Southampton set to embrace new housing powers

Southampton City Council is set to embrace new powers which will allow it to protect family homes and control where excessive concentrations of houses of multiple occupancy (HMOs) spring up in the city.

Last week the council received government guidance on new ways to control HMOs – rented homes where three or more unrelated people live.

The council is now looking at the best way to use these new powers, named Article 4, which means it will be able to refuse new HMOs in Southampton, where they are appropriate.

Article 4 powers allow local authorities to implement strict planning rules in specific areas. The rules require landlords to attain planning permission before turning homes into rented HMOs.

These powers would allow us to look carefully at areas in the city where there are problems or issues with houses of multiple occupancy. We can also look at areas where there are concerns from residents about protecting where they live in the future.

It means we can insist that landlords apply for planning permission if they change the use of a house into a HMO.

As well as exploring how it will use Article 4, the council is also working with communities and organisations to make sure plenty of houses remain as family homes in Southampton.

We want to embrace diversity in Southampton and make sure we cater for all. However we must protect family homes and make sure Southampton is a place where families can live and enjoy. To do that we need to make sure there are lots of family homes for our residents to choose from. That is why as well as looking at these new powers, we are also working with people like private landlords and the University of Southampton, who we are supporting with their accommodations strategy.

Well Done Southampton Schools!

Results from Southampton Schools have been superb this year.

At Key Stage One the city is now above the national average, shooting up the local authority league tables.

At GCSE we have had our largest increase in our history at 4.1%, closing the gap significantly with national average.

The improvements reflect the hard work put in by teachers and pupils across the city. In addition the city council has worked with struggling schools, partnering them with good schools and investing in teacher training programmes.

Schools in the west of the city have done particularly well with big improvements in GCSE results:

• Lord’s Hill Academy (+13%)
• Upper Shirley High School (+5%)
• Redbridge Community College (+17%)
• Regents Park Community College (+10%)

The One Big Community Festival

A free community festival is being held at Portswood Recreation Ground on Saturday 11th September. The festival has been arranged by local residents and includes live performances and interactive workshops.

For further details contact 07766 144373 or email nbspcommunity@hotmail.co.uk.

Local Conservative Councillors will be there during the day holding a surgery to help with local issues and problems.

The Keys are Handed over for No. 1 Guildhall Square

Last week the keys were offically handed over for the new council office, No. 1 Guildhall Square. The new £25m building will house council and Capita staff. It is part of the wider regeneration of the Northern Above Bar quarter of the city, which will feature a new arts complex, heritage centre and include a refurbished Guildhall Square.

The city council is reducing its central buildings from 7 to 3 with the aim of saving money and improving working conditions for staff. Overall this rationalisation of buildings will save the local taxpayer about £700,000 per year.

The ground floor of One Guildhall Square will house Gateway, the council’s customer services centre which is set to open on 23rd August.

Avenue Improvements

New bollards and cycle stands have been installed on the pavement outside the shops at Stag Gates on the Avenue. These are designed to restrict vehicle movements on and access to the footways. This action follows complaints by local residents about cars parking on the cyle and footpaths.

Further up the road work has begun on a new scheme to improve safety on the Avenue.

Two new traffic islands are being constructed to aid the right turns from The Avenue into Winn Road and Northlands Road. There will be some new hatched areas painted on the road to compliment the revised layout.

This area has proved something of an accident black spot over the years and this new layout is designed to reduce the likelihood of cars turning right being involved in accidents at these junctions.

Details of the scheme can be seen by clicking on the image below:

£35m Boost for Southampton's Academies

Fantastic news! We have heard this afternoon that the new Coalition government has signed off the £35m for the rebuild of Southampton's two city academies.

Funding for the schools had been on hold because of a government review being undertaken of capital funding for schools across the country.

Building work for the Oasis Academy Mayfield starts in October and Lord's Hill Academy construction starts in January 2011.

Fighting for our local Schools

How the new Lord's Hill Academy might look

Local Conservative Councillors yesterday announced that £13m of local council capital funding previously earmarked for Southampton's Building Schools for Future (BSF) programme would be protected.

This money will be combined with the new national national funding that we hope Southampton will receive when the government announces its replacement capital programme for schools.

The money will help to ensure that the city meets future demands for school places and that all Southampton's schools are brought up to a decent state of repair.

As well as lobbying for new government money and fighting to retain the £35m that local Conservatives secured for the city's two academies, we are pressing government to refund the £2.4m in aborted costs that the city council has incurred in preparing for the BSF scheme.

It is shameful that in these difficult economic times, when public sector funding is extremely tight, that local Labour Councillors are maintaining their opposition to the city's two academies and the additional funds to improve the schools, preferring for ideological reasons to see them split across two sites in out of date buildings.

Tackling Anti Social Behaviour in Freemantle

Councillors Brian Parnell and Jeremy Moulton in Shirley Road

Your local councillors have been working with the City Council, the Police and the Probation Service to tackle fly tipping and anti social behaviour in the cutways between Stafford Road and the back of Poveys Dance Centre in Shirley Road.

Community Payback has been used to clear the litter. Signs in both Polish and English have been put up to discourage drinking. The council will also be consulting local people about whether some routes should be blocked off with gates, to discourage congregations of drinkers.

Thank You To Everyone Who Supported Me Thursday

I am very grateful to everyone who supported me on Thursday at the General Election. I was very touched by the number of good luck messages I received in the run up to the elections and all the notes I have received since.

I am very proud of my team who worked tremendously hard across the constituency for several years, knocking doors and helping local people with their concerns. I am also very proud of the excellent, positive campaign that we fought.

We made a considerable dent in Labour's majority in Southampton Test and saw a huge rise in the Conservative vote. Next time we will win this seat I am sure.

The Southampton Test results were as follows:

Labour: 17,001
Conservative: 14,588
Lib Dem: 9,865
UKIP: 1,726
Green: 881

Majority: 2,413


I was very pleased to be re elected as Freemantle Ward Councillor with a decent majority. I will continue to work hard as a councillor, representing the area and ensuring that local people have a strong voice. The Conservatives have strengthened our position on the city council with two gains, one at the expense of Labour and the other the Lib Dems. We will continue to deliver a sound, responsible administration for Southampton.

The Freemantle Ward results were as follows:

Conservative: 2,490
Labour: 2,111
Lib Dem: 1,985

Majority: 379


On the national stage, I am delighted that Gordon Brown is finally on his way out. David Cameron now offers us fresh hope for the future and I am sure that he will put the nation first and work in the interests of Britain, putting partisan party politics aside.

Vote Conservative Today!

Polling stations are open between 7am and 10pm.

If you need a lift to the polls please call us on 023 8022 5353.

Weekly Political Roundup

Monday 19th April
- Interview with Radio Solent about Sheltered Housing Wardens
- Knocking doors in Millbrook

Tuesday 20th April
- Knocking doors in Regents Park

Wednesday 21st April
- Knocking doors in Regents Park

Thursday 22nd April
- Council meetings at the Civic Centre
- Constituency correspondence
- Politics Q+A session with Girl Guides at Freemantle United Reform Church

Friday 23rd April
- Taking part in year 8 democracy classes at Redbridge Community School
- Southampton Students Union Election debate
- Meeting wih University students
- Door knocking in Shirley

Saturday 24th April
- Door knocking in Shirley

Sunday 25th April
- Interview with Highfield Church
- Meeting with Inner Avnue Residents at the Avenue Pub Sunday Breakfast

Five Of My Local Priorities As Your Member Of Parliament

1. A Better Deal for Southampton
I want a better deal for Southampton from government and I will be the city’s champion in Westminster. Labour has neglected the city for years, instead favouring areas in the North. I want to end the scandal whereby every year our tenants hand over millions of pounds of rent money to government for them to spend in the North of England.

2. Improvements to Local Schools
I am passionate about improving our local schools. I will fight to secure the rebuilding of 7 secondary schools in the city. I want to see parents put in the driving seat and to have a choice of good local schools.

3. Planning Reforms
I want to see Conservative reforms to planning laws, so that local people are protected against bad developments. I welcome our plans to restrict retrospective planning permission, to put decision making in the hands of local councils and to stop appeals to unelected planning inspectors. I back the rules that will limit excessive numbers of multiple occupation homes being concentrated in one area.

4. Fluoride Vote
Local people should have a say on fluoridation of water. I will fight for a local referendum and to stop the Labour government forcing fluoridation on the city’s residents without their consent.

5. Port and Jobs
I will do everything I can to protect and create local jobs. The port in particular is a huge direct and indirect employer and is a vital part of the city’s economy. I will fight to scrap Labour’s extra port taxes which threaten the port’s competitiveness.

Tory petrol plans might see fuel cut by 10p a litre.

Petrol prices have now reached ridiculous levels, hitting families when times are tough anyway and making us all even more conscious of the amount of tax we have to pay every time we fill up at the pump.

Two years ago the Conservatives proposed a 'fuel stabiliser' policy. Effectively tax on fuel would fall when prices are high and rise again when they fall, thus avoiding huge spikes in fuel costs. Local Labour MPs poured scorn on it at the time but with petrol now a staggering £1.20 a litre, this policy would be a welcome relieve for families, perhaps saving as much as 10p a litre.

I Will Fight For Local Schools and Colleges

As your Member of Parliament I will fight hard to improve our local schools and colleges.

I am pleased that I have been able to secure millions of pounds of funds for our primary schools. I am also delighted that we are pushing ahead with the rebuilding of two city academies. As a local councillor I helped secure £35m for these schools – money that Southampton Labour Councillors and MPs would have turned down.

We have 5 new secondary school building projects in the pipeline. The only thing holding back approval for these new schools is government sign off. As soon as the government gives the go ahead the city council will enter procurement to build the new schools. My concern is that our local Labour MPs are delaying the projects for political reasons, during the election campaign.

Our Labour MPs have already let the city’s young people down once, by refusing millions of pounds of promised funds to rebuild Taunton’s and Itchen college. It would be shameful for them to put our new secondary schools at risk too.

This Week

Monday 22nd March
- Council Meetings
- Meeting residents in Millbrook

Tuesday 23rd March
- Council Meetings
- Meeting residents in Millbrook

Wednesday 24th March
- Meeting residents in Millbrook

Thursday 25th March
- Speaking at the Yacht Club in Ocean Village
- Constituency casework

Friday 26th March
- Launch of the new self service system at Lordshill Library
- Meeting young people at Fairbridge to discuss voting and the election
- Meeting residents in Freemantle and Millbrook

Labour have run out of ideas and run out of our money

Labour inherited a healthy, growing economy and will leave office with the public finances in tatters. They have more than doubled the national debt and are set to double it again in the next 4 years. We are now spending more on debt interest than on educating our children.

Labour have failed to outline a credible plan to tackle the deficit and by delaying the spending review until beyond the election Labour are deliberately hiding the truth from the public.

The Chancellor promised no new tax rises but is freezing the personal allowance for income tax, a stealth tax on the lowest paid.

There is no fresh thinking and the best ideas are ones pinched from the Conservatives, like plans for a green investment bank and axing stamp duty below £250,000 for first time home buyers.

Labour have run out of ideas and run out of our money.

Conservative Councillors Run for Sport Relief

Today a team of Conservative Councillors joined thousands of other runners for Southampton's Sport Relief run, round the city centre.

Visit to Central Sure Start

On Monday I accompanied Maria Miller MP, Shadow Minister for Familes and the MP for Basingstoke to the Central Sure Start in Clovelly Road. We met with staff and parents to discuss their experience of the service and Conservative plans to help families.

David Cameron has made it clear that he wants Britain to become the most family friendly country in Europe and improving Sure Start is central to that vision. If the Conservatives form the next government we plan to recruit an extra 4,200 health visitors nationwide and have greater emphasis on health outcomes.

Maria commented during the visit that she was impressed by how closely Southampton City Council and the city's Primary Care Trust worked.

The Conservatives Will Overhaul Labour's Failed Planning System

Today I met with Shadow Housing Minister, Grant Shapps to discuss the new Conservative Green Paper on planning.

Our broken planning system is in desperate need of an overhaul and local communities need to be put in the driving seat.

I am particularly pleased by two key changes an incoming Conservative Government would make.

Stopping Retrospective Planning Applications

Firstly, we would extend permitted development rights so that simple changes to residential properties would not need planning permission. We would at the same time seriously restrict retrospective planning applications, allowing them only where genuine mistakes are made. This would have two effects. It would mean that simple, non controversial planning matters would not have to go through the rigmarole of the planning process, thereby freeing up money and resources which could be better spent on enforcement. It would mean that rogue developers would no longer be able to bypass local planning authorities, developing properties and then only applying for planning permission when challenged or when threatened with enforcement action. I come across this sort of abuse on a regular basis in my role as a councillor and it is of huge concern to local people.

Reforming the Planning Appeals Process

Secondly, we would reform the planning appeals process, which currently undermines democratic decision making by local council planning panels and which allows developers to run rings around planning officers. We would limit the grounds for planning appeals to where correct procedures were not followed and where decisions contravene local planning rules.

For far too long rogue developers have 'played the system' using a bureaucratic and centrist planning system to run roughshod over local people and to get around local planning decisions.

Give Us A Vote!

On Wednesday I was delighted to support a motion to the City Council, calling for a public refurendum on whether fluoride should be added to the local water.

The council debate was about fluoride but not about the merit of fluoride or the concerns of those who oppose it. It was instead about Democracy.

It is clear that an overwhelming majority of residents in Southampton do not wish to have fluoride added to their water.The NHS’ initial consultation attracted 10,000 responses, with 72 per cent against. In a separate and later phone poll of 2,000 residents, 38 per cent opposed fluoridation compared to 32 per cent in favour. Whichever way you cut it, to date, local people have made it clear that they don’t want fluoride.

In a democratic, free country we should respect the views of majority. Labour’s unelected quango, the South Central NHS are however pushing ahead with their plans.

I feel that on such an important issue you shouldn’t ride roughshod over residents’ views. On Wednesaday I called for a referendum to determine finally and without doubt the views of local people. I would expect the NHS and the Government to respect the outcome of that referendum.

I was delighted that the motion was carried, albeit without the support of Labour or the Lib Dems.

On Wednesday we voted on the motion and made our views as a council known. However it is important to note that the Conservative Party nationally support local people having their say and a referendum. David Cameron and Andrew Lansley MP have both put this view on the public record when speaking recently in Hampshire.