Spring-Summer 2018
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HThe newspaaper of Hr art District CoNuncil wwew.harwt.gov.uk s Spring-Summer 2018 ‘Green Gym’ Business support Safety online Volunteers help us to Two-page special on Tips to help keep our country the help and advice parents make sure parks (and themselves) available to businesses their child avoids in tip-top shape – p5 in Hart – p10-11 risks online – p15 Don’t miss your chance to comment on the NNeeww ppaarrkk ooppeenn ttoo aallll Hart Local Plan Hart’s newest greenspace, Don’t miss the deadline! Please comment on the Hart Local Plan Bramshot Farm Country by 4pm on Monday 26 March. Park, is now open for Everyone should take the opportunity to comment. residents and visitors. The Plan sets out where new homes will be built. It also has policies to protect the Situated just off the A327, the environment, deliver new park boasts 91 acres of infrastructure and promote the greenspace with pathways economy. extending for 2.5 kilometres In Spring 2017 Hart District through fields and woodland. Council consulted on a Draft The new Country Park was Plan. This new version has been recognised by an official ribbon updated and we have taken a cutting ceremony held by the number of possible development Chairman of the Council, Cllr sites out of the Plan. Gerry Crisp, on Monday 13 However, we must have an eye November 2017. initially host two on long-term housing demand, Cllr Crisp said: “Our different walking routes. One of and the need for a new Countryside Team have worked these, 'Leaping Hare Loop', Rushmoor Borough Council secondary school, so we are hard to deliver a quality Country provides a 1.3 kilometre surfaced and Enterprise M3 LEP. The proposing an area around Murrell Park for the local community. pathway which can be used by LEP provided a £5.3 million loan Green/Winchfield where we This is very much a first step in wheelchairs and buggies around from its Local Growth Fund, to think it would be sensible to build a new village. This will its development and we hope a wide open meadow, with acquire the site and create the l You can read more about allow us to plan properly to meet that, over the years, this site will beautiful carved benches allowing Country Park. our countryside sites, our future needs. continue to develop and grow a place to rest and reflect. For more information about including our 'Spotlight on Cllr Graham Cockarill, Cabinet into a remarkable high-quality The new country park has this site, call Countryside on SANGS and the Thames Member for Planning, is greenspac e. ” been developed by Hart District 01252 623443 or email Basin Heaths' on page 4 of encouraging people to take part The exciting new site will Council in partnership with [email protected] Hart News. in the consultation and says: “Our Local Plan is now well advanced and this is the last chance for everyone to make their views known before the Plan is Celebrating six months of the Hart Lottery considered by an independent Inspecto r. ” In January we celebrated the six Council, said “Support for the supporters to choose from when to the community. I take part to Comments made on this month anniversary since the start lottery so far has been fantastic, buying their tickets, residents are support Daisy Chain Café, a café version of the Plan will be sent to of the Hart Lottery. with more than 450 supporters able to donate to a cause which that provides free support for an independent Planning The lottery was set up by the buying tickets to donate directly is personal to them and have a 1 people with dementia or Inspector who will consider the Council to support local charities to a cause of their choice. in 50 chance of winning a prize, memory loss. I think the Hart Plan and assess whether it is and good causes. Since launching “I would encourage all local including an incredible £25,000 Lottery is a fun and easy way to acceptable and meets in July 2017, it has raised more good causes to sign up and get jackpot and other cash prizes. support your local charit y.” Government guidelines. We For more information than £10,000 for local causes and involved in the lottery as it is a Mrs W, winner of £2,000, the expect this to be later this year. is on target to raise over great way to raise funds for highest lottery prize to date, said: about joining the lottery as £25,000 in its first year. projects which may have been “I am so pleased to have won a good cause, or if you To see the Plan, supporting Speaking about this milestone hard to achieve without the this fantastic prize on the Hart would like to buy tickets for documents and how to respond, visit for the lottery, Cllr David extra donations.” Lotter y, whilst supporting a the next draw visit www.hart.gov.uk Neighbou r, Leader of the With over 45 local causes for worthwhile cause that gives back www.hartlottery.co.uk 01252 622122 e [email protected] www.hart.gov.uk /HartDistrictCouncil @HartCouncil /Hart-District-Council /hartcouncil Hart District Council 2 News www.hart.gov.uk Hart takes back the crown as the best place to live in the UK Hart District Council has wide range of measures, including reclaimed the crown as the l Residents feel fit and well with UK’s best place to live for the more than nine in 10 (97%) fifth time in six years, reporting good or fairly good according to the 2017 Halifax health. Quality of Life Survey, l It has the longest average female published in December. life expectancy in the UK of 86.7 Commenting on the survey, Cllr years, and the third longest for David Neighbou r, Leader of Hart men (82.5). District Council, said: “It’s great to l Hart has one of the highest see that the Halifax recognises the employment rates with eight in attributes which residents of Hart 10 (84%) of 16-64 year-olds in value so greatly and contribute to work and weekly average the quality of life we enjoy. earnings of £844. “This year we’re back at the top l The latest ONS figures indicate spot and it’s due to our continued adults living in Hart are among investment in our residents’ the most happ y, satisfied and wellbein g. content in the UK. “Our new £23 million pound l Residents enjoy one of the state-of-the-art Leisure Centre and lowest crime rates in the UK. new Bramshot Country Park are l They also have a relatively good testament of this. Elvetham Heath climate, with more sunshine “Through our new Corporate (32.5 hours per week against Plan we will continue to deliver our the average of 29.7 hours). key activities and priorities to encourage a thriving local economy, and effective Council. with reduced government fundin g; What makes Hart such a To read the full press release maintain a clean, green and safe “We face some challenges over but through all of this, we will good place to live? from the Halifax, please visit environment, keep our the next few years with increasing remain committed to deliver The Halifax Quality of Life Survey www.hart.gov.uk/the-council/ communities healthy, and make pressure to provide more services that continue to keep Hart has placed Hart in the top spot news/hart-takes-back-crown- sure we become a more efficient affordable homes and infrastructure as the best place to live.” based on its high performance in a uks-best-place-live www.hart.gov.uk News 3 Send us your images so we can share the best of Hart Small rise in Council Have you captured something beautiful in your local area? If you're looking for a great way to showcase your photos, Hart can help. We are looking for keen photographers to send us their pictures, so we can share the best of Hart. Tax will offset cut in Email your favourite images to [email protected] and you could see your photo featured on our website. You can also tag us in your photos on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or use the hashtag - #PictureHart Government grant The Council has set its budget for 2018/2019 and it was agreed that there will be a small council tax increase for the District Council element of that charge. In light of the complete phasing out of Government support grant, this increase is necessary if we are to protect the services that are important to our residents. Although the Council collects all of the council tax, it actually retains as little as 10%, with some going to the local parish councils but the greatest share going to Hampshire County Council, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire, and Hampshire Fire and Rescue. Fleet Pond at sunrise From April 2018 a householder with an average band D property is likely to see the Hart District Council element of their annual bill increase by just over 9 pence a week. The Government is currently proposing a negative grant in 2019/20. This would further reduce our funding by over £500,000. We have made a number of efficiency savings through renegotiating existing contracts, but over the next few years we will look for more opportunities to make savings and efficiencies while working hard to deliver better services at a lower cost.