Please find below our written response to the release of Hampshire County Council’s budget Consultation for 2024 to 2026.
The full consultation documents can be found at the Hampshire County Council website HERE ……..
23rd July 2023
Dear Hampshire County Councillors,
HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL 2024-26 BUDGET CONSULTATION
Winchester Green Party’s response to the consultation is outlined in this letter. We note the parlous state of HCC’s
finances as a consequence of over a decade of austerity and budget cutting by the Conservative Government.
The Green Party supports a radical transformation of society for the benefit of all and for the planet. This budget is
entirely focussed on economic growth and financial rectitude and does little to address or recognise the need to
radically overhaul systems and structures in order to create economic, social and environmental wellbeing. External
costs resulting from the imposition of further draconian cuts are not reflected in this budget. Neither is there any
attempt to reflect the value of natural capital or carbon accounting. On all of these bases we consider the budget
process to be flawed.
Responding specifically to each of your proposed measures:
1. Lobbying
We strongly support sustained and effective lobbying. This should not be limited to lobbying the current
conservative government (which has not listened and is the source of these problems) but should include opposition
and cross party bodies; and working with the LGA to compel government to restore funding to enable society to
function properly. We would also encourage HCC to lobby for an overhaul of the council tax system to make it
progressive depending on size and value per inhabitant.
2. Using Council Reserves
We strongly support the use of Council reserves. These should be used now for gaps in the budget. The funds are for
the current population and should not be kept for future possible projects when core services are at risk. This is the
priority source of income and should be the first port of call before any loss of service or reduction in
quality/scope/scale.
Your duty is to the residents of Hampshire now; beyond operational/insurance reserves, you should use the money
you have to fund the shortfall – this is the current populations entitlement, not that of future generations. It is
iniquitous to hold on to multi-million pound reserves while implementing measures which will cause deterioration of
the quality of life of Hampshire residents.
You have excluded transport capital projects from this consultation. We strongly support scrapping these projects.
Just a year ago we found reference to the following transport project :
Approves an increase in the scheme value for the M27 Junction 9 project within the Universal Services capital
programme of £1.325m from £23.1m to £24.425m to be funded from a combination of developer contributions
(£0.725m) and the corporate capital inflation risk reserve (up to £0.6m) pending the conclusion of funding discussions
with National Highways.
The Climate Change Committee 2022 Progress report recommended that the Department for Transport and National
Highways must “rigorously assess the emissions impacts of [road-building] plans and thoroughly consider alternative
approaches”. In the light of this and other clear evidence against road building in a climate emergency, this scheme,
and other capital transport projects, should be cancelled, releasing much needed capital funds for plugging gaps and
for public transport projects instead.
3. Generating income from services
We support the generation of income from services, if this is possible without prejudicing providing services to
residents.
4. Introducing and increasing costs
We are strongly opposed to introducing and increasing costs for existing services, with the exception of parking –
parking charges should be increased in all cases in order to encourage a reduction in car use, which is essential for
carbon reduction. Parking income should be used to give people who live outside Winchester an alternative to use
the car, better bus and cycle infrastructure.
We would urge you to Introduce local pollution and congestion taxes (e.g. ULEZ style charges for M3, road tolls etc)
as a way of generating income but more importantly to reduce air pollution, curb the use of cars and reduce
congestion.
Parking charges and road-use tax of whatever form could move the subsidy from road freight and private cars (i.e.
the externalities usually reckoned at about three times the total tax and duty take from road users) to cross-
subsidise efficient public transport and move it from a vicious circle of decline to a virtual circle of growth.
5. Reducing services
We strongly oppose any reduction in service. Replacing paid workers with volunteers is no way to run adult social
care services. Absolutely no further cuts to bus services or to library services which have both been devastated over
the past 10 years. School Crossing Patrols must not be cut – this will deter active travel and further endanger
children.
6. Increase Council Tax
Having the second lowest council tax in England in one of the most affluent areas does not seem right. If the
population of Hampshire is relatively wealthier, it can afford to pay more council tax.
We support an increase over 4.99% with a referendum; and an encouragement to increase council tax charges to the
wealthiest where possible.
Whilst this will impact everyone, there are a number of discounts & exemptions in place for vulnerable residents.
We would also support the introduction of a 100% premium charge for second homes/holiday homes from April
2025.
No mention is made in the consultation of increasing business rates – these too should be increased for medium and
large businesses located in retail parks, out of town developments, supermarkets and other large complexes
accessible only by car.
7. Change structure to 1 tier
Recognising the political difficulties of achieving this, we would recommend that efficiencies and sharing of
resources through informal and collaborative relationships be explored without the structural change which seems a
long way off happening. It is important that decisions continue to be made at the closest practical level to those
affected by them.
On behalf of Winchester Green Party
Kate Needham – Co-Chair
Max Priesemann – Co-Chair
