Hart District Budget Statement 

Hart District Council delivers a balanced budget for 2021/22

This is a budget which has been set during an unprecedented time, affecting everyone around the Globe. All Councils in the UK, are facing uncertainty in terms of their financial outlook.

​Our Budget for 2021/22: -

* Takes into account £250k in reduced income due to Hampshire County Council unilaterally withholding credits from us. Credits designed to enable us to encourage and deliver a high degree of recycling collection.

* Prudently includes a cushion of £220k in anticipated income loss arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. Normality is still a few months away and things won’t bounce back overnight.

* With short-term additional costs to resolve outsource restructuring of ill-fated contracts the previous, Conservative, administration saddled us with. We are left with budget pressures totalling £610k. 

* On top of the above, we face a reduction in direct revenue support from the Government of £319k.

Together, this is a financial challenge of £929k. Almost an additional £1 million of costs caused by external factors beyond our control.

It is therefore testament to the prudent financial management, and hard work, of Hart District Council’s heads of service and financial team that we present a balanced budget with a draw on reserves of only £381k.

We want to emphasise that this budget does not include cuts to any services despite the irresponsible misrepresentation on Social Media.

We are not reducing our homelessness budget, we are not reducing grants, we are not shedding any staff from our Grounds Maintenance teams.

We are not using any money collected through this 2021/22 budget to fund any of the FTEs or consultants allocated to Shapley Heath . That is being funded by a combination of Government grants (specifically for Garden Village Communities) and, previously ring-fenced reserves.

Housing number pressures increase, we all know they will again. We need to plan for where future housing should go. We are planning for a green, sustainable garden community, we need Shapley Heath, as the alternative is the return of unplanned urban intensification.

Any Hart District Councillor who doubts the need to proactively plan for future housing growth is implicitly accepting the intensification of our existing urban settlements. Predominantly, that means in Fleet and in Hook.

Using reserves is not ideal but it is also not a long term strategy.

This is a holding budget. It gives breathing space to assess the lasting impact of COVID-19, how it affects revenue and to see if it alters the profile of the services which our residents need from us. We need clarity from the Government on funding. This budget gives us opportunity to consider our options strategically and not to be reactive.

This is a Balanced Budget set in Unprecedented times.

A BIG thank you to all the HDC Financial team who have worked tirelessly throughout this very difficult year.


​Help CCH make the difference in your area

Welcome to the official website of the Community Campaign (Hart). Here you can find out more about us and what we have been doing to support the local quality of life and environment in Hart District, North East Hampshire.

You can get a fair idea about what we do and what we achieve by looking at our latest newsletter and our newsletter archive. 

Common sense solutions for local issues
Without party political pressures, your ten Community Campaign Councillors have made a positive impact across Hart District by always being able to do what they feel is right, rather than having to tow a party political line. We consider alternative ideas with an open mind and readily challenge what others claim to be inevitable.

Newsletters
If you are new to the area and wish to get a full flavour of what the Community Campaign councillors have been doing since first elected in 2004, please review our on-line Newsletter archive or contact us to discuss any local issues.

This is what the CCH stands for:
We have no political dogma. We simply want to fairly and effectively represent local people.

• We are free from party politics so are free to exercise our best judgement, on all issues. We can approach each issue with an open mind.
• We believe that best results are achieved by people working together, by looking for the best way forward and by being open to good ideas.
• We are prepared to challenge when necessary.
• Above all else, we want to do this because we care about the local community and environment.

Your CCH Hart District Councillors, and County Councillor John Bennison. Left to right: Katie (inset), Tony, Sara, James, Ange, Alan, Gill, Chris, Wendy, Simon & John.