Ellisfield

Local Plan misses December deadline – water supply clarity still needed

I’ve been asked about the Local Plan after last night’s cabinet meeting.

Although I often observe cabinet meetings, I didn’t attend last night as it was moved to the same time as an Oakley & Deane Parish Council meeting.

In March, cabinet spoke about the impact on the Local Plan from South East Water’s (SEW) response to the Local Plan consultation. Essentially, SEW couldn’t guarantee that they could provide a resilient supply of fresh water for the uplift in housing requirement from government.

Councillor Community Grants open for applications

Many great community projects start with someone saying:

“Wouldn’t it be good if…”

From there, the best ideas become reality when people come together and make them happen. Sometimes a relatively small amount of money is all that’s needed to get a good idea off the ground.

That’s why I’m pleased applications are now open for Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council’s Councillor Community Grants scheme.

The scheme provides grants of between £250 and £3,000 for one-off projects and activities that create a lasting benefit for local communities.

Annual Council meeting (Part 2)

On Thursday 21 May I attended Part 2 of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s Annual Council meeting. This follows Part 1 of the Annual Council meeting on 14 May, where the Mayor and Deputy Mayor for 2026/27 were elected. This part of the meeting is where the council sets up its committees and appointments for the year ahead.

For 2026/27 I have been appointed to:

• Resident Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee (member)
• Standards Committee (member)
• Crime and Disorder Joint Scrutiny Committee (with Councillor Perry)
• Environment and Infrastructure Overview and Scrutiny Committee (reserve)
• Human Resources Committee (reserve)

Eight committee chair posts were contested and recorded votes were taken. I voted as follows:

Annual Council meeting (Part 1)

On Thursday 14 May I attended Part 1 of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s Annual Council meeting. This is the ceremonial part of the annual meeting, before the council’s committee and appointments business is dealt with at Part 2.

Mayor and Deputy Mayor

• Councillor Jacky Tustain was elected Mayor for 2026/27
• Councillor Sajish Tom was elected Deputy Mayor for 2026/27

The council also thanked Councillor Colin Phillimore on the conclusion of his year as Mayor.

Thank you

Thank you to everyone who voted in this year’s Borough Council election.

I am very grateful to everyone who placed their trust in me to represent Oakley & The Candovers as a Borough Councillor. Whether you voted for me or not, I will do my best to represent all residents across the ward.

Many people will already know me through my community activities over recent years in Oakley, including events, Neighbourhood Watch, the Parish Council and helping residents with local matters. I have tried to listen to people and help where I can, and that will continue in this new role. Being involved locally has always mattered to me, and over the years I have learned a lot from the people and groups who do so much for our community.

Pressing for water infrastructure investment

The new Local Plan requires thousands more houses, but existing water resources cannot sustain this growth. There is a £163 million infrastructure deficit that must be addressed. We are pressing water companies, Hampshire County Council, and the Government to fund the infrastructure needed.

Evidence shows that:

• Existing water resources cannot sustain the level of growth being proposed
• Significant investment in new infrastructure would be required
• Local sewage works are under strain and need upgrades to meet future growth
• The growth suggested by Government needs to be factored into water company plans

We are demanding transparency on capacity and pressing for concrete action and investment, not just promises. We need to see infrastructure delivered before development proceeds.

Advocating for North Hampshire Council

Basingstoke & Deane wouldn’t be big enough on its own, but could work with Hart and Rushmoor to create a North Hampshire Council. This would be closer to people than other proposals. We think North Hampshire is the better choice – it’s close enough to be local, but big enough to deliver all the services we need.

We are saying no to Hampshire County Council’s plan for a mega-council that would see Basingstoke combined with Petersfield and Winchester. We are backing the local plan for a North Hampshire Council.

BDBC Local Plan consultation now open

Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council has opened a consultation on the Local Plan. This is a crucial opportunity to shape how our communities develop and ensure the plan reflects local priorities.

The Local Plan will set out:

• Where new development will be located
• How much growth there will be
• What infrastructure and facilities will be delivered
• Policies to protect our villages and rural character

I am engaging with the consultation to ensure:

Local government reorganisation timeline confirmed

The Government confirmed the timeline for local government reorganisation on 5 February 2025, when the Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution invited councils in two-tier areas to develop proposals for unitary local government. The English Devolution White Paper was published on 16 December 2024, outlining the government’s vision, and the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill was introduced to Parliament on 10 July 2025. Councils were invited to submit interim reorganisation plans by 21 March 2025, with full proposals due by 28 November 2025.

Chalk streams: stronger protection for the Test and Loddon

Chalk streams like the River Test and the River Loddon are globally rare – and they’re under real pressure from pollution, over-abstraction and development.

Earlier this year, Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council backed a “Rights of Rivers” motion (led by an Independent councillor) to give these rivers much more weight in local decision‑making. The next step is practical: work with residents and partners to produce a local Declaration on the Rights of the River by spring 2026, and then use those principles to shape planning and policy (including the Local Plan).

Hampshire Mayor resource launched

A new Hampshire Mayor will bring changes to how decisions are made locally. I have created hampshiremayor.com – an independent political resource outlining what’s happening, what it means, and where to stay informed with documents and background information.

The Government wants Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to have a Mayor, like London or Manchester. It wants to replace borough, county and district councils with new unitary authorities. The site provides more information about what this means for residents.

Chalk streams: Basingstoke & Deane backs Rights of Rivers

Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council has backed a “Rights of Rivers” motion to strengthen protection for our locally important chalk streams – including the River Loddon and the River Test.

It’s a commitment to treat rivers as living ecosystems that deserve a stronger voice in decisions – especially when it comes to planning and development, and how we tackle pollution and over-abstraction.

The motion also commits the council to work with residents and partners to develop a local Declaration on the Rights of the River by spring 2026.