EASTLEIGH PARISHES LEAD HAMPSHIRE ON QUALITY SCHEME

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 8th Dec 2006

Eastleigh borough has more quality parishes than any other district in Hampshire following the seal of approval given to Bishopstoke.

Stephen Lugg, director of the Hampshire Association of Parish and Town Councils, met Eastleigh MP Chris Huhne to brief him on the success of the scheme in Eastleigh.

Three of the 8 parishes in Eastleigh have now achieved quality status - Bishopstoke, Fair Oak and Horton Heath and Hamble - with Botley and Hound working towards accreditation.

Across Hampshire, 254 parish and town councils (including 22 less formal parish meetings) are responsible for delivering local services such as playgrounds, car parking, public toilets, leisure and youth centres and community safety such as the funding of police community support officers.

In the county as a whole, Mr Lugg says that so far just 19 parish and town councils have accredited in a scheme which tests the qualification of the clerk, whether the council is at least 80 per cent elected as a test of community involvement, financial control, and communications with key stakeholders and residents.

Mr Lugg said: "Eastleigh's eight parish and town councils have been leading the way in Hampshire in a scheme designed to show how effective such councils can be in responding to local community needs.

"Eastleigh borough has the highest proportion of parish and town councils already accredited in the county,and deserves congratulations for that" said Mr Lugg.

Eastleigh MP Chris Huhne, pictured here with Mr Lugg, said: "I welcome this scheme as a way of ensuring effective public administration of many small-scale improvements that can make a real difference to our area.

"It is good news that Eastleigh's parish and town councils are so vibrant and serving their communities so well".

Parish and town councils will soon get a general "power of well-being" that will enable them to take up local causes if residents want it. Parish and town councils range in precept from nothing to £150 per year per household where the district council has delegated substantial powers to the parish or town council.