Updated: CDC in turmoil after terms of reference changed

The illusion that Chilbolton had successfully established a Community Development Committee, that would oversee the planning and building of new homes in the village, was blown apart yesterday evening at the Parish Council meeting.

After the terms of reference for CDC were materially changed in a split Parish Council vote, Cllr David Hall said that he would have to resign as CDC’s Chair.

CDC terms of reference

Cllr Hall began with a summary of the inaugural CDC meeting, saying that working groups had been set up and that they were getting on with their work. A meeting had taken place with Martin Gossling to discuss the relationship with Chilbolton Community Land Trust.

Cllr Julian Hudson, Chair of CPC, then said “There are a number of changes to the Terms of Reference [for CDC] requested by CPC members”. He circulated a summary of the proposed changes to Parish Council members, but not to the more than a dozen members of the public attending.

The changes covered:

• Focusing CDC on the proposed 25 homes on the land adjacent to Eastman’s Field
• Including the planning pre-application to TVBC in its remit
• Infrastructure
• Changing the wording of how residents will be consulted from “referendum or public vote” to “via meaningful community engagement”

Which CPC members had requested these changes was not specified, but they came as a surprise to some. Cllr Debbie Collis asked Cllr Hudson “Why are you doing this?”

Cllr Hall said that “CDC was proposed because the Strategic Working Group was out of control. The pre-app was submitted in CPC’s name with false information. We then had the embarrassment of pausing that pre-app. CDC is trying to get the project back on track with the village’s approval”.

He said that CDC’s terms of reference had been reviewed by CDC, including Cllr Hudson. Now Cllr Hudson was proposing “substantial changes”.

Cllr Collis added “That pre-app was not agreed by the village. We haven’t agreed [land next to Eastman’s Field] as a site”.

Cllr Hudson, as Chair, moved that the proposed changes be put to a vote, which was carried.

In favour: Cllr Julian Hudson, Cllr Tony Ewer, Cllr David Griffiths and Cllr George Marits.

Against: Cllr Debbie Collis, Cllr David Hall and Cllr Emma Noble.

Cllr Hall then said “I would like to resign as Chair of CDC”. He will still remain as a member of the committee.

Gravel Hill - potential development site

The argument burst back into life later on in the meeting, when they discussed the potential development site at Gravel Hill. Cllr Ewer had sent an email titled “Dear CDC members” which said that “The site was discussed by a subgroup of the SWG … and [it] was concluded that the site was less attractive than the site adjacent to the village hall”.

He also circulated a document that included an SWG evaluation of three SHELAA sites previously circulated on 11 Feb 2025. Added to it was a fourth column with an evaluation, against the same criteria, of the Gravel Hill site. A recent communication from TVBC planners confirmed that they had not received a SHELAA submission from the landowners - the Church Commissioners. The email and the documents were dated June 2025.

A member of CDC and former member of the SWG, Alisdair Campbell who was in the audience said “I have not seen these documents, where did they come from? Where was the evaluation done? The SWG had not reviewed Gravel Hill. That is a falsification”.

Cllr David Hall said “We will review sites that we believe might be available, even if it isn’t a SHELAA. The Church Commissioners could put in a pre-app themselves, which would be a confidential document”.

Another CDC member and former SWG member, Colin Ruffals, asked “Are we at liberty to look at Gravel Hill? Do we have authorisation to talk to the Church Commissioners?”

Cllr Hudson said that the assessment of the site should be done within CDC but that “contact with the Church Commissioners should be through the Parish Council”.

Cllr Hall said that he was in contact with the individual at the Church Commissioners who had originally contacted TVBC. His discussions with her were in connection with another of his roles and he had not discussed Chilbolton with her at all. He would put Cllr Hudson in touch with her.

Questions from members of the public

Vice Chair of the CDC, Neil Connor asked “Will a referendum be in the CDC terms of reference?”. Cllr Julian Hudson replied that it mentions “meaningful engagement” but that a sub-group of CDC would be looking at what that meant. Cllr David Hall said that the revised TOR should be included within the CPC minutes.

Andrew Kent, Chair of the Parochial Church Council for Chilbolton, thanked the Parish Council for their annual subsidy of £600. He also thanked the whole community for supporting the Church Fete which had raised about £10,000 all of which would be going into the building fund. The recent rendering of the eastern wall had cost £4,500.

Martin Watson, member of CDC, asked for “confirmation of how to engage community support, because a show of hands is not enough”. Cllr Hudson replied that it would be considered through the CDC.

In answer to a question from Peter Collis, Secretary to the CDC, Cllr Hudson said that contact with the Church Commissioners would be done through the Parish Council.

A resident observed that the changes to the CDC TOR will mean that alternative sites to the one included in the pre-app won’t be thoroughly evaluated. “You must show you’ve done a full review, otherwise you’re not bringing the village with you”, she said. “Without showing how CPC has made its decision would mean that it would not be a community-led development”.

Cllr Emma Noble said that “I didn’t realise the pre-app was so final. I thought it was tentative”.

Cllr Hudson said that he appreciated that, but that the Eastman’s Field site should be considered as the leading candidate unless there was overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

Cllr Hall asked who on the Parish Council could hold discussions and negotiate with with landowners. It could be Cllr Noble, Cllr Collis or Cllr Marits, but it could not be Cllr Ewer as he is no longer involved in housing.

Cllr Ewer said “I am still a member of the Parish Council,” but he added “I do not think I should be involved in those negotiations”.

Peter Collis asked if Neil Connor was now the Chair of CDC. A member of the public observed that when CDC was first proposed, Parish Councillors agreed that the Chair must be a Parish Councillor. Cllr Hudson said “We will look into that”.

Summary

Each month the Parish Council reports on the work it has done to protect the village and make life easier for its residents. Since December 2024, this tireless effort has often been overshadowed by sometimes dismaying differences of opinion on the proposed housing developments.

CPC’s July meeting was, in the opinion of several who attended it, the most alarming so far.