Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) has long enjoyed an excellent reputation for community engagement, often held up as an example of how local government should work: listening first, acting carefully, supporting the voluntary sector, and respecting the views of its communities.
A team of community support people, together with some of the forums they have established, all demonstrate a real willingness to work with and for local communities.
Will this be the lasting legacy when the new Mid Hampshire Unitary Council replaces the borough next year?
Last summer, the council began extensive consultation on its "Draft Borough Plan" - the consultation itself was one of the largest in the borough’s history.
Residents, parish councils, and community groups were involved when planning officers held meetings in village halls across the borough, often one-on-one.
At the time, some wondered why TVBC was embarking on this huge exercise when, in a few years, all would change.
A new unitary council would be up and running, administering a much larger area.
Also, the government had indicated that they would be publishing a raft of changes to planning legislation, which are now slowly emerging.
Hence, taking into account all these developments, it would have been sensible to wait a little.
Now, over nine months later, we have a decision - to abandon the whole process and pass it over to the new council.
Obviously, any new administration must take some notice of the work that has gone on before and design a process that addresses both national housing targets, changes in the law, and the views of all of us.
There is a real opportunity within the larger geographical area of the new unitary to look at innovative schemes which, for example, develop more living accommodation in town centres or even a new town.
There will be many new sites available, currently occupied by the various councils, including offices, which will no longer be required.
There is also an opportunity to review infrastructure afresh - roads, water, electricity, drainage, etc. rather than adding to current networks that are under huge strain.
The effects of climate change will not go away.
Parish councils report receiving many applications in quick succession, often targeting greenfield land, lovely landscapes, or areas with very limited infrastructure.
For some proposals, planning officers and councillors are choosing to ignore the current borough plan.
Some local communities have got together and paid for experts to comment on these applications.
These well-argued reports seem to have been completely ignored.
In some cases, observers at the various planning meetings have felt that the planning officers have made it almost impossible for the elected councillors to reject applications.
There also seems to be an obsession with meeting the government’s current housing targets – clearly these will change when the new unitary starts work.
Also, if the new Prime Minister is to be believed, a revived emphasis on promoting affordable housing by local councils and housing associations will change this dynamic completely.
TVBC is a competent, well-managed council with much to be proud of.
The genuine involvement of local communities, particularly in rural areas, has frankly been wonderful and far-sighted.
The relentless efforts to improve the town centres of Andover and Romsey, with substantial support to village communities, will surely remain a legacy which we can all be proud of.
It would be a real shame if this were tarnished by reckless planning decisions.
By Yinnon Ezra MBE
