HBC has completed its review of the
Phase 1 consultation responses. A large majority of
respondents (88%) supported creating a parish council, with
the most favoured options being a single ward and 15
councillors. Based on this positive result HBC has moved to
Phase 2 of the consultation. This next phase, which runs
until 2 July, seeks feedback from Emsworth residents on the
proposed parish council arrangements.
This is the final consultation
phase and your last chance to have your say. The ERF
strongly encourages you to complete the survey in support of
creating a parish council. A parish council will ensure that
Emsworth has a level of local democratic control once Havant
Borough Council is replaced by a Portsmouth based Unitary
Authority in 2028. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity
and we need as many residents as possible to show their
support to make it happen.
The recommendations now open for
comment are to:
•
Create a parish undivided into wards (the area is
currently unparished in Emsworth)
•
Elect 15 councillors to represent the Emsworth ward
that makes up the parish area.
•
Form ‘Emsworth Parish Council’ to serve the parish
area.
•
Charge a precept (a new increase to the amount of
council tax paid by each household) to pay for the running
of the parish council and the services it may provide.
Parish council elections would be
held in May 2027. Parish councillors are unpaid volunteers
who do not represent political parties; they serve as
elected community representatives, making local decisions,
overseeing parish services and assets — including, for
example, cultural activities and events — and working with
residents to improve the area.
At the outset, only the allotment
sites are proposed to transfer to the new parish council,
and Havant Borough Council estimates the initial parish
precept would be under £50 a year for a Band D household.
Any future asset transfers — such as recreation grounds —
would be negotiated with the new Unitary Authority,
including what reduction in Unitary Council Tax would
accompany them. This phased approach allows the new parish
council time to establish itself and, with input from
Emsworth residents, decide which additional assets and
services it may wish to take on.
You can get involved in the Phase 2
Consultation in several ways:
•
Completing the
online survey.
•
Collect a paper copy from Emsworth Library and
Emsworth Community Centre and post it to Havant Borough
Council using the pre-paid envelope.
•
Download a Word version or a
LARGE PRINT version of
the survey and post it to Havant Borough Council or e-mail
to insight@havant.gov.uk .
•
Visit one of two exhibitions run by Havant Borough
Council officers:
•
Monday 8 June, 10am - 2pm - Emsworth Community
Centre, North Street, Emsworth
•
Wednesday 17 June, 3 – 7pm - Emsworth Baptist Church,
North Street, Emsworth
The deadline for submissions is 2nd
July. The address for posted forms is: The Insight Team,
Havant Borough Council, Public Services Plaza, Civic Centre
Road, Havant PO9 2AX.
You can find out more at Havant
Borough Council’s website:
Havant Borough Council have also
created a
summary leaflet
to provide a simple overview:
If you want to know more about
parish councils in general then the ERF has information on
our web-site:
Community Governance Review Update
If you have any feedback or
questions that you haven’t been able to find answers for,
please contact the ERF Chair at
chair.erf@gmail.com .
Remember, this final phase of the
consultation closes on 2nd July.
Don't miss taking part. This is
your last chance to make a difference.
Please pass onto your friends,
neighbours and other family members -the survey is per
resident, not per household.
