Test Valley Borough Council
Councillors:
43
Wards:
21
Committees:
17
Meetings (2025):
93
Meetings (2024):
86
Meeting
Council - Test Valley
Meeting Times
Scheduled Time
Start:
Wednesday, 19th March 2025
5:30 PM
Wednesday, 19th March 2025
5:30 PM
End:
Wednesday, 19th March 2025
9:30 PM
Wednesday, 19th March 2025
9:30 PM
Meeting Status
Status:
Confirmed; Extraordinary
Confirmed; Extraordinary
Date:
19 Mar 2025
19 Mar 2025
Location:
Crosfield Hall, Broadwater Road, Romsey, Hampshire SO51 8GL
Crosfield Hall, Broadwater Road, Romsey, Hampshire SO51 8GL
Meeting Attendees
Committee Member
Democracy and Governance Portfolio Holder
Committee Member
Delivery Lead - Community Led Projects Portfolio Holder
Committee Member
Climate Emergency and Countryside Portfolio Holder
Committee Member
Housing and Enivronmental Health Portfolio Holder
Committee Member
Leader and Strategic Regeneration and Partnerships Portfolio Holder
Committee Member
Recycling and Environmental Services Portfolio Holder
Committee Member
Deputy Leader and Finance and Resources Portfolio Holder
Committee Member
Community, Leisure and Tourism (including Diversity and Inclusion) Portfolio Holder
Committee Member
Councillor Dr Alan Warnes
Present, as expected
Committee Member
Planning Portfolio Holder
Agenda
1
Prayers
Minutes
Prayers were led by the Reverend Wharton.
2
Apologies
Minutes
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors K Brooks, J Budzynski, D Drew, A Gillies, R Kohli, and N Lodge.
Councillor C Borg-Neal arrived at 5:34pm, he did not participate in decision making until agenda item 6 – Empty Dwellings Council Tax Premiums.
Councillor C Borg-Neal arrived at 5:34pm, he did not participate in decision making until agenda item 6 – Empty Dwellings Council Tax Premiums.
3
Public Participation
Minutes
No members of the public had registered to speak.
4
Declarations of Interest
Minutes
Councillor P Bundy declared an interest in agenda item 6 – Empty Dwelling Council Tax Premiums and left the room during consideration of the item.
5
Hampshire and the Solent Local Government Reorganisation - Interim Plan
To agree the submission of an interim plan for the Local Government Reorganisation.
Attachments:
- Document Local Government Reorganisation - Report 11 Mar 2025
- Document Local Government Reorganisation - Annex 1 11 Mar 2025
- Document Local Government Reorganisation - Annex 2 11 Mar 2025
Minutes
Consideration was given to a report of the Leader which set out details of a joint submission, to be made by the local authorities in the Hampshire and Solent area to the Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution in relation to proposals for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in the area.
The submission fulfilled the Government’s request for an interim plan for LGR to submitted to the Minister by 21 March 2025.
Councillor P North proposed and Councillor Flood seconded the recommendation.
Recommended to Cabinet:
That the submission to Government of the interim Local Government Reorganisation proposal for Hampshire and the Solent, as attached as Annex 2 to the report, be approved.
The submission fulfilled the Government’s request for an interim plan for LGR to submitted to the Minister by 21 March 2025.
Councillor P North proposed and Councillor Flood seconded the recommendation.
Recommended to Cabinet:
That the submission to Government of the interim Local Government Reorganisation proposal for Hampshire and the Solent, as attached as Annex 2 to the report, be approved.
6
Empty Dwellings Council Tax Premiums
To consider changes to the Council’s policy of charging Council Tax premiums on unoccupied dwellings.
Attachments:
- Document Council Tax Premiums - Report 11 Mar 2025
- Document Council Tax Premium - Annex 11 Mar 2025
Minutes
Consideration was given to a report of the Finance and Resources Portfolio Holder which recommended that a new policy which would reduce the timescales for charging the 100% premium for unoccupied and unfurnished dwellings from two years to one year and applied a 100% premium to dwellings which were no-one’s sole or main residence and had been substantially furnished for more than one year.
The premiums would act as an incentive to bring empty properties back into use, aligning with existing Council policies for housing and homelessness. It was recommended that premiums be charged on unoccupied dwellings from 1 April 2026.
Councillor Flood proposed, and Councillor P North seconded the recommendation.
Resolved:
That the Empty Dwellings Council Tax Premiums policy, as shown in the Annex to the report, be approved.
The premiums would act as an incentive to bring empty properties back into use, aligning with existing Council policies for housing and homelessness. It was recommended that premiums be charged on unoccupied dwellings from 1 April 2026.
Councillor Flood proposed, and Councillor P North seconded the recommendation.
Resolved:
That the Empty Dwellings Council Tax Premiums policy, as shown in the Annex to the report, be approved.
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