Preview: CPC meeting - April 2025

The build-up to the Parish Council meeting on Monday 7 Apr 2025 at 6:30pm couldn’t have been more dramatic. That Saturday morning back in February where the Village was told that the planning pre-application had been paused. The tense exchanges at the last CPC meeting. Will the latest episode of this drama live up to it’s billing? Here’s what to look out for:

SWG Update

The Strategy Working Group update is a long way down the agenda, but when we reach it, there’s plenty to consider.

First, CPC will review the re-written pre-application to Test Valley Borough Council. Villagers at the infrastructure meeting expressed a strongly-held opinion that they should have sight of it. When will the pre-app be made public?

Another opinion at the infrastructure meeting was that “People are annoyed that the plans contain a new shop and a new playing field. They want the existing ones improved”. Will the new pre-app include those amenities, despite what villagers have said?

There has been growing concern in the village about ailing infrastructure. Many people have said that those issues should be tackled before any new development is allowed. Will the pre-app address that concern? Will it specify how the new homes can be accommodated in a way that doesn’t exacerbate the problems we already have?

The second item is a discussion on the formal relationship between Chilbolton Community Land Trust and the Parish Council “in respect of the planned affordable homes”. Until now the presentations we have seen have very much positioned CCLT as an independent body governed by its members. Will there be some change in this? And how will the downsize homes be managed?

Third, CPC will discuss and agree the Terms of Reference for the “New Housing Project” sub-committee. This group will take over the work of the SWG, which is now being “wound down”. They will also appoint members to this new sub-committee.

A key issue, that so far has been danced around by the Parish Council, is that of a referendum. The Terms of Reference for the SWG were very clearly stated:

The Working Group must keep in mind that the outcome is decided finally by a Referendum and thus the Working Group must provide facts and implications for draft proposals rather than dictate outcome in a biased way.

Will the new sub-committee also bind itself to a referendum? If not, what democratic means will there be for villagers to have their say?

Documents supporting these topics have been circulated to members of the Parish Council, but have not been made public. This makes it difficult for villagers to be able to ask informed questions at the end of the meeting. But since each of these issues has previously been the subject of speculation and some controversy, we can expect that to continue on Monday.

Highways

Before the SWG report, Cllr Julian Hudson, as part of his responsibility for Highways, will present a proposal for village “gateways”. These would be placed at two locations on entering Chilbolton. He is waiting for a quote on the overall works to install them before presenting the plan to CPC for approval.

Cllr Hudson has also investigated speed warning signs in the Village. Two signs would cost £2,000 plus £250 for Hampshire County Council to approve where they could be located.

Running costs would amount to £1,800 per year for moving the signs each month, looking after them and providing reports of speed data. Helpfully, the proposed contractor points out that “The reports are property of parish council, therefore not shared in the public domain”.

Councillors have been used to their own company at CPC meetings for months and years. Monday’s meeting, though, promises to be a well-attended event.