Your local CONSERVATIVES pulled off another remarkable achievement by maintaining a zero council tax rise for the fifth year running.

When Fareham Borough Council set the figure at £140 in 2009 it received over £6m in Government funding. That figure is now down to £3.5m, but thanks to wise Tory housekeeping you won’t pay a penny more in council
tax in 2013-14.

Presenting his annual budget, Council Leader Seán Woodward said during those 5 years the Tories had delivered efficiencies of over £3m, yet high standards have been maintained and front line services have not been cut to achieve this.

[quote align=”center” color=”#999999″]“During the period of council tax freeze we have effectively saved every Band D taxpayer nearly £25 a year, comparing what it would be with inflation rises.

Car parking charges remain frozen in the town centre and we will continue our policy not to charge in local centres such as Stubbington, Portchester, Warsash, Whiteley and Park Gate.

We continue to have an ambitious capital programme and resources mean it will be £43m over the next 5 years. This will be used for improvements to community facilities, including community centres, children’s playgrounds and sports facilities.

In the past year, nearly £3m has been spent building a new community centre at Portchester and new changing rooms at Wicor Recreation Ground.[/quote]

Here is an exciting impression of what a makeover for Locks Heath Centre might look like. County Councillor Seán Woodward says:

“Locks Heath is a well used centre, but it needs investment. By expanding the centre, there is an opportunity to provide new shops, maybe a major store. It will improve the overall attractiveness of the centre to shoppers and help withstand competition from the new Whiteley shopping area. It’s extremely important the centre continues to be well used and viable.”

Seán feels there is a real opportunity to provide better public space and a new community campus that could include a swimming pool, leisure centre, library and youth facilities.

Fareham Council, the County Council and the private owners of the core shopping centre own the land. Fareham, as the planning authority, has laid down objectives to guide future development, which were used to produce a master plan with options.