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Thursday 04 June 2026

Welcome to your Councillor Connect. If you have suggestions for areas or topics you would like covered, please email communications@hart.gov.uk.

New Chair and Cabinet members for Hart

A new Chair and Vice-Chair were elected for 2026/27 at the Hart District Council Annual General Meeting on Thursday 21 May. The Cabinet members and Chairs of Hart District Council Committees were also appointed.

Councillor Stuart Bailey (pictured) was elected as Chair of the Council and Councillor Gill Butler as Vice-Chair.

The Cabinet Members are:

Leader - Councillor David Neighbour
Finance and Deputy Leader - Councillor James Radley
Digital and Communications - Councillor Tony Clarke
Planning Policy - Councillor Graham Cockarill
Community Safety and Regulatory Services - Councillor Tina Collins
Development Management - Councillor Alan Oliver
Climate Change and Corporate Services - Councillor Richard Quarterman
Housing and Community Services - Councillor Peter Wildsmith

Please visit Your councillors and other representatives page for more information about councillors in Hart.

A Smart Move towards the right home

The demand for affordable family homes for rent in Hart far outweighs the supply. On average, families wait for several years for a suitably sized property, with often much longer waits for those seeking three or four+ bedroom homes.

To make better use of existing stock, a new pilot rightsizing scheme (‘Smart Move’) was launched on 1 June which will help residents who are under-occupying to move to a property which better meets their needs.

The scheme can offer the following support to help under-occupiers to downsize:

cash payment to help residents to settle into their new home
help paying for removals costs
practical support to help with the move, provided through Citizens Advice Hart, including help with completing forms, changing address, updating utilities and providing guidance and support through the moving process
help to find and apply for properties advertised through the housing register which meets their needs and preferences.

Residents who are under-occupying and wish to move to a smaller property are also awarded additional priority on Hart’s housing register.

No resident is being made to move and as long as they are downsizing, they can move to a new home which still has space for family to stay when they visit.

The one-year pilot of Smart Move has been developed after speaking with residents who are under-occupying to find out what support they would need to enable them to downsize, and is designed to help both current and future residents find the right home.

Anyone interested in finding out more can speak with the Housing team by calling 01252 774295 or emailing smartmove@hart.gov.uk.

Local Plan Scoping Consultation launches

Have your say on what our new Local Plan should cover

The new Local Plan will set out the long-term approach to a range of planning matters. These include sites for new homes and commercial facilities, infrastructure delivery and protection of the natural and historic environment.

At this early stage of the process, we are conducting a statutory ‘scoping’ consultation, asking for views on what the Local Plan should contain. This consultation is aimed mainly at key organisations, but anyone can submit comments, and all comments received will be considered.

How to get involved

This consultation is open from Wednesday 27 May to midnight on Friday 19 June 2026. Comments should be made via our online consultation platform on our Local Plan Consultation page.

You will be asked to register with the local plan engagement platform.

What’s next
The scoping consultation will be followed in the autumn with a consultation on a draft vision, and early ideas on how best to accommodate the growth. We’ll be asking for your views on this and taking them into account when finalising the Local Plan.

Identifying the most appropriate locations will never be easy but our ambition is for infrastructure-led growth, planning alongside improvements to schools, health services, transport and leisure facilities. The plan will also secure more affordable homes while protecting and enhancing the environment.

For further information or support please contact the Planning Policy team at localplan@hart.gov.uk.

If you wish to be directly notified of future Local Plan consultations, please sign up to our local plan database.

For further information see our New Local Plan website section.

Countryside community grants scheme

We run a grant scheme aimed at local organisations who are looking to run and develop countryside projects that align with our corporate priorities.

Small, medium and large grants are available up to the value of £10,000. Applications for 2026 round of funding are now open and close on 17 July.

Grants information
Annually there are eight grants available:

£1,000 – small grant x five available
£5,000 – medium grant x one available
£10,000 – large grant x two available

More information on community grants

Honouring our Armed Forces community

This Armed Forces Day on 27 June will see a convoy of classic military vehicles making its way from Aldershot to Alton.

Hart residents can catch the spectacle of 60-plus vehicles as it passes through the district at Church Crookham, Fleet town centre, Hartley Wintney, Hook and Odiham.

Hart is proud to mark Armed Forces Day to show our support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community, from currently serving personnel to service families, veterans and cadets.

Full details of Armed Forces Day events in the area

Community Services Annual Report

We are pleased to introduce our Annual Report for our Community Services team, providing an update on key activities and achievements from April 2025 to March 2026 and highlighting the work of all seven teams within the service.

May Hart Community Safety e-newsletter

Our latest Hart Community Safety e-newsletter is now available.

As always, we hope you find the content of the newsletter of use and interest. Please forward this on to groups/colleagues that you work with that you feel may find it helpful - particularly any resident groups and advise them to contact us directly at communitysafety@hart.gov.uk to be added to the distribution list for the future.

Are you supporting someone who wouldn’t be able to cope without your help?

Unpaid carers are a hidden but hugely valuable part of our community. Even if this doesn't apply to you, chances are someone in your wider family helps a spouse, family member of neighbour.

Unpaid carers have access to dedicated rights, information and support. In Hart, we have:

A carer support service provided by the Princess Royal Trust for Carers, offering 1:1 support, carers’ plans, emergency planning and support groups
Centralised information for unpaid carers, including a discounts list and free garden membership
An online ‘Care and Support’ directory category, listing local groups, advice and services.

Hart Safeguarding Champions

The Hart Safeguarding Champion officers group met 13 May 2026 for a deeper dive into the subject of safeguarding in relation to bullying and harassment - what it is, how to spot signs, vulnerabilities to consider and look out for and where to seek support for/signpost to for potential victims.

Please see the attached slides for the presentation that was shared which includes links to further information embedded. We would always encourage you to speak to a Safeguarding Champion should you have any questions arising and follow Safeguarding Procedure should you need to raise a concern or submit a referral.

MHMB Reduce bills and increase energy independence

Looking for lower bills and energy independence?

Your home is as unique as you are. That's why the Hampshire-wide My Home Made Better team offers free, impartial, personalised consultations about your home energy to suit your individual property and circumstances.

During your call, your friendly adviser will ask about your home and lifestyle before talking you through options for upgrades, likely impact on energy bills, and tips for getting ahead while maximising financial gains and savings.

Claim your free consultation by phoning the Environment Centre (tEC) on 0800 804 8601.

Updates from the LGA

LGA webinar: Introduction to council audit committees

The Local Government Association (LGA) is hosting a virtual event from 2:00 to 3:30pm on 9 June on council audit committees. The government-funded session will provide an opportunity for newer or less experienced councillors to hear useful information and insight into the role and purpose of the audit committee in local government.

The session will consider the key topics and skills involved in being a member of an audit committee, including the need to ask the right questions to achieve effective outcomes. It will examine the importance of good assurance, stewardship, and governance in this area.

The session will look at both internal and external audit processes and consider the purpose, function, and effectiveness of audit committees. It will explore topics such as financial and wider reporting processes, accountability, risk management, internal control and the work programme of the audit committee.

This session is aimed at newly elected councillors and any councillors on audit committees.

LGA webinar on Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) support: The experience of being a unitary councillor

The Local Government Association (LGA) is hosting a virtual event from 2:00 to 3:15pm on 10 June on Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).

The government-funded session will provide an opportunity to give councillors in districts, boroughs and counties approaching Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) an honest and practical insight into what it means to serve as a unitary councillor.

Drawing on the experiences of those who have already been through LGR, the session will explore how the role and remit of being a district or county councillor compare with serving in a unitary authority. There will be a particular focus on maintaining strong community engagement and a local focus across larger wards and wider geographical footprints. The session will hear from LGR-experienced councils and include time for questions.

This session is aimed at councillors of district, borough and county councils going through LGR. Councils can find more information about this and other LGR events on the LGA devolution and LG reorganisation hub, including recordings of virtual events. Resources, including templates, guidance, and reports, can be found in the LGR toolkit.

Councillors in England access the Local Government Pension Scheme

The government has announced that local councillors in England now have access to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) following the introduction of new regulations.

The Government Actuary’s Department (GAD) used actuarial analysis to support a consultation about the change. The development means scheme membership has been extended to councillors, mayors, deputy mayors and London Assembly members in England for the first time. The change aligns England with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, where elected members have continued to have access to the LGPS.

The new rules took effect on the first Monday (11 May) following the May local elections. It means that service from that date onwards will be pensionable in the scheme. Membership is on an opt-in basis, placing particular importance on clear communication to elected members about their options.