Comment: Are the people of Chilbolton reasonable?

At the Parish Council Meeting last Monday, residents of Chilbolton were invited to consider the question “Are we reasonable?”

The person posing that question was Karen Dunn, Monitoring Officer for Test Valley Borough Council. A resident had asked for her advice on the issue of Cllr Tony Ewer’s declarations of interest in downsize and self-build homes. She said:

In my view, these circumstances are such that, in context, the interest is not insignificant and is of the type that a reasonable member of the public would be likely to call into question the public interest. I have advised Mr Ewer of this and that my advice and recommendation is that he should not take part in items of business relating to this interest.

chilbolton.news has raised this before: we asked “Does the Parish Council believe that Cllr Ewer’s interest in a self-build home would not benefit him financially?” We aren’t alone.

At the Parish Council meeting in March, memorably, a resident commented that three members of the Council who had declared interests continuing to work on the housing project was “all very smelly”.

That resident isn’t alone either. At every village meeting which has discussed the housing project, the same issue has been raised.

Some Parish Councillors have accepted the view that there is inconsistency in making decisions on housing in which they have declared an interest.

Back in March, Cllr Sue Larcombe withdrew her registration on TVBC’s self-build housing list. In May, when he became Chair of the Parish Council, Cllr Julian Hudson withdrew his registration for one of the downsize homes.

Other Councillors - Cllr Debbie Collis and Cllr David Hall - have publicly urged Cllr Ewer to consider the Monitoring Officer’s advice.

At Monday’s meeting, when the advice was revealed, the new Locum Clerk, Tom Brindley exclaimed “I knew nothing of this matter”. He has been punctilious, so far, in ensuring the Parish Council conducts its business in line with its own policies. What advice will he give?

This isn’t an obscure legal point. The Parish Council is soon to embark on discussions with James Painter concerning his outline planning application for 25 homes. These will include what sorts of homes will be built, plot sizes and locations. As Vice Chair, Cllr Ewer would potentially be involved in those discussions.

For his part, Cllr Ewer says that he disagrees with the Monitoring Officer and, more strangely, that he believes it is a “private matter”.

The question is, are the residents of Chilbolton who have spoken out and the Councillors who have accepted the rule of the Code of Conduct the ones who are being unreasonable?

At some point over the next couple of months, two new Councillors will join the Parish Council. Their views may well help to decide this issue.