News around Hampshire

Election results

Like the Olympics and the World cup, local elections for Hampshire County Council happen every four years.  

The votes for the County Council election on 4 June led to the Conservative party retaining its overall control of Hampshire County Council.

The Conservatives have won 51 seats, the Liberal democrats 25, the Labour party one seat and The Community Campaign (Hart) one seat.

The County Council is made up of  78 Councillors representing 75 electoral divisions. County Councillors are community leaders providing a focus for local people when they have concerns or want things done. They have knowledge of their local area and the issues affecting them and can help local people who want information or to access County Council services. They can use their local knowledge and views to help the County Council make decisions and check the quality of services it delivers.

Andrew Smith, Chief Executive, confirmed the next step for the County Council will be to “work with all Hampshire’s Councillors to ensure that Hampshire, as a modern business providing public services, remains a top rated authority for the delivery of excellent services, efficient use of resources and providing very good value for money.”

Visit our elections webpages to find a list of newly-elected County Councillors or call 0845 603 5638.

Helping Hampshire’s villages

Do you want to breathe new life into your local community? Many Hampshire villages face the twin challenges of the current economic situation as well as the closure of local amenities.

Launched in April 2008, the Village Community Grant Scheme offers funding to rural businesses to help increase the use of village shops and to create new community-led village stores, particularly in communities which have lost their post offices.

With combined funding from the County Council, the Government’s Local Authority Business Growth Incentive scheme (LABGI) and SEEDA, the Village Grant Scheme has the potential to transform villages, and last year 12 Hampshire villages benefitted from the innovative scheme.

We have further funding to help even more communities. To find out more visit our rural initiatives webpages or contact 01962 845767.

Swine flu

Hampshire County Council is keeping a close watch on the swine flu situation with the National Health Service and the Health Protection Agency, and plans are in place to deal with any potential outbreak should they be needed.

Detailed advice and the latest information can be found on the NHS website or the Swine Flu information line 0800 1513 513, which features a recorded message giving help and advice.

Tax credits: are you entitled?

Tax credits are payments from the Government to help meet the cost of living. If you are 25 or over and work 30 hours a week or more and your annual household income is less than £16,000, you may be eligible for Working Tax Credit. You could be eligible for the childcare element if you work 16 hours or more a week, have an annual household income of less than £16,000 and are responsible for a child or qualifying young person. You could receive up to 80% of your Ofsted-registered childcare costs.

Families with children could also be eligible for Child Tax Credit if the household income is £58,000 a year or less (£66,000 if there is a child under one).Find out more – call the HM Revenue & Customs Helpline on 0845 300 3900

Hampshire libraries LEAD the way

Learning, Engagement and Adult Development (LEAD) is a new project which will see four libraries in the Havant area refurbished after the County Council was successful in getting given a  £1.2 million lottery grant.

The project aims to make libraries more modern and attractive to people who would not normally use them as well as providing new facilities for adult learning and community activities.

The libraries in the LEAD project are Havant, Waterlooville, Leigh Park and Hayling Island. Havant and Leigh Park have already undergone their transformations and people are being encouraged to go along and sign up for a new course or become a volunteer. For more information visit our library webpages.

Help for local businesses

The current economic climate is putting pressure on many small businesses in Hampshire. To help, the Government has recently been encouraging councils and other public sector organisations to reduce the time taken to pay their business suppliers to 10 days. Currently, Hampshire County Council’s target is to pay all invoices within 30 days of receipt – something it does successfully for 96% of invoices.

While the Council  has not amended its payment policy, at a recent Hampshire Senate meeting it was announced that help will be given to small local companies with cash flow difficulties and that, where possible, requests for individual invoices to be processed within 10 days will be met.

Small, local businesses can request specific invoices to be paid within 10 days to help their cash flow by initially contacting either: Chris Godfrey on 01962 847748, or Eileen Bennion on 01962 847605.

Ready for the digital switchover?

The digital TV switchover is the process of turning off the UK’s analogue TV signal and replacing it with a digital signal. To watch TV in Hampshire after switchover in 2012 you will need to convert or upgrade your TV equipment. Nearly all current TVs, even black and white ones, can be converted by connecting a digital box. To find out exactly when your area will be switching over, go to the postcode checker at  www.digitaluk.co.uk.

If you’re buying new TV equipment, look for the ‘Digital Tick’ logo, which indicates products and services designed to work before, during and after switchover.

The Council is working with Digitaluk to ensure that we are ready. For more information please call 08456 505050. There is a scheme to help people who are aged 75 or over, registered blind or partially sighted, or eligible for certain benefits.

Local group win national award

Angel Radio based in Havant has won the prestigious Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. The station provides unique entertainment, information and reminiscence therapy 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The award is a national honour which recognises the outstanding contributions made to local communities by groups in the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man. It’s the highest honour that can be bestowed upon groups of this kind and is equivalent in status to the MBE.

If you know of a group that deserves recognition why not nominate them for the 2010 Awards by visiting www.queensawardvoluntary.gov.uk. Alternatively, contact the Hampshire Lieutenancy Office. Forms need to be returned by 30 September 2009.

Why not nominate an individual for a national honour?

Cycle Hampshire 09, Summer of Cycling (now until September)

Cycling events are taking place all over the summer throughout Hampshire and now you can find out about them by picking up a Cycle Hampshire 09 booklet from your local library, tourist information centre or Hampshire County Council information centre

There are lots of events for families, experienced riders and new and returning cyclists that aim to improve your confidence. If you are a budding photographer you could also enter our photo competition to win a bike (up to the value of £500 for adults or £300 for children).

Winchester High Street facelift

Winchester High Street is set to have a facelift as preparations begin for a re-paving scheme. Working with Winchester City Council, Hampshire County Council has designed a £2.5m scheme to enhance the High Street. This will be extended to the area known as The Square too.

The High Street, which was first laid in Roman times, will be paved with York stone and will complement the historic buildings and monuments. Once complete, accessibility will be improved for the 15,000 people who pass through the High Street every day, and the completion of the scheme is set to benefit businesses, residents and visitors to this unique street for many years to come.

Work is expected to start in September and will take a year to complete.