A number of residents have contacted me regarding the plans to move or remove the memorial trees from the open space at the north end of the village.
I know that these have been an issue with residents since the Trust announced its plans to redevelop the village last year. Many of you contacted me then and on your behalf I asked the borough’s tree officer last May to undertake a tree survey in the parish to identify trees which might benefit from tree preservation orders
That survey is now complete and some (but not all) of the memorial trees are worthy of such an order. The tree officer has told me his department’s work is now complete and a report will be issued soon. Those trees which can be protected will be. Unfortunately it will not be possible to protect all of the trees. It is also impossible to use tree preservation orders (TPOs) to prevent development in the area if the land owners so wish. All the TPOs will do is to ensure that any development is carried out in a manner to protect the trees.
It may be possible to relocate some of the other trees elsewhere and we are advising the Trust to do so if possible. The fact that the Trust’s notices refer to removal or moving the trees does suggest they are amenable to preserving these trees where there is a public demand for it.
The notices ask for interested parties to contact the Trust to ensure the trees are protected. I would strongly recommend that anyone who has an interest in these trees contacts the Trust either directly or through the parish council to make their views known. In the meantime I and your other borough councillors will monitor both the tree situation and pending planning applications to ensure that any developments are carried out in the best interests of the whole community.

Please contact me if you have any further queries regarding this.

Test Valley councillors are to debate the procedure for selecting the borough mayor. I and councillor Rod Bailey (an ex mayor of Test Valley) have tabled a motion for next weeks council meeting calling for a review of the current arrangements.

The text of the motion is that “Council affirms that the role of Mayor as first citizen of the Borough is a non-political post and that in electing the Mayor it will seek to select the best candidate for the post. Council further notes that, unlike many other authorities, Test Valley does not have an agreed procedure for nomination of candidates for the post of Mayor. Council therefore calls upon the Executive to investigate procedures for nomination and election of Mayor with a view to introducing a formal procedure for the Mayoral election of 2009.”

The motion is not about the quality of mayors past, present or to come nor does it suggest the current procedures are unsatisfactory. It merely notes that unlike many other local authorities we do not have an established procedure. At a time when politicians locally and nationally are held in low esteem it is essential that our procedures and decisions are seen to be open, transparent and accountable. I hope the proposal will be accepted by the full council.

Test Valley procedure is that candidates are “chosen” at a private, informal meeting and then elected at the council’s annual general meeting in May. Other procedures include Basingstoke and Deane where candidates for election are selected on seniority and Eastleigh where a points system is used to ensure political proportionality. All of the last ten mayors of Test Valley have been from the majority Conservative group.

As expected the government has devolved the final decision on whether an area can have a town or parish council to borough councils. Quoted in the Andover Advertiser, Stephen Lugg, Director of the Hampshire Associaiton of Local Councils condemned the move as “disastrous”. Mr Lugg argued that the county council should make the decision because the borough council is using evidence from ten years ago, based on a small selection of people that they selected, to say that Andover does not want a town council.

 Borough council leader Ian Carr continues to argue that borough councillors are in a better position to know about the “real feeling” of the town and also makes the unsubstatiated claim that a town council would cost more.

My own experience is that the voters of Andover are quite capable of making up their own minds as to whether they want a town council and do not need borough councillors from outside the town to make that decision for them. The case that town and parish councils are more expensive is not proven. In fact parishes adjacent to Andover have a lower council tax precept that the Andover levy which Cllr Carr charges Andoverians for the services he thinks a town council would supply.

I share Mr Lugg’s concern that the case for a town council may not get a fair hearing from the borough but would like to re-assure him that Test Valley’s Liberal Democrats are fimly commited to establishing a town council for Andover and look forward to the completion of the town council petition which will prove beyond doubt that the people of Andover want the same democratic rights as every other ciitzen of Test Valley.

Hamshire County Council has joined a group of local authorities who have agreed to save the non-emergency 101 phone line. The possible scrapping of this service was highlighted by Test Valley Liberal Democrats last year (see December 2007 blog on this site). The county will provide £27,000 to help develop the service which is being absorbed into Hampshire Constabulary’s call handling operations.

In Hampshire and the Isle of Wight 380,000 calls have been made to the number since May 2006. I am pleased to see the county council has responded to public concerns over the loss of this service and has listened to the Lib Dem county and borough councillors championing the retention of the service.

A letter to the Andover Advertiser 18 April 2008

Mr Pain’s letter (11April) raised some very valid points about rubbish and the knock on effect of overflowing bins on the local environment. It is an over simplification to blame bird feeders for the increase in rat population. The rat population is increasing and it is regrettable that Test Valley Borough Council has not allowed sufficient funding to be able to continue to give a universal rat catching service. Mild winters, as a result of global warming, will lead to an increase in the rat population and we (TVBC and residents) must be prepared to take appropriate steps to deal with this. I have raised a number of these issues with council officers and will continue to push for the best service practicable to ensure rubbish is collected and rats are controlled. In the meantime I would urge residents and local businesses to ensure all bins are not overfilled and emptied regularly. If anyone needs advice or help they can get it from
Test Valley’s customer services on 01264 368000.

With reference to the particular problem area Mr Pain highlighted council officers have contacted local shop keepers asking that bins are emptied regularly and not allowed to overflow. Residents may also be interested to know that an Environmental group is currently being set up in Alamein ward to monitor and deal with just the sort of matters raised in Mr Pain’s letter. The next meeting will be held at King Arthur’s Hall on 29 April at 7:00pm.

Mr Pain’s letter can be found on the Andover Advertiser website at http://www.andoveradvertiser.co.uk/news/letters/display.var.2184612.0.bird_feeding_is_only_a_small_part_of_the_growing_rat_problem.php

Test Valley Borough Council executive have agreed to a procedure to allow easier access to section 106 developers funding for local organisations. Funding, which is agreed with developers when planning permission is given, is of three types (1) funding for roads and schools which is administered by Hampshire County Council, (2) funding for leisure and local services administered by Test Valley Borough Council and (3) additional funds for local projects. The new rules will make it easier for parish councils and other bodies to apply for this third category of funds.
Speaking at the executive meeting St Mary’s councillor Rod Bailey argued that funding from the Andover MDAs should be ring fenced for projects in Andover only. “My main concerns are that the Andover infrastructure needs improving” he said. “The housing estates, the Bus Station and the ageing Leisure Centre all need funding. We are also in desperate need of funds to re-generate the Walworth Industrial Estate. We need to be assured that before any funds are siphoned off elsewhere the needs of Andoverand its people are catered for and should any funds be required for other areas of Test Valley then Andover councillors must be consulted.”

Planning officers confirmed that funding from the Andover MDAs will be used only in the Andover area and that money for local projects will be allocated by the Planning department after consultation with relevant executive members and local ward members.
I am pleased to see this funding being released. In most cases applications will be made and administered by parish councils. However in Andover, as we have no town council, it is essential that local groups are not disadvantaged and do not loose out. I therefore urge all groups who feel they could benefit from this funding to contact either me or Rod to ensure this money is spent where it is needed in Andover.

The Liberal Democrats have today launched a new website - http://www.holdthemtoaccount.com - where you can find out if your MP supported the Iraq War and give some ideas for holding them to account.

The Conservatives are now calling for an inquiry into the war, but in 2003 they were even bigger cheerleaders for the invasion than Labour

While all Liberal Democrat MPs voted against the war, the vast majority of Labour and Conservative MPs voted for it. It’s time Labour and the Conservatives apologised and well past the time for the Government to announce a plan to withdraw our troops.

We can confirm that Tory MP for North West Hants Sir George Young MP voted for the war in Iraq.

Many local residents have contacted me regarding the appearance of a wire fence across Smannell Road play area and trenches dug in the field. The single wire fence was thought to be dangerous and no notification had been given to residents about the works.

The work is being carried out by Southern Water laying new sewers for the East Anton housing development. Test Valley were not advised or consulted about the works.

I visited the site this morning and have arranged for reflective tapes to be strung along the wires so they can be seen after dark. I will also be requesting neighbourhood warden patrols to monitor the site.

Because of this work the proposed funfair on the site this coming weekend has been cancelled. I am liaising with Test Valley and will be consulting with residents about alternative dates.

From today  the new national bus pass scheme comes in to effect and Test Valley Borough Council have issued the following press release

“While current Farepass holders can continue to use their passes until the end of April, Test Valley Borough Council has already issued more than 11,000 of its anticipated 12,800 new passes, which should have arrived this week. All remaining passes are expected to be delivered before the end of the month.”
“The new pass entitles everyone to free off-peak travel on local buses anywhere in England. Off peak travel means between 9.30am and 11pm on Monday to Friday and at any time on Saturday, Sunday or on a Bank Holiday. For journeys starting in Test Valley this has been extended so that the new pass can be used at any time, although travellers should be aware that not all authorities will offer this option and it may not apply to journeys starting outside
Test Valley.”
“The new pass will continue to be valid for Cango and Dial-a-ride services, but not for journeys with community car schemes. Instead community car schemes will be eligible to apply for a grant from the Council. It will be for each car scheme to decide if they will take part in the grant scheme and how they will use any grant. For example, some groups may allow certain types of journey for free, some may offer a discount to Farepass holders or may decide on other arrangements.”

Additional funding has been made available for community car schemes after pressure from borough councillors. The funding available is calculated based on the number of pensioners in the catchment area of the car scheme. The final figure for funding in Andover is still to be agreed.

If you have any queries on the scheme please contact me.