We have already published what will undoubtedly be but the opening salvo in HCS’s deliberations over the Government’s English Devolution White Paper. While the intention to devolve some central government powers to regional authorities led by Mayors was included in the Labour Party manifesto for the recent general election, further local government reorganisation was not. … Continue reading A Democratic Deficit?
Category: Hot News
First full Council meeting of the year – 15 January 2025
This account of the first Full Council meeting of the year is of particular interest given the curious reluctance of the council to engage with the public on the subject of Devolution and, more particularly, Local Government Reorganisation. It wasn't even on the agenda of this Council meeting and the Leader's update to his report, … Continue reading First full Council meeting of the year – 15 January 2025
Breaking the silence on Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation
On 16 December, the government published its English Devolution White Paper which, at a stroke, called time on both Havant Borough Council (HBC) and Hampshire County Council (HCC) as we know them today. It is quite clear now that both authorities have been locked in discussion on this particular commitment in the Labour Manifesto since … Continue reading Breaking the silence on Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation
After a bright year in 2024, the outlook for 2025 is worrying
Looking back at 2024 We began last year with a newly established Havant Borough Council executive team in place. After five years of stagnation, characterised by a lack of engagement from the previous East Hants District Council executive team and a tired elected council that appeared to rubber-stamp, unchallenged, questionable initiatives by its cabinet, the … Continue reading After a bright year in 2024, the outlook for 2025 is worrying
Looking forward into 2024
As we move into the New Year, we're feeling cautiously optimistic. With a new executive team in charge at Havant Borough Council, the unproductive relationship with East Hants District Council is now behind us and with an 'ever-so-slightly more balanced' elected council following last May's elections, the signs are that the town's prospects are looking … Continue reading Looking forward into 2024
Amazon – The unanswered questions
When a ‘last mile delivery centre’ was first proposed for Pfizer’s former site in New Lane in January 2021, the marketing flyer from the developer gave few hints of the extent to which that description was being stretched. The location’s constrained access to the UK strategic road network, via the town centre and nearby residential … Continue reading Amazon – The unanswered questions
Southern Water’s ‘water recycling’ proposal
Update - 23 January '23 If you missed the segments on today's BBC Radio Solent morning programme covering the Southern Water Water Recycling Proposal, you can find them, edited together, at this post. If you're keeping your eye on the local press at the moment, you will probably have seen news stories referring to Southern … Continue reading Southern Water’s ‘water recycling’ proposal
HBC Scrutiny – A fresh start for 2022/23
The first outing for the new Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Wednesday 24th August was encouraging and we're looking forward to continuing coverage of these important meetings as the new chair, Cllr. David Keast, takes the workplan forward over the coming year. It's well worth listening to the whole of this short meeting as it … Continue reading HBC Scrutiny – A fresh start for 2022/23
HBC’s response to the Southern Water consultation
We were pleased to see that HBC's belated* response to the recently closed consultation followed the public mood fairly closely and didn't pull many punches, missing just one of the significant objections made by many others. 'Site 72', or Brockhampton West as it's more commonly known, is a former council landfill located close to the … Continue reading HBC’s response to the Southern Water consultation
Amazon Havant – Breaking the silence
It's been a long time since we've posted an update on the 32 New Lane site but following the first, long-overdue face-to-face meeting between the site owner, the developer and the residents, facilitated - or not, as it happened - by Havant Borough Council (HBC) representatives, this update is also long overdue. The public meeting … Continue reading Amazon Havant – Breaking the silence
Havant Civic Society 