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George Hollingbery’s 8th Annual Report

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WORKING FOR THE MEON VALLEY

Focussing on business

Out & aboutHousing & Employment

Keeping us safe

2 64,53

GEORGE HOLLINGBERYHouse of Commons, London SW1A 0AA

Dear Resident,

First I want to thank all those who voted for me in May last year for your support and for re-electing me as your Member of Parliament.

The last fi ve years as your MP have been a fantastic experience and I look forward to representing you for the next fi ve.

While the journey towqrds healing Britain’s economic ills is by no means over, there is much to celebrate in where we fi nd ourselves.

Britain is now one of the fastest growing major economies in the world; we are reducing our spending and there are now more people in work than ever before.

But there are signs of problems coming along the road with the Chinese economy looking uncertain, the price of oil undermining producers’ economies and the near certainty of interest rate rises.

That’s why we have now set out our plan to continue to reform public services, reduce unaffordable public spending and so ensure our long-term economic recovery.

There are still diffi cult decisions ahead but by working together we can make our country better for everyone who lives here.

February 2016

That’s why we have now set out our plan to continue to reform public services, reduce unaffordable public spending and so ensure our long-term economic recovery.

There are still diffi cult decisions ahead but by working together we can make our country better for everyone who lives here.

Yours ever,

THE NHSEnglish A&Es see 3,000 more patients a day within four hours than in 2009. There are 1,000 more GPs and 40 million more appointments each year than under Labour between 1997 and 2010.

EMPLOYMENTEmployment is up in the South East by 242,000 since 2010.

Unemployment is down by 32,000 in the last year.

WAGESThe National Living Wage will give 300,000 people in the South East a pay rise by 2020.There are 145,000 more businesses in the South East than in 2010.

TAXThe increase in personal allowance to £11,000 by 2016–17 will lif t an additional 73,000 individuals out of tax.4.3 million people will see an average real terms gain.

NEWS IN BRIEF

2 | George Hollingbery’s Annual Report

George popped into Whiteley Village Vets to meet the team and to congratulate Cara Golden on her shortlisting for Vet of the Year in the 2015 Petplan Veterinary Awards.

Head vet Cara was nominated for her work treating a host of complicated cases and coaching young vets abroad.

George was keen to highlight the success of another Meon Valley business.

“As the owner of several animals myself, I know how worrying it can be when one falls ill.” said George.

“This is yet another example of a small business thriving here in the Meon Valley.”

Meon Valley

Local business puts itself in the sunshine

George visited Hambledon Vineyard to congratulate the team on winning an international award for their sparkling wine. The vineyard saw off

competition from 240 other wines from across the globe to be given the Euposia award for Best UK and International Sparkling Wine 2015.George Says:“Small businesses are the

lifeblood of our economy. They have been at the centre of our economic recovery and record levels of employment.”

At the People’s Market in Hambledon

Touring Hill Farm Juice in Swanmore

At the Apprentices Fair at Horndean Tech

Meon Valley

Meon Valley

HBS Southern are a growing business in south

Hampshire.

The Bull family have evolved their interests and

changed with the times.

Starting out as a fi rm of local plumbers, the

latest generation has added on renewable

energy installation to the portfolio of interests the

business has.

Now one of the biggest participants in the

market for solar panels in the area, HBS works

closely with builders to install solar panels on the

social housing element in new developments like

Windmill Field in Clanfi eld.

George said: ”The Meon Valley is full of new and

exciting businesses moving with the times. It’s

great to see and good news for local employment.”

Installing renewable energy for all

Staying in touch with local business

Opening Baxter Hall Recruitment in Shedfi eld

Meeting with HBS Southern in Whiteley

Meeting with HBS Southern in Whiteley

VISITING HAMBLEDON VINEYARD

George with MD Ian Kellett and Cllr Rob Humby

George with Head Vet Cara Golden

GOING TO THE VETS

George Hollingbery’s Annual Report | 3

The Meon Valley is a largely rural area which means it is vulnerable to rural crime. George is working hard with local residents and

the police to cut illegal activity in the countryside. He regularly meets with the Chief Constable, Police and Crime Commissioner as well as the local Inspectors in his patch with rural crime always near the top of the agenda.

George says: “As I represent a largely rural

constituency, I’m very much aware of the devastating impact rural crime has on communities.

If high levels of crime took place in an urban area there would be uproar, so it is right that the rural community makes sure the problem is in the limelight.”

In October, George also met with the Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Hampshire County Council Chief Executive, Chief Inspector Hampshire Constabulary of Road Policing and Corhampton and Meonstoke Parish Council to discuss the complaints from residents and local councils regarding loud motorcycle exhaust emissions in and around the A272 and the A32.

It was confi rmed that the possibility of installing average speed cameras will be investigated at hot spots along the “riders’ route.”

George has since met with representatives from both the British Motorcycling Federation and the Motorcycle Industry Association. They have offered their support in reducing the illegal noise levels produced by a minority of riders that adversely affect so many people living along the routes.

The matter will be raised at the All Party Parliamentary Motorcycle Group later this year in an attempt to create momentum within the industry and amongst user groups.

CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE FOR POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONER

Michael Lane has been chosen as the Conservative candidate for the role of Police and Crime Commissioner in Hampshire.

After a distinguished military career as a Commodore in the Royal Navy, Michael has brought his skills and motivation to further community and public service in Hampshire. He has worked for Hampshire County Council and has also undertaken a wide range of charitable and voluntary roles including for the Alzheimer’s Society.

Michael believes there is a need to improve the public visibility of the Police and Crime Commissioner and its democratic role in giving a local voice for policing priorities.

In seeking a safer Hampshire, he believes there needs to be an even greater emphasis on core policing activity and tackling of crime.

Michael says: “If elected, there will be no other priority for me than to deliver a safer place for people to thrive and criminals be deterred, prevented and brought to justice.”

The election for Police and Crime Commissioner will be held on the 5th May 2016.

Michael can be found on his website: http://michael4hampshire-pcc.uk

The role of Police and Crime Commissioner is to work with Chief Constables to set the direction for policing in their area.

They do not manage the force on a day to day basis but provide a democratic oversight and are responsible for holding the Chief Constable to account.

The buck stops with commissioners, the public cast judgment at the ballot box, voting out commissioners who don’t cut crime or address local concerns.

KEEPING US SAFE HERE AT HOME

WORKING TO TACKLE RURAL CRIME

The Conservative Government announced a range of measures in the November Spending Review to boost law and order and protect our citizens.

This Government is taking strong action to cut crime and keep us safe, including:■ A £900 million boost for the police by

2020 as police spending is protected in real terms for the next fi ve years. ■ £200 million of new capital investment

to the National Crime Agency to help the fi ght against serious and organised crime.

■ £500 million for counter-terrorism to increase the capability of the police to pursue terrorists, counter ideologies at home, and ensure that the UK is properly prepared in the event of an attack. ■ The creation of a new National Digital

Exploitation Service, upgraded borders intelligence systems, enhanced intelligence coverage in prisons, improved ability to share biometrics data with the UK’s counter-terrorism partners overseas and increased aviation security both at UK and international airports.

WHAT IS A PCC?

George with former Chief Constable Andy Marsh

4 | George Hollingbery’s Annual Report

HOUSING

GETTING THE RIGHT HOUSES IN THE RIGHT PLACES

The beginning of last year was a critical time for where houses were built in the Meon Valley constituency.

Havant had got their Local Plan in place giving the council fi rm control of what is built where.

The same wasn’t true in the East Hampshire District area or in Winchester where the Local Plans were some way off completion and the amount of

permissions granted wasn’t enough to hold back unwanted development.

The consequence was a rash of speculative applications, in places like Horndean and Clanfi eld, from developers seeking to exploit this diffi culty and get permission for sites that no-one wanted.

Great efforts from both the local councils and from local people resulted in the grant of permission for 700 new homes to the east of Horndean.

This wasn’t universally welcomed by all but the vast majority of those living in and around Horndean felt that this was the best place for their allocation of homes to be built.

The grant of permission was incredibly important as it allowed the council to show that they had granted permission to build enough houses that the speculative applications weren’t needed.

Nationally, Ministers are helping reduce the building pressure on the countryside by making it easier to convert empty and redundant retail buildings into homes.

These reforms will not only rejuvenate high streets and market towns, but they will help increase the supply of homes..

In the end though, the only sure way to get the right houses in the right places is by making certain that our councils have up to date Local Plans that developers can’t challenge.

HELPING GENERATION RENT MOVE TO GENERATION BUY

Offi cial statistics show that our plan to make home ownership an achievable dream is working across the country.

With a 25 per cent increase in housing supply since last year, there are now 170,690 more new houses available for people who want good quality homes, both to rent and buy.

In addition, 17,502 home buyers have been supported through Help to Buy – enabling them to buy their home with a fraction of the deposit they would normally require.

In the Meon Valley alone, more than 300 new homes were built in the last year, one of the best results in the country.

George ran a planning conference to explain the rules

The grant of permission at the ‘land east of Horndean’ helped a lot

We worked closely wih the council and others to deal with the problem

Opening a site in Wickham built on an old industrial site

George with First Wessex CX Peter Walters

Housing is one of the most important issues for the Conservative Government and Housing Associations have a key role to play in ensuring that good homes are available to everyone who needs one.

To help those in need, the Government has told Housing Associations that they have to reduce the rents they charge by 1% a year for the next few years which has been a challenging target for some to meet.

George recently met with Peter Walters, CEO of First Wessex Housing to discuss these changes and First Wessex’s plans for the future of housing in the Meon Valley.

REDUCING SOCIAL RENTS

George Hollingbery’s Annual Report | 5

EMPLOYMENT

Unemployment has fallen in the Meon Valley by 16% in the last year with just 377 people claiming Jobseekers Allowance.

Nationally, this fall in unemployment is benefi tting people from all walks of life.

Youth unemployment is down by 200,000 since 2010 and long-term unemployment is down by 210,000 in the same period, whilst the number of older workers is at a record high.

There is also a record number of women in work, up 180,000 over the past year, and in the same period the number of disabled people in work has increased by 238,000.

THE BENEFITS CAP EXPLAINEDUnder the Benefi ts Cap, no out-of-work family can receive more in total benefi ts than

the average family gets in work. The current level of the Cap is £26,000 a year, the same as the average salary. This translates

to £500 a week for couples and those with children and £350 a week for single people, equivalent to the take-home pay of those earning a pre-tax salary of £35,000 a year. The Government plans to reduce it further to £23,000 in London and £20,000 in the rest of

the country in April 2016, to bring it more in line with average take-home pay instead of gross earnings. Statistics show that this approach is working.By guaranteeing that individuals will always be better off in work and putting an end to

runaway benefi t claims, the cap is having a real impact in changing attitudes and behaviours.Since it was introduced, almost 20,000 households have made the choice to move into work

or stop claiming Housing Benefi t.

Apprenticeships can give young people a real opportunity to learn a valuable skill while earning at the same time.

They can raise the productivity of the businesses they join and give young people a sense of achievement and pride.

During the last Parliament, we saw the biggest ever increase in the numbers of apprenticeships with over two million people starting a placement. Last year in the Meon Valley, 890 people took up an apprenticeship.

Action by the Conservative Government has also meant that it is easier for businesses to hire apprentices by abolishing employers’ National Insurance contributions for apprenticeships under 25 from April 2016.

The Government is committed to going further and delivering three million more apprenticeships by 2020.

To ensure high quality training the Government will introduce an apprenticeship levy on all large fi rms and those that offer apprenticeships can get more back than they put in.

The money will be directly controlled by employers and the Government will work with business on how to do this.

650,000 people were on an apprenticeship during the fi rst half of this year, including more than 400,000 16 to 24 year olds.

APPRENTICESHIPS SUCCESS

Meeting apprentices in Whiteley

6 | George Hollingbery’s Annual Report

OUT AND ABOUT IN MEON VALLEY

A new defi brillator for Bishop’s Waltham

The Sustainability Centre

near Clanfi eld

Super-fast broadband comes to Cheriton

Keeping up to date with new cancer treatments

Seeing expanding business GTMS in W’ville

THE IMMIGRATION CHALLENGE

Recent immigration fi gures have been disappointing with net migration up by 94,000 since March 2014 to 330,000.

These numbers show the scale of the challenge we face and why we need to re-double our efforts to build an effi cient and effective immigration system that puts Britain fi rst by clamping down on abuses.

The Immigration Act 2014 is delivering real benefi ts and puts the law fi rmly on the side of those who respect it, while cracking down on those who break it.

All of the measures in the Act have now been implemented and are already having an impact. Since July 2014, we have:

■ Reduced the number of appeal routes in the immigration system from 17 to 4.

■ Revoked over 11,000 driving licences from illegal migrants.

■ Deported over 1,000 foreign criminals who would previously have had a right to appeal in the UK.

■ Implemented new powers to block bail when someone is scheduled to be removed within 14 days and required private landlords to check the immigration status of new tenants or risk a civil penalty.

■ Targeted sham marriages with a new scheme which means that all marriages and civil partnerships where one party may gain an immigration advantage by marrying are referred to the Home Offi ce before the marriage can take place.

The new Immigration Bill will go even further by creating a new criminal offence of illegal working and allowing the Government to seize and confi scate illegal wages.

There will also be an extension of the ‘deport fi rst, appeal later’ approach to ensure that even more illegal migrants are removed from the UK.

No-one is pretending that immigration levels are where the Government wanted them to be but every effort is being made to control the numbers coming in and to deport those who shouldn’t be here.

A strong economy has meant that the Government has been able to carry on increasing spending in the NHS.

The Government increased the NHS budget by £7 billion in real terms over the last fi ve years.

The Conservative’s long-term economic plan means we are able to go further and commit in Government to increasing NHS spending in England in real terms by a minimum of £8 billion by 2020.

Under this Government the NHS has been ranked as the top health system in the world by the Commonwealth Fund.

Reforms over the past fi ve years have

meant that NHS administration costs have been reduced while the number of health professionals in the NHS since the General Election has increased.

There are now over 6,300 more nurses, over 8,500 more doctors and around 6,500 fewer managers working in the NHS than in 2010.

These reforms have meant that the NHS has saved £5.5 billion on bureaucracy over the past fi ve years.

With healthcare costs ever increasing the NHS will always face funding challenges but one thing is for sure: a strong economy is needed to keep it going.

A STRONG ECONOMY IS NEEDED FOR A STRONG NHS

Visiting Hexion CCT to open the fi rm’s new Consuta Training facility

George Hollingbery’s Annual Report | 7

It is with regret that Tom Ruffell is unable to stand again this year due to work relocation.

Following the Boundary Review, the parish of Durley will become part of an enlarged Bishop’s Waltham ward. Cllr. Rob Humby, who is currently one of the city councillors representing Durley, will be standing this May with the hope of representing the new Bishop’s Waltham & Durley ward.

If elected, this should give the residents of Bishop’s Waltham & Durley a strong team with representation at city, county and parliamentary levels.

ELECTIONS MAY 2016

WARD CHANGES FOR WINCHESTER

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL IN 2015• From 2013 through to 2018, the County

Council will have built around 11,000 additional primary school places.

• The current number of Year 7 places needed in Hampshire is 12,861 with current capacity at 16,015. Indicative fi gures for Hampshire show that the capital funding of schools over the next ten years is around £401m.

• There are around 20,000 people currently living with dementia in Hampshire. A pioneering new Pathfi nder scheme in partnership with Argenti Telecare, is now under way to support such people.

• The Hampshire Public Health School Nursing Service has been enhanced to support vulnerable older children and offers well-being checks for children in Year 6.

• Hampshire County Council came top for residents’ satisfaction in a recent poll of County Councils in the South East.

• Highway teams are ready to deal with winter weather. From October to April, there are 51 vehicles on standby with in-house training for all drivers having been completed. All community salt bins are now fi lled.

The Bishop’s Waltham team: Cllrs. Steve Miller, Rob Humby, George Hollingbery M.P. and David McLean

The Local Government Boundary Commission completed its review of the Winchester City Council District recently. Following 18 months of consultation the Commission reported on the changes that are needed to meet the current rules on how local representation must work in the district. The effect is to reduce the number of Councillors from 57 to 45 with effect from 5th May 2016.

Ward boundaries have been changed to refl ect this so that each Councillor represents a similar number of residents. Throughout the District there are sixteen wards. Most will have three Councillors (with just three having two Councillors).

Ten of the new wards are within the Winchester Constituency area, with six falling within the Meon Valley. Details of the changes are shown in the map and notes below.

TWO-member Ward

Upper Meon Valley

This ward will consist of the parishes of Beauworth, Bramdean & Hinton Ampner, Cheriton, Chilcomb, Corhampton & Meonstoke, Exton, Kilmeston, Owslebury, Tichborne, Upham, Warnford and West Meon. (Note that Bishop’s Sutton, although part of the Meon Valley constituency will be within the Alresford & Itchen Valley Ward and this is part of the Winchester constituency. Similarly, Chilcomb, although in this new Upper Meon Valley ward, remains part of the Winchester constituency.)

THREE-member Wards

Bishops Waltham

This ward will consist of the town of Bishop’s Waltham and the parish of Durley.

Central Meon Valley

This ward will comprise the parishes of Droxford, Hambledon, Soberton, Swanmore and the Waltham Chase area from Shedfi eld Parish

Denmead

This ward will consist of the parish of Denmead and part of the Southwick & Widley parish around the West of Waterlooville development area.

Southwick & Wickham

This ward will comprise the parish of Wickham (including Knowle), Boarhunt, and the remainder of the parish of Southwick & Widley.

Whiteley & Shedfi eld

Curdridge, Whiteley and the Shedfi eld and Shirrell Heath parts of Shedfi eld parish will make up this ward.

The other ten wards fall in the Winchester Constituency.

Contact your local Conservative team

MEON VALLEY CONSERVATIVES

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8 | George Hollingbery’s Annual Report

Cllrs. Tom Ruffell, David McLean & Stephen Miller

RURAL POST OFFICES ARE A PRIORITYCouncillor Rob Humby, Hampshire County Council’s Rural Champion, is taking up the fi ght to protect rural post offi ces.

Recent changes by the Post Offi ce have seen many branches downgraded or closed altogether and Rob is working hard to tackle the problem.

Rob said:

“Post offi ces in villages all across Hampshire are often at the heart of the local community and really can make all the difference in combatting rural social isolation.

We are committed to helping keep Hampshire’s rural communities vibrant and thriving. I have written to Post Offi ce Chief Executive Paula Vennells and invited her to come and discuss the future of our post offi ce network.

What we need now is clarity from the Post Offi ce on how they are going to deliver the government’s commitment to secure the future of 3,000 rural branches.”

County Cllr. Rob Humby outside Bishop’s Waltham Post Offi ce

CITY COUNCILLOR DAVID MCLEAN23 Morley Drive, Bishops Waltham, SOUTHAMPTON, SO32 1RX 01489 891 911 dmclean@winchester.gov.uk

CITY COUNCILLOR STEVE MILLER13 Garfi eld Close, Bishops Waltham, SOUTHAMPTON, SO32 1AQ01489 891 122 smiller@winchester.gov.uk

CITY COUNCILLOR TOM RUFFELLNorthwood House, Owslebury, WINCHESTER, SO21 1LX01962 777 236 truffell@winchester.gov.uk

COUNTY COUNCILLOR ROB HUMBYHangar Nurseries, Thompsons Lane, Owslebury, WINCHESTER, SO21 1JH 01962 777 673rob.humby@hants.gov.uk

GEORGE HOLLINGBERY M.P.House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA.01962 734 076george.hollingbery.mp@parliament.uk

REPORTING BACKOur target in Bishops Waltham has been to increase the number of affordable homes, and with the developments and our plan policies that will happen which will provide homes for young Bishop’s Waltham residents.

Bishop’s Waltham City Councillors continue to support the Town Team in its aim to ensure a vibrant and healthy high street. Your District Councillors have again protected the 1 hour free parking to help support our High Street.

Winchester is supporting the Parish Council in its aim to provide the new car park at Jubilee Hall with a grant of £50,000, to free up spaces in the centre of the town.

Following last year’s fl oods City Councillors attended briefi ngs to understand what could be done to help in the event of further fl ooding in Bishops Waltham, and will continue to support local people and work with other agencies and are grateful for the support of Rob Humby and HCC.

WINCHESTER CITY COUNCIL ACHIEVEMENTS 1. Despite lower government funding

Conservatives have maintained all front line services while keeping Council Tax the same for the last 5 years.

2. Increasing the supply of affordable homes and new council homes across the district. 172 being built in 2013/15 plus 106 council houses granted permission.

3. Helping local businesses and rural enterprises with boosts to grants, Wheels to Work schemes, Jobseekers mentoring, support with Universal Credit and new digital technologies.

4. Our dedicated offi cer continues to help our Market Towns to remain thriving business locations.

5. Supporting our older population by providing specialist housing, promoting independent living and awareness courses on dementia.

6. Promoting Winchester District as a Tourist centre. Visitor numbers up from 4.2m in 2010 to 5.5m in 2014.

7. An overall reduction of Council carbon emissions by 14.3% since 2005; using electric vehicles and investing in Euro 6 cleaner engine buses for our Park and Ride.

8. We have a valid Local Plan which helps us to resist unsuitable developments — a better position than neighbouring councils!

9. Working with other organisations to strengthen fl ood defences.