June report from County Cllr Jonathan Glen

/in /by

THE ROAD NOT TAKEN…? (apologies to Robert Frost)

I’ve had a number of emails with people concerned that the road repairs and some other local roads appear unfinished. They have certainly been left uneven and unsightly as in the photo below.

I hope I can reassure you that this is only the first part of work to resurface the roads in questions.

The uneven surface is as a result of ‘crack sealing’, which is undertaken to seal any cracks identified in the road, most particularly along the joins of previous utility repairs.

This is preparatory work for resurfacing of the road, the principle being that by sealing the cracks in the current surface then once the new surface is laid then it makes it less likely that there is damage to the undersurface of the road due to water ingress or movement during cold weather. This therefore reduces the likelihood of potholes forming in the new surface and thereby elongates the life of the road surface.

Greater powers to tackle fly-tipping

I strongly welcome the Government’s announcement of a new crackdown on cowboy waste operators to tackle fly-tipping and clean up our streets, lanes, and rural areas.

Key Points:

– Councils will work with the police to identify, seize, and crush vehicles of waste criminals.

– Drones and mobile CCTV cameras will be used to identify and destroy cars and vans belonging to fly-tippers.

– A rapid review will slash red tape, allowing councils to seize and crush vehicles more easily. Fly-tippers will cover the costs, saving money for councils and taxpayers.

– Waste criminals will now face up to five years in prison for illegal operations.

– The Environment Agency will conduct identity and criminal record checks on operators, with increased resources and powers to revoke permits, issue enforcement notices, and impose hefty fines.

As you know, Hampshire councils have for many years been at the forefront of the fight against fly tipping. I really hope these new powers are brought in quickly and are used by all local authorities to tackle the criminals who blight our beautiful county with their selfish, greedy and thoughtless behaviour.

Myths about animals in Hampshire’s countryside

The British countryside is steeped in centuries of myth, superstition, and storytelling — and we’re here to share some of the most fascinating traditions with you!

From bees to butterflies, mice to rabbits, each creature was once believed to carry hidden meanings, omens, and even magical powers.

Mice: If mice invaded your home, it was seen as a bad omen, a warning of illness or even death. But don’t worry — folklore offers a humane solution! Simply ask the mice politely to leave, explaining that your home is not convenient for them.

Eels: It was once believed you could create an eel by tossing horsehair into a running stream! Eels were thought to cure deafness and rheumatism, though many people were wary of eating them.

Bees: Bees were considered sacred and wise. Tradition says you must always speak kindly around bees, inform them of major family events like weddings or funerals, and even feed them cake from these celebrations to keep them happy and loyal.

Rabbits: The rabbit’s foot — especially the left hind leg — was a symbol of good luck, tracing back to Celtic beliefs. Rabbits were seen as messengers between our world and the spirit realm. (Just to be clear, we don’t recommend collecting rabbit feet today!)

Butterflies: Superstitions say that a white butterfly in your home brings good luck, a brown butterfly brings important news, and a yellow one promises sunny days ahead. Some even believed butterflies were the souls of loved ones visiting from beyond.

The countryside isn’t just beautiful — it’s alive with ancient stories.

Want to know more? Hampshire’s Countryside Service has more detail in their blog and podcast

Getting ready for a spring clean?

Don’t be tempted to engage with people on social media who offer to remove your waste, unless they are licensed waste carriers.

It is your duty of care to dispose of your waste correctly. You could be fined an unlimited amount if your waste ends up fly-tipped.

Check your waste carrier is licensed

General HCC Information

Deadline reminder for SEN parents applying for School Transport
Hampshire parents who would like their SEN children to be considered for School Transport from September 2025 must apply on time to make sure their applications are reviewed before the new school year starts. The deadline is 30th June.
Deadline reminder for parents applying for School Transport | Hampshire County Council

Primary school place offers confirmed by Hampshire County Council

Hampshire County Council set to consider proposals to boost recycling rates

Proposals that would boost recycling rates in Hampshire are due to be considered later this month by Hampshire County Council. The plans, if approved, would deliver a state-of-the-art Materials Recovery Facility that could process more types of household waste for recycling.

Green light to boosting recycling rates in Hampshire
Plans to construct of a new, state of the art recycling facility for Hampshire, have been given the go-ahead enabling residents to recycle a wider range of household materials at the kerbside in future.

Any questions on these or any other county council issues please email me and I will take action.

* * *

Councillor Jonathan K. Glen
HCC Member for Odiham, Hook & The Western Parishes
jonathan.glen@hants.gov.uk

May Report from County Cllr Jonathan Glen

/in /by

Spring is sprung, the grass is riz, wondering where the next road work is?

Utility works on the highway – 

The disruption caused by the SGN roadworks locally and those caused by developers have resulted in quite a number of questions about why and how Hampshire County Council allow utility companies, other public bodies and development companies to work on the roads.

So, I hope it’s helpful to share this Q&A which helps explain the process for granting permission and what control Highways have over these type of roadworks:

𝐐: 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐂𝐂 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐰𝐚𝐲’𝐬 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞?
A: The Highways team is responsible for the coordination of all works and events on the public highway in order to minimise traffic disruption. The Streetworks team also monitors utility Co’s activities on the public highway and checks active work sites and reinstatements for compliance with National specifications.

𝐐: 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐰𝐚𝐲?
A: Yes, they have legal duties and rights to install and maintain apparatus on the public highway. However, they have to comply with National Specifications and obtain a permit from the County Council for planned works.
Legislation gives them legal rights to install cabinets and masts (up to 15m high) on the public highway without planning permission.

𝐐: 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐇𝐂𝐂 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐚 𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐰𝐚𝐲?
A: No, except under very specific circumstances, for example: where a utility company wants to install new apparatus on a highly important and strategic road that has been specifically designated, by law, as a protected street.

𝐐: 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐰𝐚𝐲?
A: The County Council can place conditions on any permit application. Conditions are used to try to minimise traffic disruption. The conditions available as part of the permit scheme are not ‘free form’ and are restricted to controls over works timing, works area, traffic management type and stakeholder engagement. Conditions have to be reasonable and be able to be met by the works promoter.

𝐐: 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐲𝐩𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 (𝐓𝐌) 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐬𝐞?
A: The works promoter is entirely responsible for selecting the most appropriate type of TM. They are the experts in the works they are undertaking and what the risks are. In selecting the TM type they must consider the risks to the workforce, passing traffic (including pedestrians) and relevant legislation and Codes or Practice.

𝐐: 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐝?
A: The works promoter is entirely responsible for selecting an appropriate diversion route. Best practice is to ensure that the diversion route uses similar roads to those closed. Unfortunately, the existing networks don’t always permit this. Diversion routes are not enforceable.

𝐐: 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐭?
A: The works promoter is ALWAYS responsible for the information they supply. The County Council must assume that it is correct when assessing the permit and determining what conditions to apply.

𝐐: 𝐃𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐥 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬/𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧?
A: No, the permit relates ONLY to the works and its impact on traffic. Approval for installing apparatus is given either by a utility company’s legal rights or via the local Planning Authority.

𝐐: 𝐈’𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚 𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐫𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐟𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞. 𝐈𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝?
A: Yes, utility companies are allowed to use a temporary reinstatement in order to re-open a road quickly or to give them time to source specialist materials. Normally temporary reinstatements are allowed for up to 6 months, the utility company has to reinstate the original surface within that time.

𝐐: 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭?
A: Legislation states that a utility company is liable for any ‘reasonable’ repairs for two years.

𝐐: 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬?
A: Legislation requires all works promoters to submit permit applications between 3 working days and 3 months ahead of works starting.
For ‘Immediate works’ (relating to safety or loss of service) there is no advance warning. Works are started and the County Council is alerted within 2 working hours.

𝐐: 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐧𝐨𝐧-𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞?
A: Yes. There are a range of penalties open to the County Council where works promoters do not comply with permit conditions.

𝐐: 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐝𝐨 𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬?
A: Very well. In 2022 Over 95% of site signage and 96% of reinstatements complied with the National specifications. 97% of utility sites comply with permit conditions. 99% of utility sites were completed on time, or early.

𝐐: 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐈 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲?
A: The County Council handles all permits via a National IT system. This system automatically publishes all permits on the https://one.network website

𝐐: 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲’𝐬 𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤?
A: In the 2021/2022 financial year we processed 52,000 permit applications/changes from utility companies which resulted in 36,000 works being undertaken. The last couple of years have seen even higher numbers processed.

Future Structure of Councils Across Hampshire – 

Work has begun on the future structure of councils across Hampshire, with early ideas for local government reorganisation now submitted to the Government.

As the provider of 85% of council services in Hampshire, the County Council emphasizes the importance of financial strength and resilience for councils to be effective, deliver high-quality services, and provide the best possible quality of life for residents.

Key Points:

The region’s 15 councils will collaborate on a final proposal for submission to the Government this autumn.
Financial strength and resilience are crucial for councils to deliver high-quality services and shape places that people can be proud to call home.

There is a short video available online which sets out what comes next.

Planning changes – 

The Hampshire Chronicle has also printed comments from the Leader of HCC about the changes to the planning system.

Key Concerns:

– Immediate Effect: The new rules lack any transitional arrangement, meaning developers can apply for any site, and even if the local council turns it down, the Planning Inspectorate might approve it on appeal.

– Housing Land Supply: Many Hampshire councils can’t meet the new 5-year housing land supply target, which has increased even further since July.

– Local Input Ignored: The Government is pushing through powers for housing developments and energy infrastructure, including solar farms and onshore wind farms, sidelining local input via council planning committe

Have Your Say on the Future of Local Services in Hampshire! – 

Hampshire County Council is running a public consultation to gather views on options to change and reduce some local services to address a budget shortfall of at least £97.6 million for 2025/26. Your feedback is crucial in helping us prioritize vital public services for those most in need.

Proposed Service Changes:

Planned Highway Maintenance
Older Adults Day Services
Post-16 Transport
School Transport

We invite residents to share their views on these proposed changes, their potential impacts, and any other ways savings might be made. Your input will help shape the future of local services in Hampshire.

Consultation Details: Visit our website to read more about the proposed changes and have your say: Future Services Consultation – Spring 2025
Closing date is 7th May 2025.

78 new SEND Places Approved Across Hampshire Schools – 

Exciting news for Hampshire! Approval has been granted to create 78 additional special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) places across six schools starting this September. This expansion is crucial to meet the growing demand driven by an increase in education, health, and care plans (EHCPs).

Key Facts:

Over 17,700 pupils in Hampshire have EHCPs, with 40% needing specialist school places.
Hampshire County Council aims to create 166 new places this year to meet rising demand, forecasted to reach 28,000 by 2030.

The lack of sufficient provision has led to increased placements in independent and non-maintained sector (INMSS), costing an estimated £5.5m for the same number of places.

Schools Joining the SEND Expansion Programme include: – 

Fleet Infant School, Fleet
Velmead Junior School, Fleet
Maple Ridge School, Basingstoke

These proposals are part of our ambitions to meet more pupils’ needs closer to home, reduce our reliance on independent schools, and cut down on transport costs.

Council Tax for 2025/26: What You Need to Know

Wondering how much Council Tax you’ll be paying for 2025/26? The amount depends on your property’s band and location. For a Band D property, the total bill will be £2,142.04 (excluding parish or town council charges).

Breakdown of Charges include:

Hampshire County Council: £1,609.83 (5.0% increase)
Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire: £275.46 (5.4% increase)
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service: £87.84 (6.0% increase)

Council Tax helps fund essential local services, including support for the homeless, waste and recycling collections, town centre regeneration, housing advice, and more.

£12.5M Cost of Living Support for Hampshire Households – 

Hampshire households facing financial difficulties will continue to receive significant support for the next 12 months. The County Council has secured a new allocation of £12,556,062.75 to sustain its Household Support Fund (HSF) programme. This national programme provides relief to those struggling to afford essential items like food, warm bedding, and household bills.

Key Points:
The HSF enables Hampshire County Council to work with local charities, education providers, community groups, and councils to provide much-needed relief.

We are delighted to have confirmation that the Household Support Fund will be extended for another full year. This will allow us to strengthen partnerships and provide essential support to those who need it most.

Next Steps:

Over the coming weeks, plans will be refined to invest this funding into programmes that deliver sustainable benefits to working families facing rising food and energy costs.

For more information and support, visit our connect4communities web pages.

£13 Million Boost for Hampshire’s Bus Services – 

Exciting news for Hampshire! Improvements worth £13,049,411 will be made to local bus services and infrastructure in 2025/26, thanks to a grant from the Department for Transport. This funding will help make bus journeys faster, more frequent, reliable, and greener.

Key Improvements:

– More frequent bus services, including early morning and evening routes
– Bus priority measures to reduce delays from traffic congestion
– De-carbonising Hampshire’s bus fleet
– Developing more Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) routes
– Upgraded bus stations and better waiting environments at bus stops
– Innovative solutions for rural public transport needs

Our ambition is to have a high-quality, efficient, and dependable network of bus services across the county. Government funding, developer contributions, and investment by bus operators are crucial to linking communities and improving connections to essential services. We can only do this though if bus services become sustainable through regular local use.

Specific Projects for 2025/26: – 

– Infrastructure improvements at Sixth Form Colleges
– Safety and security upgrades in bus shelters
– Real-time and on-bus passenger information enhancements
– Fund for rural bus shelters
– Community self-help schemes
– Support for commercial bus services and service enhancements
– Initiatives for disability access

Increasing bus use will help tackle climate change, boost the local economy, and improve access to education, training, and employment opportunities.

Preserving England’s Past, Building Its Future – 

Communities across England can now apply for a share of £20 million to protect and revive cherished historic sites. From theatres to parks, this funding breathes new life into spaces that matter most.

Heritage Revival Fund: £4.85M to rescue and repurpose historic buildings like department stores & banks. Transform these spaces into vibrant community hubs!

Heritage at Risk Capital Fund: £15M for repairing and enhancing heritage buildings in deprived areas, supporting everything from town halls to local pubs.

Historic sites tell our shared story—let’s keep it alive and thriving for generations to come! Apply now and make a difference.

Full guidance on eligibility and how to apply at: Architectural Heritage Fund  & Historic England (https://historicengland.org.uk).

* * *

Councillor Jonathan Glen

March/April Report from County Cllr Jonathan Glen

/in /by

Isn’t it great to see the sun again! 

Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation have been all-consuming topics of late, but the day-to-day work has been continuing as well. Foremost in everyone’s mind is the big council tax question–where is our money going?

Hampshire County Council’s Budget

This graphic below shows you how each £1 of our Council Tax will be spent next financial year in Hampshire. This includes schools spending, social care, school transport and education, which make up almost 87% of our budget.

At our full council meeting last month, we agreed our budget for the year ahead. After a long debate we voted for an increase of 4.99% in Council Tax, the maximum percentage under current fiscal guidelines. We had asked the Government for permission to increase it by a larger amount but the request was refused. 

Why did we ask for a larger rise? 

None of us want to increase Council Tax. However, the County Council’s services are underfunded because for years we have maintained a low Council Tax rate. This is why we needed to request an increase of above 5% from the Government. 

Hampshire’s Council Tax this financial year is £1533.24 for a Band D property – the second lowest in the country. In Surrey the equivalent rate is £1,758.60, West Sussex £1,714.95, and Oxfordshire £1,820.56 for example.

Each 1% of Council Tax increase in Hampshire nets an additional £8million in revenue for the Council. So, a 5% increase results in £40 million in additional revenue this year.

This may sound like a lot of money but it is nowhere near enough to meet the ever-rising cost of social care. Every month in Hampshire we see a net increase of 30 people living in care who rely on the County Council to pay their costs. Even at the minimum level of support, these 360 vulnerable adults cost the Council a further £18.7 million annually. 

Every month we are also seeing an additional 200 applications for Education Health and Care Plans – the first step for children to register for Special Educational Needs (SEN) support. That exponential rise is the reason our budget for Home to School transport has increased from £24 million per year at the end of the pandemic to £105 million next year. 

Add to this the recent Government increase to employers National Insurance, costs us a further £10.5 million from this year.  We also have to include the cost of pay rises caused by inflation.

Although we already have cut over £700 million from our budgets in the last 10 years, we must continue to look for further savings. However, there is little room for manoeuvre and our reserves will be exhausted by 2026/27.  

Our past repeated requests for core funding from successive Governments have fallen on stony ground.

Hampshire County Council is well run. It has the second lowest council tax in the country.  We have used our reserves to balance the budget so far but this is not sustainable. 

Taking all these issues into consideration Hampshire County Council has now approved budget plans for 2025/26, prioritising the delivery of vital public services to residents who are most in need, while ensuring budget pressures can be managed for the coming financial year.  

Hampshire County Council approves Council Tax increase to sustain essential services | Hampshire County Council

Keep the Home Fires Burning…struggling to keep your home warm in Hampshire? pastedGraphic.png

The ‘Hitting the Cold Spots’ service is here to help! pastedGraphic_1.pngpastedGraphic_2.png

Get FREE support from experienced advisers at the Environment Centre (tEC), an independent charity. They can assist with:

Resolving energy billing issues

Saving money & energy at home

pastedGraphic_3.pngAdvice line open Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm pastedGraphic_4.pngCall: 0800 804 8601 pastedGraphic_5.pngEmail: staywarm@environmentcentre.com

Find more info & advice at Hitting the Cold Spots – the Environment Centre (tEC) and the council’s website, including energy efficiency tips and grant details: https://hantscoldspots.environmentcentre.com

Devolution in Hampshire – have your say in the Government’s consultation 

Hampshire residents are invited to have their say on the once-in-a-generation devolution proposals for Hampshire and the Solent region in the eight-week public consultation launched by central government. 

Devolution for Hampshire – have your say in the Government’s consultation | Hampshire County Council

Highways Information 

Reporting Highway Problems 

Links to report road issues are here: 

Potholes: https://www.hants.gov.uk/transport/highways/report-a-problem/potholes

Tree/hedge problems: https://www.hants.gov.uk/transport/highways/report-a-problem/treehedge

Flooding/drainage issues: https://www.hants.gov.uk/transport/highways/report-a-problem/flooding

Pavement problems: https://www.hants.gov.uk/transport/highways/report-a-problem/paving

Broken or missing signs: https://www.hants.gov.uk/transport/highways/report-a-problem/brokensigns

Faulty street lights: https://www.hants.gov.uk/transport/highways/report-a-problem/streetlight

Faded or missing road markings: https://www.hants.gov.uk/transport/highways/report-a-problem/road-markings

Problems with rights of way: https://www.hants.gov.uk/landplanningandenvironment/rightsofway/reportaproblem 

 

When reporting an issue, you’ll be sent an email confirming a reference number for the report.  If you would like me to follow this up for you then do please forward that message to me and I will chase for you.

And now for something completely different…

I’d like to pay tribute to one of Hook’s own local heroes who has just received the High Sheriff of Hampshire Community Award!  Martin Rudd is the lead Hampshire Scouts Volunteer for Community Development and Relations for the whole of Hampshire. For many years, Martin has led and represented Hampshire Scouts in all civic organisations and is recognised as the ‘go to’ person for major civic and ceremonial events, including the Winchester Cathedral Youth Service.  Martin also leads the Hampshire Youth Emergency Service Response Group, supporting the emergency services when a civil crisis occurs, such as flooding. On top of this, he organises the Hampshire Youth Leaders Network, bringing together all uniformed organisations including the Fire Service, Police and St John’s Ambulance cadets.  These forums enable youth leaders across the county to share good practice and skills that benefit the young people in their care. 

Martin received his award at an impressive ceremony last month from the High Sheriff of Hampshire himself, Jon Whitaker JP DL. 

Many congratulations!

Councillor Jonathan K. Glen

jonathan.glen@hants.gov.uk

Devolution for Hampshire – have your say in the Government’s consultation

/in /by

Devolution promises to bring huge opportunities, money and growth to our region – boosting people’s quality of life for generations to come, and Hampshire is on the fast-track to benefit.
Have your say in the recently launched Government’s devolution consultation on proposals to create a new Strategic Authority for the wider region of Hampshire, Portsmouth, Southampton and Isle of Wight.
With the changes set to bring huge investment and extra powers from Government to Hampshire we’re encouraging anyone who lives and works in the region to give their views.
The consultation runs for eight weeks and will be open until 11:59pm on 13 April 2025.
You can find more information about the devolution proposals for the wider Hampshire area, including a Q&A on the County Council’s website.

HAVE YOUR SAY 

Monthly report from County Cllr Jonathan Glen

/in /by

The latest report from County Councillor Jonathan Glen can be found below:

“As flies to wanton boys/are we to the gods…”
– ‘King Lear, Act 4, Scene 1

Modern Translation:
Prepare for Local Government Reorganisation!

I am sure you have heard a few things about mayors, devolution of power, local government reorganisation and the fact that the May county council elections have been postponed.
I thought you might like to know what’s going on, from the horse’s mouth.
For years, successive governments have offered unitary status to any councils who were prepared to apply. The time had come for Hampshire to make its bid. Why? In a nutshell, our country can no longer financially sustain two-tier local government.
Currently, at Hampshire County Council, 85% of our TOTAL budget provides support for our most vulnerable residents, specifically special needs children and the elderly. This is a statutory obligation, enshrined in law. Therefore the remaining 15% of our budget pays for everything else, such as roads, pavements, potholes, street lights, libraries, etc. Despite these figures, it is generally acknowledged that Hampshire County Council is still one of the best-run authorities in the country. We are not bankrupt but are using up our reserves. We know we cannot continue as we are and changes must take place.
Just before Christmas, the Government produced a White Paper offering a fast-track opportunity to all councils to apply for elected mayors, devolution and re-organisation.
All bids had to be in by January 10th.
Immediately the Leader of Hampshire County Council had meetings with the leaders of all the Hampshire district and borough councils, including the Isle of Wight. Across the board there was unanimous approval, to keep control of our future, and apply for the fast-track approach.
An emergency county council meeting took place on the 9th of January, and this was all agreed. On the morning of the 10th the Cabinet ratified the County Council decision and our bid was sent in to the Secretary of State for Housing & Local Government. This included a request for 1 year’s postponement of the county elections.
In the first week of February a phone call from Westminster came in during our Cabinet meeting, agreeing to all aspects of our proposal.
In addition to Hampshire, 17 other English county councils had applied for the election postponement. We were not alone.
All existing county councillors will now be intimately involved with planning the re-organisation of Hampshire’s local government structure. A report will be sent to Westminster by the end of Autumn 2025.
What does this mean for all of us?
In two years’ time there will no longer be district, borough or county councils. In their place will be a Pan-Hampshire Unity Authority. This will mean a huge reduction in councillor representation and most of the current local government work will be organised from Winchester.
Therefore, in this brave new world we are now entering, I would like to hear from anybody who would be interested in becoming a Pan-Hampshire representative. We are going to need lots of new blood and fresh ideas to make this work. Please contact me at jonathan.glen@hants.gov.uk.
It continues to be my great honour and privilege to represent our area during this exciting period of transition.

Councillor Jonathan K. Glen
Hampshire County Council
Member for Hook, Odiham & The Western Parishes
Email: jonathan.glen@hants.gov.uk

 

 

Greywell Road Safety Group – Donation site now live

/in /by

Your invitation to help stop traffic speeding through Greywell – By making a donation to establish Gateways at the entrances to our village you can make a huge difference to traffic calming in Greywell.
Your gift will also help purchase a third Speed Indicator Device to add to the two already encouraging cars and vans to slow down. Further information can be found on the Greywell Road Safety Group page.

Read more

Annual Parish Council Meeting

/in /by

The Annual Meeting of the Parish Council will be held in the village hall at 6pm on Wednesday 7 May 2025. Once issued, the agenda for this meeting will be found on the “agenda and minutes” page of “your Parish Council”. Members of the public are welcome to attend and listen to proceedings. If, as a member of the public, you wish to speak at the meeting the Chairman will invite you to do so under the appropriate agenda point.

The Greywell Boardwalk

/in /by

Work to replace and refurbish part of the Greywell boardwalk has recently been completed by the Countryside Services team at Hampshire County Council Council.

The project has been supported throughout by volunteers who have worked with the Countryside Team from the start of the project in June 2023. Without the support of these volunteers the work would have taken much longer.

The project has been a huge team effort from start to finish – with numerous Access team rangers assisting and learning the process of working with material which is a very new concept to the team – a recycled plastic/fiberglass which will never rot and provides a much-needed grip for footpath users especially in wet and icy conditions.

Temporary closure of footpath 3 in Greywell

/in /by

The Countryside Service has extended an Order to temporarily close part of Greywell Footpath 3 to enable phase 2 of repair works to take place to the boardwalk along this route. The path will be closed from 31 July 2024 for a period of 1 month or until completion of the works, whichever is sooner.

The Order is attached below.