LOCAL-LEVEL DECISION-MAKERS: Who Can We Hold Accountable? EHDC Planning Committee

EHDC Planning Committee Members are accountable

for all decisions regarding another new development in our area, including its full impact.

The local government blames the UK Government for ‘deeply flawed’ planning rules and ‘brutal housing targets.’

It is crucial to underline that local authorities may advocate for changes to housing targets through political channels, such as lobbying elected representatives or engaging with government officials.
They may also seek legal avenues to challenge housing targets if they believe they are unfair, unrealistic, or not in the best interest of their communities.

There cannot be a more suitable context for doing so successfully than when the local council and the UK Government are both ruled by the same party.

In 2015, the Conservative Party won 42 councillor seats in the East Hampshire District Council election.

Hence, we dare to assert that the local government has failed us!

No wonder that in 2019 the Conservative Party lost seats in our local government. They managed to keep the majority (32 seats), yet the housing target situation not only did not improve but worsened.

After the East Hampshire District Council election in 2023, no single party has a majority in our local council.

The Conservative Party has 19 seats, the Liberal Democrats have 14, and the remaining 6 seats are held by the Whitehill & Bordon Community Party, with one seat each for the Green Party, Labour, and an Independent Councillor.

The Whitehill & Bordon Community Party focuses on the interests of three EHDC Wards: Whitehill Chase Ward, Whitehill Hogmoor Ward, and Whitehill Pinewood Ward.

Whitehill Chase Ward has 2 seats on the Planning Committee, Whitehill Hogmoor Ward has 1 seat on the Planning Committee, and the interests of the Whitehill Pinewood ward are represented by proxy through the other two.

We believe that, given the current state of affairs, we must be more vigilant than ever.

Let’s start by prioritizing our own corner first, regardless of our commitment to supporting certain views in national politics.

Our local politicians are only as engaged as their constituents—if we don’t care about our own street or immediate neighbourhood, why should they?

It’s not about becoming activists, but rather not excusing ourselves from being indifferent and squandering the potential within our reach when we can make a meaningful impact.

Let’s not underestimate the power of small achievements when they come together in large numbers 🙂

It appears that we are the only ward in the category with greater needs, which is why we have more than one councillor, that does not have representation on the Planning Committee.

East Hampshire District Council is divided into 31 wards, each represented by councillors. Some wards have multiple council seats, determined through electoral boundary reviews and consideration of local demographics.

Our ward is one of only two with three council seats, placing us at the top among EHDC wards with multiple seats. Additionally, there are eight wards with two council seats.

However, we are the ONLY one in this category without representation on the Planning Committee.

Meanwhile, according to EHDC email bulletins, new housing targets have allegedly ‘fractured communities and turned councillors against each other.’

Therefore, the least we can do is to support SMASH and stand up for our ‘corner’ of the Four Marks & Medstead Ward.

Let’s be observant and act together if needed in our common interest!

Out of 31 wards, only 2 EHDC wards have 3 council seats:	Out of 31 wards, 8 EHDC wards have 2 council seats:	Out of 31 wards, 21 EHDC wards have only 1 council seat each.
1. Four Marks & Medstead 2. Bramshott & Liphook	1. Horndean Kings & Blendworth 2. Liss 3. Whitehill Chase 4. Binsted, Bentley & Selborne 5. Clanfield 6. Headley 7. Petersfield St Peter’s 8. Whitehill Hogmoor & Greatham	1. Alton Amery 2. Alton Ashdell 3. Alton Eastbrooke 4. Alton Holybourne 5. Alton Westbrooke 6. Alton Whitedown 7. Alton Wooteys 8. Bentworth & Froyle 9. Buriton & East Meon 10. Froxfield, Sheet & Steep 11. Grayshott 12. Horndean Catherington 13. Horndean Downs 14. Horndean Murray 15. Lindford 16. Petersfield Bell Hill 17. Petersfield Causeway 18. Petersfield Heath 19. Ropley, Hawkley & Hangers 20. Rowlands Castle 21. Whitehill Pinewood

In our understanding typically, members of the Planning Committee are elected from among the councillors of the district council. The exact process for selection may involve nominations from political parties or groups within the council, followed by a vote or appointment process.

In some cases, councillors may express interest in serving on the Planning Committee, and their appointment is then determined by the council leadership or through a committee selection process. Additionally, the composition of the Planning Committee may include both ruling party members and representatives from opposition parties to ensure a balanced representation.

It would be justified to seek a deeper understanding of why the EHDC Planning Committee does not include any Four Marks & Medstead councillors. Let’s consider how we can influence change.

Planning Authorities

Based on the information provided by the EHDC online platform, we know that there are two planning authorities for East Hampshire:

Medstead falls under the East Hampshire District Council (EHDC).
Four Marks falls under the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA).*

To be honest, we’re not sure why the entire Four Marks falls under the SDNPA, as it’s not in the National Park. The part of our ward that is in the South Downs National Park area is actually closer to the Jane Austen House 🙂 See the illustration below.

The part of our ward that is in the South Downs National Park area is actually closer to the Jane Austen House

Four Marks is NOT in the South Downs

GO to “Do I live in the National Park” Checker if you would like to verify

Jane Austen’s House is 🙂

* East Hampshire District Council can determine planning applications for sites within the South Downs National Park area of the district on behalf of the South Downs National Park Authority, acting as an agent for the SDNPA.

Planning Committee Members

Cllr Angela Glass

Ward: Bramshott & Liphook

Correspondence address:

East Hampshire District Council
PO Box 310
Petersfield
GU32 9HN

Email: angela.glass@easthants.gov.uk

Mobile: 077 9023 4448
Phone: 014 2872 2375

src: EHDC website 2024-04-05

Cllr Anthony Williams

Ward: Headley

Correspondence address:

Little Benifold
Headley Hill Road
Headley, Bordon
GU35 8DU

Email: anthony.williams@easthants.gov.uk

Phone: 014 2871 2809
Mobile: 077 6492 6315

src: EHDC website 2024-04-05

Cllr Charles Louisson

Ward: Ropley, Hawkley & Hangers

Correspondence address:

East Hampshire District Council
PO Box 310
Petersfield
GU32 9HN

Email: charles.louisson@easthants.gov.uk
Mobile: 075 6364 9416

src: EHDC website 2024-04-05

Cllr David Ashcroft

Ward: Binsted, Bentley & Selborne

Correspondence address:

East Hampshire District Council
PO Box 310
Petersfield
GU32 9HN

Email: david.ashcroft@easthants.gov.uk
Mobile: 079 6651 1868
Phone: 014 2051 1011

src: EHDC website 2024-04-05

Cllr Elaine Woodard

Ward: Horndean Murray

Correspondence address:

East Hampshire District Council
PO Box 310
Petersfield
GU32 9HN

Email: elaine.woodard@easthants.gov.uk
Mobile: 074 3715 2518

src: EHDC website 2024-04-05

Cllr James Hogan

Ward: Horndean Downs

Correspondence address:

East Hampshire District Council
PO Box 310
Petersfield
GU32 9HN

Email:
Mobile:

src: EHDC website 2024-04-05

Cllr John Smart

Ward: Clanfield

Correspondence address:

East Hampshire District Council
PO Box 310
Petersfield
GU32 9HN

Email: john.smart@easthants.gov.uk
Mobile: 074 1532 7127

src: EHDC website 2024-04-05

Cllr Kirsty Mitchell

Ward: Whitehill Hogmoor & Greatham

Correspondence address:

East Hampshire District Council
PO Box 310
Petersfield
GU32 9HN

Email: kirsty.mitchell@easthants.gov.uk
Mobile: 077 9306 2646

src: EHDC website 2024-04-05

Cllr Mike Steevens

Ward: Whitehill Hogmoor & Greatham

Correspondence address:

East Hampshire District Council
PO Box 310
Petersfield
GU32 9HN

Email: mike.steevens@easthants.gov.uk
Mobile:

src: EHDC website 2024-04-05

Cllr Nick Drew

Ward: Froxfield, Sheet & Steep

Correspondence address:

East Hampshire District Council
PO Box 310
Petersfield
GU32 9HN

Email: nick.drew@easthants.gov.uk
Mobile: 079 2008 6475

src: EHDC website 2024-04-05

Cllr Phil Shaw

Ward: Petersfield St Peter’s

Correspondence address:

East Hampshire District Council
PO Box 310
Petersfield
GU32 9HN

Email: phil.shaw@easthants.gov.uk
Mobile: 075 4674 8075

src: EHDC website 2024-04-05

Cllr Sara Schillemore

Ward: Horndean Catherington

Correspondence address:

134 Catherington Lane
Horndean
Waterlooville
PO8 9PB

Email: sara.schillemore@easthants.gov.uk
Mobile: 077 7168 4585

src: EHDC website 2024-04-05

Cllr Steve Hunt

Ward: Alton Amery

Correspondence address:

Vincent, Paice Lane
Medstead, Alton
Petersfield
GU34 5PT

Email: steve.hunt@easthants.gov.uk
Mobile: 077 1731 1244

src: EHDC website 2024-04-05

Constituted Of: