Andover Town Council has raised the prospect of getting rid of its physical presence in the town in a move that could reduce taxes for residents. The idea was raised during a meeting of the Assets and Communities Committee during discussions of its budget for the coming financial year, with Councillor David Coole questioning the value of the building to Andover taxpayers, the costs of which come to around £41,000 a year when all factors are considered. The concept received tentative support from other councillors, with officers asked to prepare a report ahead of the matter being considered more fully at a later date.
Andover Town Council has accepted a report produced in the wake of staff grievances which led to the council being shut down for two weeks.
Following a vigorous debate over whether the report should be heard in public, the council went into closed session to receive the report, deliberating for an hour and a half before accepting it, which will see “improved training” for councillors and staff among other changes. However, following the process, a group of councillors have announced an intention to launch legal proceedings against the council. The publication of the statement brings to an end the formal grievance process, whose origins lie at the start of October, when “concerns regarding councillors” were received, leading to the council’s staff being placed on leave.
An Extraordinary general meeting of Andover Town Council saw vigorous debate between councillors over whether the outcome of a grievance panel should be heard in secret. The meeting, held on December 15, saw councillors assemble to receive the report on the grievances made by staff at the council, which saw it close for two weeks while a locum was appointed. Following the approval of new dates for council meetings in the new year, councillors debated the exclusion of the press and public to hear confidential staffing matters; a process which is usually a formality which goes undebated. Following the debate between councillors, the resolution passed, with councillors entering confidential proceedings to hear the outcome of the panel’s investigation.