Andover Councillors Forum NOT a substitute for a Andover Town Council

Written by Cllr Robin Hughes on Mon 12th Mar 2007

I was most interested to the letter from Phil North who I doubt has been to as many Andover Forum meetings as myself. If he had as much knowledge on these matters as he would like us to believe he has then he would understand how absurd his comparison is. The fifteen TVBC Borough councillors for the town wards have in allowances for 2006/07 received in excess of £75000. Fifteen or even twenty-five parish councillors for Andover would cost nothing as parish councillors do not receive allowances. It is therefore incorrect to suggest that parish councillors will cost more. I believe that Andover would benefit from a town / parish council. Certainly the existing 56 parishes councils in Test Valley appear to benefit from having one. Two new parish councils are being created In Test Valley in April 2007. I think that indicates that those local communities believe they will benefit from one. So why not Andover?

The Andover Councillors Forum is a talking shop. There is discussion and exchanges of ideas but generally people leave with the feeling that decisions have already made by the council. The Andover Councillors Forum has no decision making powers. It did not even discuss the council tax and certainly did not discuss the Andover Special Expenses Levy. The council had agreed back in 2006 that the Special Expenses Levy for the unparished part of the Borough in Andover would increase at the same level as the general Test Valley Council Tax increase for the years 2006/07 to 2008/09. The Andover Special Expenses Levy now stands at more than £300,000 for providing services that in other parished areas are, or would be, provided by the local parish council. It will not be discussed again before a full review and re-calculation is carried out in 2009/10. Parish councils are consulted on planning application occurring in their area and are able to put their views and concerns directly to the TVBC planning committee. A major planning application for Andover, the East Anton MDA of 2500 houses and schools etc. to be decided upon the 15 March 2007. The next Andover Councillors Forum is the 19th March 2007, 4 days after the event.

The Andover Councillors Forum and a genuine parish council are about as similar as chalk and cheese. I remain surprised and disappointed by the lack of support for a town council from Andover's Conservative representatives. Unlike the local Liberal Democrats and I understand the local Labour party the Tories remain out of step with the local community in not supporting a town council for Andover.