Category: Community

18th November 2020

External Audit Concluded

The Parish Council accounts for 2019/2020 have now been reviewed by our external auditors and no issues have been identified. For further details please refer to this PDF link.

Main Road Closure – 26th November 2020

Hampshire Highways have reported that part of Main Rd will be closed from 26th November for 2 days. This will affect the road between the Deane Down Drove/Kennel Lane junction through to Stockbridge Road, during the hours of 9:30am to 3:30pm. The work is being done by BT Open Reach to deal with tree branches that are too close to overhead cables.

Andover Rd Pedestrian Crossing Petition

The Residents Association of Kings Barton has expressed frustration at the lack of progress being made to install a pedestrian crossing on the Andover Rd.

If Littleton & Harestock residents would like to see the petition created by The Kings Barton Residents Association then please refer to the Headbourne Worthy Parish Council news item online at this link: http://www.headbourneworthy.org.uk/community/headbourne-worthy-parish-council-10171/news/petition-for-andover-rd-crossing—please-sign-39858

Littleton Linkers

Littleton
2nd November 2020

Dear Littleton Resident,

The second lock-down is now with us and, as a community, we need to ensure that anyone who needs help can get that help. In March we set up the LINKERS system which received parishioners’ needs; the ‘Duty’ LINKER then found a HELPER who ensured that help was given. This worked very well, and the seven LINKERS and 42 HELPERS did a great job. However, by July the requests for help had dwindled; this was due to people gaining confidence to venture out plus increased availability of delivery slots from supermarkets and pharmacies. Consequently, the LINKERS scheme wound-up and we do not envisage reinstating it.

In its place there are three different sources of help for you during this new lock-down.

1. When the LINKERS scheme wound up, we asked the most frequent users of the scheme if they would welcome retaining a regular helper that they could contact and use. Twelve said ‘YES’ and each was allocated two HELPERS; this arrangement is working and is not due for review until 1st January 2021. These twelve parishioners already have their potential needs catered for during this second lockdown.
2. The WhatsApp group ‘Littleton Community Group’ has been very vigorous in providing all sorts of help around the village. If, during this lockdown, you need help with one-off shopping or prescriptions, it is very likely that a member of the WhatsApp group can help. Please ring Chris Rice (07976 209 382) who will act as a conduit to obtain help from the Group.
3. If you now think that you are going to require regular help with shopping or prescriptions during this new lockdown, then we can provide help for you in a similar way to that outlined in paragraph 1 above. Please ring either Clive Thompsett (01962 885039) or Peter Highfield (01962 889426). We will note down your name, email, house address and telephone number and will then find two HELPERS who can help you as and when required (we will give you their names and telephone numbers). Please don’t hesitate to ask.

These services are not meant to replace the help you might already be receiving from your neighbours. It provides a safety net to ensure that anyone in need knows they are not alone and can rely on getting help.

One last request: If you were one of the original HELPERS, or a new volunteer, can you please email Clive (clive.thompsett@icloud.com) indicating whether you are available and willing to help those who might use alternative 3 above? Many thanks.

Yours in fellowship,
Chris Rice. Littleton Community Group
Simon Kingston and Clive Thompsett. St Catherine’s Churchwardens
Peter Highfield. Parish Councillor

Winchester City Council has launched a free Wi-Fi service which will be available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to help support the city’s reopened businesses. 
 
To access the Wi-Fi search for the WinCityFree Wi-Fi network signal on your device and tap connect. 

For more information, follow this link: https://www.winchester.gov.uk/news/2020/sep/free-wi-fi-launched-in-winchester-city-center 

Winchester City Council is considering the implementation of a new Council Tax Reduction scheme within the City Council’s area from 2021/22. The reason for the change is the effect of the roll out of Universal Credit which is largely incompatible with the current scheme and is based on a traditional means tested benefits approach.

Experience has shown that leaving the scheme the same will have an adverse effect on both taxpayers claiming Council Tax Reduction and the overall Council Tax collection levels.

Details of the simplified banding scheme are available with the public consultation survey (please see below). The main aims of the changes are:

· to improve transparency in the process for claiming;
· to reduce the level of administration currently required for claims;
· to support the most vulnerable residents in the district;
· to assist in the collection of Council Tax; and
· wherever possible, to maintain the same level of support to most applicants.

It is the intention of Winchester City Council to maintain the same overall level of support for this scheme. These changes will not have any detrimental effect to the Council Tax base.

The Council is undertaking a consultation process on these changes and would welcome your comments by 01 November 2020. Further information on the proposed changes is available on the public consultation survey www.winchester.gov.uk/benefits.

Please either email Lucy Cobern (Benefits & Welfare Manager) directly on lcobern@winchester.gov.uk or complete the survey, whichever is more convenient.

There are two vacancies on the Littleton & Harestock Parish Council caused by councillor resignations. Please see the notice below in PDF format:

The Parish Council has been made aware of a Hampshire County Council Planning Application for an inert waste recycling facility in the area around Three Maids Hill.

Full details of the planning application are online at: https://planning.hants.gov.uk/ApplicationDetails.aspx?RecNo=21326

Please see the letter below:

Can’t view the minutes? Check your Adobe PDF viewer is up to date here.

For the past 19 weeks the Littleton help scheme has been administered by LINKERS who, when it was their duty-day, stayed at home to ensure that any request for help was fulfilled by allocating it to a HELPER.   It has worked efficiently and well.  

The scheme peaked at 35 requests a week but as more and more people obtained supermarket and pharmacy delivery slots, the numbers have dwindled. Overall, approaching 300 requests for help have been met, but, in the last few weeks, have only averaged five.  Consequently, the scheme has been changed. 

Every person who requested help in June and July has been contacted and offered the help of dedicated helpers. Only a dozen have indicated that they still need help. This morning each of the 12 families have been given the telephone numbers of two dedicated helpers who will personally ensure, over the coming two months, that their needs for shopping and prescriptions will be met.  The system will be reviewed again by 1st October.

Littleton WhatsApp group have kindly offered to provide a fallback for providing urgent help;  they have the network to harness the wider community to meet needs.  In these circumstances please ring either Chris Rice (01962 880937) or Kate Chappell. (07717 804080) from the WhatsApp group.   

Clive Thompsett – Littleton help scheme. 3rd August 2020