News: CPC meeting called to a halt

Chilbolton Parish Council’s Extraordinary Meeting last night boasted a 14-item agenda. They didn’t even make it to item 3 before the meeting was abruptly adjourned.

It had been called to discuss and approve Terms of Reference for the CPC’s Community Development Committee - an issue that has dogged CPC for months.

This was necessary because the Locum Clerk, Mr Tom Brindley, had told Councillors that a previous meeting which had agreed them was not valid. This was because the ToR had not been made available to the public before the meeting.

Last night’s meeting was opened by the Chair, Cllr Julian Hudson. He announced that because it was an Extraordinary Meeting, there would be no public participation. Mr Brindley added that public participation was not required.

Cllr David Hall then intervened. He said that he had consulted with the Hampshire Association of Local Councils, who represent 246 parish and town councils in Hampshire. He had discussed the agenda for the meeting with them, and had circulated their thoughts to his fellow councillors earlier in the day.

On the issue of questions from the public, their advice, which he read from the note he had circulated, was that “An Extraordinary Meeting should follow the council’s normal practice with regard to public participation and questions. This should be included in the agenda”.

Cllr Hall added that the Parish Council had a choice, they could follow the advice of HALC, or that of the Locum Clerk.

Mr Brindley retorted that even if HALC were right, “this advice was issued too late”.

Cllr Hall proposed that the meeting be adjourned, apart from discussion of the CDC Terms of Reference.

Cllr Hudson said that the Clerk had put forward a number of questions. Cllr Hall said “If a Councillor wants to change the Terms of Reference, that’s fine. The Clerk cannot propose changes”.

Cllr David Griffiths interjected saying that he had not seen any advice from the Clerk.

At this point Cllr Sue Larcombe proposed that the whole meeting be adjourned, and the Parish Council unanimously agreed. Cllr Hall said that Councillors should use the time to read the advice from HALC.

A brief, informal discussion then took place, during which Councillors agreed that CPC would respond to Hampshire County Council’s proposals for reorganisation.

The response would support Test Valley Borough Council’s proposal for four unitary councils on mainland Hampshire, to replace the existing 14 councils, known as “Option 1”.

The discussions ended, and the 13 members of the public rose from their seats, bemused at this turn of events.

Some residents were puzzled at what had happened, but some Councillors were visibly frustrated and angry.

Announced as “Extraordinary”, this meeting lived up to its billing, but not in a way that CPC can be proud of.