November/December report from County Cllr Jonathan Glen

Can you believe it…we have arrived at the end of another action-packed year. A chance to review what went right, what went wrong and how we can move forward into 2026 with a sense of being given another chance!

County Councillor Grants
The County Councillor Grant scheme is operating once more, with a lesser amount of £5,000 and new criteria as follows:

Hampshire County Councillor Grants – Updated Criteria (September 2025)

Following a comprehensive review, Hampshire County Council has revised its County Councillor Grants Scheme to reflect budget constraints and improve effectiveness. Key changes include:

Reduced Allocation: Each County Councillor now has an annual grant budget of £5,000, down from £8,000.

Eligibility Restrictions:
Grants are only available to organisations, not individuals.
Organisations cannot apply for the same project in consecutive years.
Applications must demonstrate community benefit, especially if from religious or statutory bodies.

Funding Limits:
A maximum of £1,000 per project is now in place.
Grants for seasonal or time-specific events must be awarded before the event date.

Transparency and Branding:
All funded projects must acknowledge County Council support in promotional materials.

Application Assessment:
Previous grant awards (from the last two years) will be considered during evaluation.
Preference may be given to organisations without access to other funding sources.

These changes aim to ensure the scheme remains fair, transparent, and aligned with the Council’s strategic priorities while managing financial pressures.

Parish Council Bus Shelter Grant Scheme

Hampshire County Council has launched a new grant scheme to help Parish Councils replace or refurbish bus shelters – making them more attractive, visible, and welcoming for passengers.
Funded through the Department for Transport’s Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) 2025/26 Bus Grant, this scheme is all about improving local infrastructure and encouraging more people to use public transport.

Who can apply? Parish Councils that own and maintain existing bus shelters.
How much is available? Up to £15,000 per shelter site – for either refurbishment or installation of a new shelter at an existing site.
When to apply? Applications are open now and must be submitted by 28 February 2026. Awards will be made on a rolling basis from early 2026.

Parish Councils will need to provide quotes from commercial suppliers as part of their application.
For more details, including the application form and guidance, visit Hampshire County Council’s website or contact the Passenger Transport Team at: passenger.transport.enquiries@hants.gov.uk

This is a great opportunity to improve local facilities and make bus travel more appealing for residents.

Southern Water hosepipe ban lifted

Southern Water has confirmed that the hosepipe ban has been lifted. lThank you to everyone who played their part in conserving water over the summer months—it really made a difference in protecting our precious chalk streams and keeping supplies flowing.

While restrictions are no longer in place, I’d encourage us all to keep up good water-saving habits where we can. Every drop saved helps build resilience for the future.

2026 County Council Elections

The Times has reported that leaders of the Devolution Priority Programme areas are calling for a further postponement of County Council elections, currently scheduled for May next year.
To be absolutely clear: we have not requested any delay to elections, nor have we had conversations with Government about one.
Ultimately, this is a decision for the Government. Last year’s delay was to enable devolution, which is now substantially complete. It was Westminster that subsequently imposed Local Government Reorganisation.
This is the Government’s project; its timeline and its decision whether it can deliver what is needed with or without elections

Hampshire County Council honours new Aldermen

Two former Hampshire County Councillors have been recognised with the award of the title of Honorary Alderman, for their distinguished service to the people of Hampshire.

New Year Resolution: Hampshire County Council backs residents to quit smoking – free support available

Quitting smoking isn’t easy, but you don’t have to do it alone. Hampshire County Council is encouraging residents to take part in Stoptober, the national campaign that helps thousands of people each year start living smokefree in 2026.

Hampshire County Council’s Children’s Services recognised in national awards
One of Hampshire County Council’s Children’s Services teams has been recognised as ‘Team of the Year’ at the national Social Worker of the Year Awards

A warm welcome for all – upgrades to Basingstoke Discovery Centre to support residents this winter
Basingstoke residents will soon enjoy an even warmer welcome at their local library thanks to refurbishment works taking place at Basingstoke Discovery Centre next month

MAJOR M27 CLOSURE – PLAN AHEAD THIS CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR
If you’re travelling down to the south coast over the festive period, please take note of the dates for the closure of the motorway between Southampton and Portsmouth:
The **M27 will be fully closed in both directions between Junctions 9 (Whiteley) and 11 (Fareham)** from **8pm on 24 December 2025 until 4am on Sunday 4 January 2026**.
This closure is essential to install a brand-new four-lane underpass using an innovative engineering technique that avoids months of disruption later. But it does mean **serious delays are expected** if you don’t plan ahead.
**What you need to know:**
– Full closure J9–J11 in both directions.
– Diversion via the A27 (expect heavy traffic, especially 10am–4pm daily).
– Exit available: westbound at J11 (Fareham/Gosport) and eastbound at J9 (Whiteley/Park Gate).
– No westbound entry at J11 (towards Southampton/A32) and no eastbound entry at J9 (towards Portsmouth).
If arranging Christmas and New Year travel please plan your journeys in advance:
Travel outside peak hours
Use alternative routes
Ask yourself if the journey is essential
We know this will cause significant inconvenience, and we thank local communities and road users for their patience while this vital work is carried out. This short closure for the innovative work will save months of additional disruption, lane closures and congestion.
For updates and full details, visit the official Christmas closure webpage.

Hampshire County Council continues to grow SEND provision with more specialist places and inclusive support

Hampshire County Council is continuing its long-term investment in special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision, with plans well underway to deliver 1,000 additional specialist school places between 2025 and 2030.This includes a mix of new places in both dedicated special schools and Resourced Provisions (RPs), which are specialist environments based within mainstream schools

County Council to consult on School and Post-16 Transport Policies
Parents will be asked for their views on Hampshire County Council’s School Transport and Post-16 Transport Policies in two consultations, which opened last month. Comments should be submitted by 7th December.

Foster Care – a stepping stone on the journey back home

Could you be part of a child’s journey back home to their family?

All the best for a happy & healthy holiday season—see you next year.