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Former mayoress champions town council

By Nick Edmondson
September 28, 2012

ALDERSHOT could have another layer of local government with residents’ groups mulling over the prospect of trying to introduce a town council.

The council, which would provide a new rung of local government separate from Rushmoor Borough Council and Hampshire County Council, would have its own precept and budget.

Members of the Cargate Area Residents’ Society and the Aldershot Civic Society believe Aldershot residents feel distant from current councils and believe their town lacks personal representation.

During a meeting to discuss the issue last Thursday, Jennifer Evans, former mayoress of Rushmoor and secretary of CARA, said: “At least a town council would be independent and representative.

“People in Aldershot don’t turn out to meetings because they think 'why should I bother?'. Aldershot feels like it doesn't have a voice and the people feel like they are not being heard. The borough council has the whole of a district to worry about and listen to. A local council, with a democratic mandate, would make a real difference.”

Town councils average a council tax precept of around £40 per year per household nationally, but that could be higher or lower depending on its responsibilities. The assets that would be passed to a town council would be negotiated with the borough and county councils.

The meeting, held in Aldershot Baptist Church hall, featured guest speaker Stephen Lugg, from the Association of Local Councils. He said: “There are many times when people feel that their district and borough councils are not listening to their concerns. So much so that ‘consultation’ has become a dirty word. We are seeing a real move towards communities having a say in the way their towns and parishes develop and the number of parish and town councils have continued to increase.”

Members of Rushmoor Borough Council who attended the meeting were more critical of the plan. Cllr Charles Choudhary said: “Why should they incur extra cost and set up a whole new council?”

Len Lampleugh, a member of the Aldershot Civic Society, said: “The problem is we simply don’t get enough volunteers for the society itself, which I think is pretty close to a town council, although we are unelected. So many meetings are just not supported and it seems like the people of the town don’t care that much about issues. They will moan about them, but not turn out for meetings to discuss them.”

Mrs Evans added: “A town council could help with that. The civic society does a great job, but they are not elected and have no mandate.”

Under statute, residents can call on a district or county council to consider creating a parish council by presenting a petition signed by 10% of the parish population.

The council would then forward the petition to the secretary of state, who then has the option to call for a community governance review, which will decide if a new council is to be created and elected.

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Most recent user comments 14 of 14

Farnborough's financial problems was due to national government forcing the FUDC to take responsability for the GLC housing estate and all the problems that go with a gerry built estate. As an Aldershot lad from 1943 I remember the admin nightmare that was Aldershot Borough Council With its offices spread across the borough, One of the advantages of RBC admin centralisation was the large savings made against the costs of running Aldershot Borough Council. The main problem with Rushmore is its residents the majority of whome are to lazy to go out and vote. They are all to willing to complain and moan and groan but are far to idle to get off their backsides and do anything about it. Everyone knows that the council needs sorting out but the residence continue to allow the same councilors to return at each election

UKR
06/10/2012 at 18:31

i agree with PJA - the councillors were elected to represent and look after the interests of Aldershot and the people that live there. where are they and what exactly do they do. i know they also have full time jobs and being a councillor is an extra cirriculum activity - but if you put yourself forward and you are elected then you need to stand up and be counted - the people of Aldershot are relying on you.

sleeping beauty
04/10/2012 at 20:28

Maybe we should take Farnborough back to early 70's before joining with Aldershot council in which they were in the red, and give everything back the Aldershot that has been lost over the years and then we can start again with our own councils.

I don't agree with above that we in Aldershot should pay more money in our council tax to have a parish council because I think us tax and rate payers allready pay enough for what services we have allready or do not have.

Why have we got councilliors in council if they haven't been fighting for us over the years.

PJA
04/10/2012 at 16:11

UKR you obviously do not know the history of the town of Farnborough?.

In early 1970's Farnborough and Aldershot were joined together, so people of aldershot wereand are still paying for Farnborough.

You state that Farnborough has more population than Aldershot - yes that might be correct now but in the 70's it is fact that Farnborough council were in the red - this is why we were put together and yet our town has feed Farnborough since.

You have taken our council completely yet your original building that house your council is still standing in part of north camp .

Farnborough has had the money spent on it thats the reason why it has got so big FACT!!

The reason why many want us in Aldershot to have our own council now is because of this reason, Rushmoor Borough council have pulled all our resources out to neighboroughing Farnborough, as you have said more people - which means more housing more schools more shops [ farnborough gate - sainsburys - morrissions - asda - wickes - b&q - and to many to add, even people in Farnborough complain about the airport try stopping private business from buiding airport up yet they moved their and moan about further flights.

People from the whole of Rushmoor has paid into rushmoor borough council in rates and taxes yet you are trying to tell me that our taxes over here don't get spent in Farnborough.

I don't have to prove it at all, you and everyone can see the expansion that has been going on in Farnborough, either that or they have their eyes shut.

PJA
04/10/2012 at 16:05

@ PJA Rubbish prove it

UKR
04/10/2012 at 14:27

@ PJA

The population of Farnborough is larger by 23,000 than Adershot so Farnborough's contribution to the RBC pot is greater than Aldershots contribution, so how do you work out that Aldershot is subsidising Farnborough, the other way around I should think

UKR
04/10/2012 at 14:27

People of Aldershot have been paying for Farnborough for years!!

PJA
03/10/2012 at 13:27

I do not mind Aldershot having a town council as long as it is funded by Aldershot council tax payers and not the rest of us. If the people of Aldershot want to make a difference then they need to turn out and vote in local and general elections

UKR
02/10/2012 at 11:10

I'm sure you're right Hippo, but is that what the residents think they are getting ? I doubt it as what you describe is small fry compare to the list of complaints usually leveled against Farnborough and our invisible facilities that Rushmoor has delivered in an unapparent bias. But if it costs nothing ..... let the charade commence.

SpongeBob NoPants, Farnborough
01/10/2012 at 16:10

Sponge and Barnacles. Sorry guys i think you have misunderstood what Town Councils are. Have a look at Farngham or Bracknell Town Councils. They are still ruled by Waverley and Bracknell Forest but look after local issues such as burials, parks and town events such as carnivals. They also look after local hire of halls. The councillors are purely voluntary and they run alongside Borough Councils and have little say over Borough matters. What they do bring is a local sense of pride and local decision making on issues that are usually not discussed at Borough level. In gact Town Councils can often save money...smaller local issues can be decided by them rather than trying to gather the might of Rushmoor to discuss flowers on roundabouts. Farnham and Bracknell run very successfully and usually pay for themselves but most importantly give local people a sense of involvement and dealing with local issues pecuiar to farnham and Bracknell. I am Aldershot born and bred and think its a good idea that costs very little and brings pride to the area. I also have nos issues about farnborough having one too.

Hippo
01/10/2012 at 14:38

SpongeBob: I couldn't agree more, you can't have one rule for Aldershot and another for Farnborough. Town councils also logistically couldn't work just within Hampshire with no district-level tier at all bridging the gap between town and county governance.

I'd favour a more continental approach for the whole country, where each place that is recognisably a separate settlement (from small villages to cities) form their own municipalities that have their own directly-elected mayor and council and deal with much of the day-to-day running of the town. Certain things such as rubbish collection it makes more sense to do with larger areas, so they quite often have a limited district / borough style authority. But actually, the county could deal with such matters probably more effectively. A similar system is already present in Wales where most towns and villages are directed by a 'community council' which negates the need for any other tier before county-level administration.

BlisteringBarnacles! , Farnborough
29/09/2012 at 01:59

I understand you both, PJA and Outermongolian. But I think this cannot be unilateral for Aldershot. A situation where Rushmoor entirely oversees Farnborough and partly oversees Aldershot, while a separate council also partly oversees Aldershot is both madness and costly. There are three solutions and this isn't one of them, the other three are obvious. 1. No change, 2 get rid of Rushmoor and have two town councils and 3 Two town councils with Rushmoor as an overseer...expensive. If this does go ahead though at least there will be twice as many people for Aldershots residents to blame, although they'll still probably blame Rushmoor, or more likely Farnborough. And how could Aldershot justify the same level of representation on Rushmoor Borough council with Aldershots responsibilities devolved to town council, it would be unfair for RBC councillors from Aldershot to discuss and vote on issues that will by then pertain to Farnborough only. In my opinion it's time to stand up and be counted... No change or Town councils for both.

SpongeBob NoPants, Farnborough
28/09/2012 at 19:12

An Aldershot Council managed by people from Aldershot voted by people from Aldershot Thats worth my £40

Outermongolian
28/09/2012 at 13:07

Well I am sorry but I wouldn't like to pay extra on my council tax for this to happern, I struggle to pay what I do now and Labour councilliors expect us to pay more, for what we had in the 70's.

Aldershot use to have their own council and look where it is now, we in Aldershot have no say - but thats what the councilliors of this town were voted in for to fight our corner which might I add has not been the case for such a long time!