The final meeting of the current council year was held in Romsey yesterday. Councillors unanimously applauded the excellent job done over the past year by the current mayor Brian Page. He has set a standard which future mayors will struggle to meet. Also present was a previous, and highly regarded, mayor Cllr Rod Bailey, now recovering from his recent illness. We all wish him a speedy recovery, we need councillors of his experience and knowledge.
Council approved several items relevant to Alamein and Andover.
Proposals to transfer monitoring of Andover CCTV to an office in the New Forest were passed. Given the expected cost savings we had to do so but I am still concerned about who is monitoring what and whom. I intend to raise this matter at the next Overview and Scrutiny Committee so that we can debate in public the principles and effectiveness of these cameras.
Also approved were the Andover town access plan intended to improve public access to facilities in and around the town and the Test Valley Cycle Strategy intended to establish a cycle network around Andover and south the the rest of the borough. Both plans will mean improvements to footpaths, cycle ways and roads around Andover. But some are dependant on future funding or have no funding at present. I intend to ensure the programs are completed as soon as possible. I was especially pleased to see officers have taken note of Smannell parish councillor Nigel Gooding’s call of a cycle route between Enham and Smannell to allow a safe route for chidren to cycle to Smannell School.
I am pleased to report that I gained an important concession on the matter of a lorry park for Andover (see earlier story at http://lengates.mycouncillor.org.uk/2008/12/28/lorry-park-for-andover/). The cabinet proposal that no further action be taken has been modifed to one which says the council will monitor the need for and then facilitate the establishment of a commercial lorry park. In the meantime council officers will patrol and enforce existing lorry parking regulations.
Finally council also approved the consultation on a town council for Andover (see previous story http://lengates.mycouncillor.org.uk/2009/04/26/consultation-on-andover-town-council/). Consultation documents will be delivered over the next month. I urge everyone to return them with a resounding yes for a town council and the parishing of Andover.