January 2025 Update from our Borough Councillors

Our TVBC Borough Councillors Maureen Flood and Susanne Hasselmann have provided the following update on TVBC matters - their email addresses are at the end of the piece.

Borough Councillor Report

Cllr Maureen Flood and Cllr Susanne Hasselmann

January 2025

Local Authority Reorganisation

Hampshire County Council (HCC) had a special council meeting on the 9th January

to consider a report on the implications and opportunities for the County Council of

the English Devolution White paper which will include consideration of committing to

devolution, local government reorganisation and requesting the Secretary of State to

delay the County Council’s election in May.

During the meeting the County Council committed to the creation of a Combined

Authority across the wider region incorporating Isle of Wight Council, Portsmouth

City Council and Southampton City Council. The County Council therefore requested

to be included in the Devolution Priority Programme (DPP) as a fast track to

delivering devolution for the area.

As a consequence of joining the Devolution Priority Programme the County Council

committed to delivering Local Government Reorganisation across our area. The

Local Government Reorganisation proposals will be submitted to Government by

Autumn 2025.

As a consequence of joining the Devolution Priority Programme the County Council

requested a 12 month postponement of the County Council elections due to take

place in May 2025 to provide a necessary stable platform on which devolution

proposals can progress at pace in 2025.

The implications for local residents, TVBC staff and Councillors, and the way we

serve our local communities is not clear. We probably would all welcome improved

efficiencies and productivity in our local government but this has to be an evidence

based process to ensure we don’t stifle progress and delivery through a wholesale

reorganisation rather than focusing on what is important, i.e. local democracy and

service to our residents. As we progress in this journey, we will update you and both

Maureen and I would welcome your views. Please either send us an email (see

email address at the bottom of the report) or DM via Facebook.

National Planning Policy Framework

The new National Planning Policy Framework was published just before Christmas

2024. TVCB officers are currently working through the implications locally which are

likely to be significant. For the purposes of planning applications and appeals the

NPPF has taken effect from 12 December

A303 and A34 litter picking

From Monday 6 January, the council’s contractor, Core Highways Ltd, will commence

clearing the litter from the borough’s A303 and A34 verges, laybys and slip

roads. Mobile traffic management will be deployed to ensure that working on verges

and slip roads is safe. The work will take place during the day which will ensure the

quality of the clearance and will be monitored and signed off by the Environmental

Service.

Greenhouse gas report for 2023-24 and Climate Emergency

Action Plan Progress Update

The council’s annual greenhouse gas report for 2023/24 was published on the TVBC

website last month. The report shows that during 2023/24 there was about a 60%

drop in the reported gross TVBC greenhouse gas emissions and a 68% drop in net

greenhouse gas emissions, compared to 2022/23. A significant contribution to this

reduction was the transition to HVO in April 2023 in council’s fleet vehicles.

A progress update for the Climate Emergency Action Plan (2020) was published. It

outlines the latest greenhouse gas position and also updates on action taken.

Both documents are available to view at: Climate Emergency Action Plan | Test

Valley Borough Council.

Cllr Susanne Hasselmann, cllrshasselmann@testvalley.gov.uk

Cllr Maureen Flood, cllrmflood@testvalley.gov.uk