Councillors eye-up future of Test Valley Borough Council’s assets

Liberal Democrat group leader Neil Gwynne’s motion called for a “cross-party working group” to identify assets such as buildings and parks and responsibilities which “should be transferred to [the] town and parish councils within Test Valley,” before the borough council likely ceases to exist next year.

The motion received substantial cross-party support, passing unanimously, although there was some confusion over the council’s financial assets.

Test Valley Borough Council met a Crosfield Hall on Wednesday, April 23 (Image: Charles Elliman) Cllr Sandra Gidley, a Lib Dem, seconded the motion. She said: “This is not forcing anything on anybody, this is about, in some cases, there may be an asset that a local council, local parish council, can simply look after ‘better.’

“Residents will be thankful that we’ve looked at this and tried to bring certain things closer to home. So, my final two words, ‘carpe diem.'”

Cllr Phil North, the leader of Test Valley Borough Council, said a cross-party working group would be the “perfect place to have the conversation” and praised the borough council’s history of cross-party cooperation. 

Cllr Gwynne, summing up at Romsey’s Crosfield Hall on Wednesday, April 23, said: “This is about finding those assets where ownership and management is better placed with the parish council than it is with a large unitary.”

The motion said: “This council therefore resolves to urgently establish a cross-party working group with the specific aim of identifying which, if any, assets and responsibilities should 
be transferred to the town and parish councils within Test Valley, in order to commit to 
any resultant transfers before May 2026.

“Each identified potential transfer requires agreement at full council. In undertaking their work, the cross-party group (which must have appropriate representation from north and south of the Borough) would look to align their proposals, as appropriate, with what other Hampshire district/borough councils are proposing or actioning.

“And to make recommendations on how and when to engage Test Valley town and parish councils in this process.”

The preamble said: “It makes sense to urgently consider whether some assets and responsibilities currently held by Test Valley Borough Council should be transferred to town and parish councils, rather than being absorbed into the new unitary councils.

“This would keep decisions concerning those assets and responsibilities suitably local, when they need to be. Consequently, many, potentially all, existing borough/district councils in Hampshire are starting to consider this.”