Community Governance Review - Littleton & Harestock

Overview

Winchester City Council is consulting local people on options to change the current parish council arrangements for Littleton & Harestock.  This will aim to best meet the needs of local people to manage affairs in the areas where they live.

Why your views matter

The Littleton & Harestock Parish Council has a long history of overseeing local affairs and developing and maintaining a number of important community facilities. During this time, the nature of the area has changed significantly with Harestock being developed into a suburb of Winchester whilst Littleton has remained more rural in character.

Consequently, there is now a position whereby although the residents of Harestock provide the majority of the Parish Council’s funding, most of the facilities are in Littleton. The Parish Council has expressed concern that this is unfair.

For these reasons, the Parish Council has petitioned Winchester City Council to request that a Community Governance Review be undertaken with a view to two separate Parish Councils being formed.

Toward new Parish Council arrangements for Littleton and Harestock

Following an initial assessment, Winchester City Council is presenting three possible options for local people to consider which are described overleaf.

Each could satisfy the essential criteria set by the relevant legislation, reflect the identities and interests of the local communities’ and be effective and convenient.

Following an initial assessment, Winchester City Council is presenting three possible options for local people to conside.

Option 1: Position to remain unchanged and the Parish Council to remain as it is.

Option 2: Littleton and Harestock separate and each become their own Parish Council.

Option 3: Littleton and Harestock separate. Littleton becomes its own Parish Council and Harestock joins the area of Winchester Town.

In all options, the services provided by Winchester City Council and Hampshire County Council will not change other than in option 3. In option 3 the Bradley Road playground would transfer to the City Council’s control.

In Littleton, the Parish Council look after the Littleton Recreation Ground (car park, Parish Office, sports pavilion, play ground and all green areas) and maintain green areas around the Littleton pond.

In Harestock, the Parish Council look after the Bradley Road playground.

In the areas of Winchester not covered by a Parish Council local matters are overseen by the Winchester Town Forum, 15 councillors who represent the urban wards of Winchester City Council. The Forum advises on issues which affect the town, such as local planning policy, but it does not consider individual planning and licensing applications. It also promotes local consultations, encourages the formation of community groups and considers projects financed by the Open Spaces Fund in the Town.

For more information

Please come along to one of our consulation events which will be held on:

Alternatively if you have any questions regarding this Community Governance Review please contact communitygovernancereview@winchester.gov.uk

This Community Governance Review is being developed in line with the legal framework of Part 4 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007.

The formal terms of reference document for the Community Governance Review for Littleton & Harestock is attached below.