CONTROVERSIAL plans to build a homeless shelter in the middle of a quiet residential area will be a test for three new councillors, it has been warned. The ward of Brookvale & Kings Furlong elected three new public representatives after the town went to the polls last week - Conservatives Arun Mummalaneni and Sam Jeans and Labour’s Michael Howard-Sorrell. The trio replace long-standing councillors Jack Cousens and Mike Westbrook, both formerly of Labour, who quit the party in 2019 before forming the Basingstoke & Deane Independents Group. Residents previously expressed their concerns about anti-social behaviour, drugs and litter resulting from the site.
A COMPANY where a Basingstoke borough councillor is director has been found to have discriminated against a mother while she was on maternity leave. Curtin and Co was taken to an employment tribunal by former employee Sanja Veselinovic for discrimination, with a judge upholding one of her claims against them. Basingstoke and Deane Borough Councillor Paul Harvey, who has just been re-elected for Norden and who is leader of Basingstoke and Deane Independents, is a director at the planning politics and community development company, and was involved in the eight-day tribunal as a respondent to the claims against him and three others.
AS BASINGSTOKE and Deane prepares to go to the polls next month to elect its representatives, The Gazette has invited the political parties to share their vision for the borough.
Here, Paul Harvey, leader of the Basingstoke and Deane Independents, explains why his party should get your vote.
Formed in 2019, the party is preparing to stand in its first elections. We believe as Basingstoke & Deane Independents, free from party politics, free from being whipped into line, that it’s the work we do that matters most. Climate change is a priority. Action has to be focused in every decision the Council makes, delivering on clear carbon reduction targets. We must safeguard and enhance biodiversity throughout our Borough. We need a better more reliable waste service with better opportunities to recycle more.
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Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council offices (Photo: Sean Dillow) Residents across the borough are preparing to go to the polls in all out borough council elections. Unlike usual elections in Basingstoke, all 60 councillors will be resigning their seats, with most going back to the polls seeking re-election. This is because of a number of changes, which include shifts in the boundaries of the individual wards, and the reduction in the number of councillors from 60 to 54. This will mean familiar faces will be saying goodbye to the council chamber come the first meeting in May. In total, 17 serving councillors have decided to stand down in May, with several decades of experience between them.