Andover Town Council has deferred a decision on whether or not to support a plan by Andover Ramblers to ask Hampshire County Council (HCC) to not mark some rights of way in town. Andover Ramblers had asked councillors to support a proposal to relieve HCC of the duty so that these signs do not “skew” assessments of maintaining rights of way across the county, particularly in rural areas. However, councillors were unable to find a map of the affected routes, deciding to contact HCC directly to address some of their concerns. Under the Countryside Act 1968, highway authorities such as Hampshire Highways have a duty to erect a sign “at every point where a footpath, bridleway, restricted byway or byway leaves a metalled road” and indicate the direction and distance of points on that right of way.
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.
Andover town councillors have voted through spending reserves to bring its stock of allotment up to “a good, general standard.” Councillors discussed a range of issues regarding the sites at the allotments committee’s meeting on Monday, December 14, including the replacement of fences and tree surgery. The committee also approved plans to request £50,000 from the council’s budget for the coming year for the purpose of buying new allotments in the north of Andover. While discussing the earmarked reserves, discussion began over the costs of replacing fencing at all seven allotment sites owned by the town council, with £70,000 currently earmarked to meet these costs.