOWN COUNCILS

hart district association of parish and town councils (hdaptc)

Blackwater & Hawley TC Eversley PC Long Sutton & Well PC

Bramshill PC Ewshot PC Mattingley PC

Church Crookham PC Fleet TC Odiham PC

Crondall PC Greywell PC Rotherwick PC

Crookham Village PC Hartley Wintney PC South Warnborough PC

Dogmerfsield PC Heckfield PC Winchfield PC

Elvetham Heath PC Hook PC Yateley TC

28 NEW FOREST DISTRICT ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL COUNCILS

Before the Coronavirus, our District Association met four times a year, on a quarterly basis, with our AGM normally taking place in mid-July. Because of lock-down, we did not hold our April meeting this year. I was elected Chairman of NFALC in July 2019 and we were able to meet in October 2019 and January 2020. After I was elected Chairman at our AGM on 18 July 2019, I welcomed Toby Blume from Social Engine to talk about reducing littering from vehicles in the New Forest. Social Engine, a ‘behavioural insight’ firm, was brought in by NFDC to come up with innovative ways to stop people littering from cars, as part of a £50,000 project. The authority funded half the cost of the scheme, with the rest coming from the Local Government Association (LGA), which aims to uncover why people throw litter from their vehicles, so the Council can come up with ways to tackle the problem. The problem ceased following lockdown! At our meeting in October 2019, attended by over 40 representatives from 20 local Councils, I welcomed Glenn Peacey, HCC Superfast Broadband Programme Manager and Andy Harding, Assistant Highways Manager from Hampshire Highways who had agreed to answer members questions, as follows: Andy Harding dealt with a variety of questions especially from smaller parishes, regarding the repair of roads and verges in the National Park in the face of various constraints placed on materials and road widths etc. Members asked for a possible route of escalation for reporting of highways defects for local councillors that circumvented the standard methods of reporting and recognised that councillors naturally did a degree of prioritisation, but the advice is to use https://www.hants.gov.uk/transport/roadmaintenance/roadproblems Glenn Peacey reported that 94% of New Forest district properties were now on “Fibre to Cabinet” broadband internet as opposed to 97% in the HCC area as a whole. The current focus is on hard-to-access locations e.g. Fritham. There will be a focus on rolling out more “Fibre to Premises” broadband across the Forest. The GIGA voucher scheme was mentioned. At our last meeting in January 2020, NFDC unveiled a new plan to shape work over the next four years with their 'Community Matters' Corporate Plan and the draft document was available for comment until 31 Jan. The Leader of the Council said "Community Matters” focuses on the challenges faced and it is these that have shaped the commitments and priorities within the plan. The plan focuses on tackling the accelerating impact of climate change, new approaches to providing more homes for local people, maintaining the unique and special qualities of the environment, improving health and wellbeing, and economic prosperity. This is an important document as it will shape decision making, how we spend the budget, and ultimately what work our officers do on the ground.

29 These aspirations were subsequently overtaken by events, but still include: •Delivering a prosperous New Forest and putting our community first •Encouraging development that meets local needs and enhances the environment •Creating balanced communities and housing options that are affordable and sustainable •Keeping our communities safe and listening to their needs •Enabling service provision and ensuring value for money for the council taxpayer •Improving the health and wellbeing of our community •Working to tackle climate change and enhancing our special environment

Helping local businesses to grow and prosper (Economic development) NFDC was wishing to engage more with Towns and Parishes at a local level and has done so since lockdown. Whatever the outcome of the above, without NFALC, neither the District nor the National Park Authority, or County Council for that matter, would have a vehicle through which they could all communicate and work in partnership with Town and Parish Councils within the New Forest District. All three Authorities– plus Hampshire Police and Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service, via the Safer New Forest Partnership – regularly attended NFALC meetings and will no doubt do so even more after lockdown.

CLLR GEORGE BISSON CHAIRMAN NEW FOREST ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL COUNCILS

30 NEW FOREST DISTRICT ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL COUNCILS

new forest association of local councils (nfalc)

Ashurst & Colbury PC East Boldre PC Marchwood PC

Beaulieu PC Ellingham, Harbridge & Ibsley PC Martin PC

Boldre PC Exbury & Lepe PC Minstead PC

Bramshaw PC Fordingbridge PC Netley Marsh PC

Bransgore PC Godshill PC Ringwood TC (DA) *

Breamore PC Hale PC Rockbourne PC

Brockenhurst PC Hordle PC Sandleheath PC

Burley PC Hyde PC Sopley PC

Copythorne PC Hythe & Dibden PC Sway PC

Damerham PC Lymington & Pennington TC Whitsbury PC

Denny Lodge PC Lyndhurst PC Woodgreen PC

*DA - Direct Access Council

31 ASSOCIATION OF TOWN & PARISH COUNCILS

The Test Valley Association of Parish and Town Councils has met 4 times since the last report. The first of those meetings was a joint Conference with Test Valley Borough Council, 2 were regular meetings and the fourth one was an AGM conducted using video conferencing. The inaugural Annual Conference with TVBC proved very successful and attracted a large attendance from parishes and town wards. Discussions covered a range of topics including local planning, housing and community resilience. A key outcome following feedback from parishes was a series of workshops held across the borough to provide information and support to parishes with engaging communities, interpreting data, identifying local priorities and developing community plans. TVAPTC used the output from the conference to help shape the agenda for the ensuing year. The Coronavirus pandemic and associated social distancing restrictions are likely to have an impact on whether and in what form this year’s conference can go ahead. The Association’s November meeting focused on the declared Climate Emergency by HCC and TVBC and looked at how parishes could contribute. Ideas were shared and a number of parishes took away initiatives to develop locally and subsequently formed local Climate Change Groups. The meeting in February 2020 was used to maintain momentum on local Climate Change initiatives and confirmed the importance of members collaborating to avoid duplication and promote best practice. A workshop on the provision of social housing was held alongside the climate change workshop in response to feedback from members. Following the meeting in February, the COVID-19 pandemic changed our priorities and Parish and Town Councils turned their attention to community support. TVAPTC has been working very closely with TVBC and HCC since lock down as part of the Community Support effort. As the Chairman, I have been attending the weekly telephone conferences with TVBC, Unity, HCC and others, acting as the spokesman for the parishes. In general, the parishes already had support networks and a mature sense of community, so they were prepared and able to help the vulnerable and shielded. But it nevertheless reinforced the benefit of collaboration and working together. It plays exactly into the TVAPTC strapline: “Many heads are better than one– strength in numbers”.

32 Despite the situation, the TVAPTC AGM was held in May 2020 using video conferencing. It worked well although I suspect a number of potential attendees were beaten by the technology. Aside from the normal AGM business, Cllr Rob Humby from HCC updated the Association on a range of issues and challenges and took a wide range of questions from participants. It was a strange atmosphere but nevertheless enjoyed and found valuable by those attending. From the Chairman’s perspective, I still find it difficult to enthuse members with what TVAPTC and HALC can do for them and as a Director of HALC, this is something I hope to champion in order to develop closer working relationships between the district members, TVAPTC and HALC. As the Chair of TVAPTC, I have engaged with parishes directly and I think the idea of supporting, influencing and challenging ideas/initiatives garners some support. But I still think the ideal of localism is not being realised or if it is, not everyone sees it or believes it. This year I will be seeking to publicise and celebrate successes (like the incinerator decision) and to encourage parishes to work together on a broad range of issues that affect them all to a greater or lesser extent. Climate Change remains a very high priority for members of the Association along with traffic and roads, and the attendant pollution seems to have strong support from all. But to take full advantage of the Association, I need to know the views of and have evidence from Parish and Town Councils. We do this at the moment largely by TVAPTC quarterly meetings which are quite often poorly attended. A way must be found of interacting in a more dynamic and timely fashion if the Association is going to realise its potential. I intend to reinvigorate our social media page and/or develop a website for TVAPTC so that members are able to post and share their thoughts, frustrations and successes more easily. This is of course more about social behaviour and ‘What’s in it for me?’ than technology or platforms. I don’t underestimate the challenge of my proposal and look forward to reporting progress next year.

CLLR CLIVE WARD CHAIRMAN TEST VALLEY ASSOCIATION OF PARISH AND TOWN COUNCILS

33 TEST VALLEY ASSOCIATION OF TOWN & PARISH COUNCILS

test valley association of town and parish councils (tvatpc)

Abbots Ann PC PC Extra PC

Ampfield PC Houghton PC Romsey TC (DA)

Andover TC PC PC

Ashley PM King's Somborne PC Stockbridge PC

Awbridge PC PC PC

Barton Stacey PC PC Thruxton PC

Braishfield PC PC PC

Broughton PC Melchet Park & PC PC

Charlton PC & Timsbury PC Wellow PC

Chilbolton PC PC & PC

East Dean PC PC PC

East Tytherley PC PC *DA - Direct Access Council

Faccombe PM & PC

34 DISTRICT ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL COUNCILS

In Winchester District we continue to look at ways to improve the working relationship between member councils and Winchester City Council. All tiers of government are increasingly recognising the added value that greater partnership working between the principal and local levels of local government brings to the vital services we provide and the communities we serve. Following forum meetings between Winchester Parish and Town Councils and Winchester City Council in March and November last year, it was agreed we would begin to prepare a Charter along the lines of the one established between East Hants District Council and East Hants District Association of Local Councils. Given that planning and its processes (including enforcement) remain a major area of frustration and dissatisfaction amongst the majority of Parish and Town Councils in Winchester District, it was agreed this should be the main focus. Parish and Town Councils have an important role to play in the planning system and can influence decisions that affect their local area. A Planning Service Parish Charter would provide a framework for the City Council and Parish Councils within the District to work together, maintain good working relationships and develop an effective partnership to improve and embed a culture of shared working for the benefit of all communities. On enforcement a working group of representatives from both parties was established to consider an easier Enforcement Plan.

Essentially the Service Charter would cover: • Mutual agreement • Information and communication • Local governance/democracy • Participation, consultation, engagement • Support and joint training by HALC and WCC.

A paper is being prepared by Chairman WDALC for initial consideration by the Southern Parishes Group in advance of it being circulated to all Parish and Town Councils in Winchester District and subsequently Winchester City Council. It takes account of the comments received from Parish and Town Councils in Winchester District, especially those relating to improved engagement. The paper will also address the involvement of local Parish and Town councils in pre-applications and also post- application arrangements.

35 There are a significant number of principal Councils throughout who strongly encourage developers to con- sult with local councils and local communities as early as possible on significant, contentious or complex developments prior to developing their planning applications for formal submission. This method of consultation may vary relative to the scale of the development but is integral to an effective delivery of positive developments that meet community needs and aims. The inclusion of post-decision engagement between the developer and the local Parish and Town Council where planning permission has been granted is important and should be included as part of the construction and environmental management plan. On joint training, initial discussions have taken place between Head of Development Management at Winchester City Council and CEO HALC and this will be developed over the coming months. Thanks must go to Richard Botham Strategic Director Winchester City Council and Julie Pinnock Head of Development Management Winchester City Council for their continuing support.

CLLR MIKE EVANS CHAIRMAN WINCHESTER DISTRICT ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL COUNCILS

36 WINCHESTER DISTRICT ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL COUNCILS

winchester district association of local councils (wdalc)

Badger Farm PC PC PC

Bighton PC PC South PC

Bishops Waltham PC Itchen Stoke & Ovington PC Southwick & PC

Boarhunt PC & PC Sparsholt PC

Bramdean & PC PC PC

Cheriton PC Littleton & Harestock PC PC

Colden Common PC PC Twyford PC

Corhampton & PC TC Upham PC

Crawley PC Newlands PC PM

Curdridge PC Northington PC PC

Denmead PC PC TC

Droxford PC Olivers Battery PC Wickham PC

Durley PC PC Wonston PC

Hambledon PC PC

37 AWARDS

38 VLLAGE OF THE YEAR COMPETITION 2019

Hampshire ALC is proud to work with Fuller’s Brewery in showcasing the very best of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Communities. Congratulations toBishops Waltham, Winchester for their success in 2019.

(Photographed: Our 2019 winners) hampshire and isle of wight village of the year competition - sponsored by fuller’s brewery

39 VILLAGE OF THE YEAR COMPETITION 2019

VILLAGE OF THE YEAR WINNER BISHOPS WALTHAM

RUNNER UP HOOK

BEST COMMUNITY EVENT WINNER (Denmead Summer Party) BEST COMMUNITY INITIATIVE TOTLAND (Mosaics project) BEST SMALL VILLAGE WINNER THRUXTON EXCELLENCE IN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT HOOK (App) WINNER BEST COMMUNITY FACILITY WINNER CLANFIELD (Bowls club /pavilion) BEST OPEN SPACES WINNER BEMBRIDGE (Seafront and War memorial) BEST COMMUNITY PUB OVERTON - 4 pubs jointly nominated: The Red Lion, The Old house at Home, The Greyhound, The Whiteheart

BEST COMMUNITY LEADER WINNER HOUND (Leading through significant change) INSPIRATIONAL INDIVIDUAL WINNERS SUE HINTON - HOOK SIMON GUILLAN—HOUND ED MORREL—FUNTLEY

40 COMMUNICATIONS AWARD 2019

BEST LOCAL COUNCIL OF THE YEAR

WINNERS HOUND PARISH COUNCIL

Sponsored by E-Mango BEST LOCAL COUNCIL NEWSLETTER BEST LOCAL COUNCIL WEBSITE WINNERS WINNERS DENMEAD PARISH COUNCIL ELVETHAM HEATH PARISH COUNCIL RUNNER UP: WICKHAM PARISH COUNCIL RUNNER UP: HOOK PARISH COUNCIL

BEST USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN PUBLIC CLERK OF THE YEAR ENGAGEMENT WINNER WINNERS SHARON WHITEHOUSE—WELLOW PARISH HOOK PARISH COUNCIL COUNCIL RUNNER UP: RUNNER UP: ANNE ATKINS—HOOK PARISH COUNCIL ELVETHAM HEATH PARISH COUNCIL HIGHLY COMMENDED:

JANE IVES— GREATHAM PARISH COUNCIL

41 Hampshire ALC warmly acknowledges our partnership with, and the generous financial support of Hampshire County Council

Contact Hampshire Association of Local Councils

Postal Address: Floor 2, Eastleigh House, Upper Market Street, Eastleigh, Hants, SO50 9YN SAT NAV CODE: SO50 9FD Telephone: 02380688601

Email: [email protected] Website: www.hampshirealc.org.uk

www.facebook.com/HantsALC

42

THANK YOU TO BHIB COUNCILS INSURANCE FOR SPONSORING THIS ANNUAL REVIEW 2019—2020

43 44