Havant It's the Place to Be! (Updated)

Havant Borough Council (HBC)

Havant Borough Council (HBC) is freezing council tax for the eighth consecutive year they tell us.

The council has achieved financial sustainability without significant service reduction, despite the continuing fall in central government grants.

HBC has been working on innovative methods to save money; commissioning with Six Councils, joint ventures and partnership working.

Furthermore, the council has pledged to continue to focus on the economic growth of the borough in the upcoming financial year.

HBC has set-up a ‘Prosperity Havant’ programme which has already encouraged inward investment and high growth companies to move to the borough. It all sounds vey good. 

It is excellent news that councils are sending us their updates and we hope to bring you more specific news in future for those battling the economic headwinds, looking for work or thinking of starting their own business. Thank you to Christina How and the Team Havant Borough Council, communications team. 

And

Havant Borough Council (HBC) has supported two local charities in their successful bid for £190,587 of funding.

Southern Domestic Abuse Service (SDAS), in partnership with Motiv8 and HBC, applied for the funding from a £20million pot being awarded by the Department for Communities and Local Government to support domestic abuse victims.

The funding will be used to increase knowledge of domestic abuse and violence, as well as extending the support on offer through community services to prevent victims becoming high risk and needing refuge provision.

A dedicated worker will also be funded to seek out marginalised communities and build lasting, trusting relationships with them.

SDAS will also link with voluntary and community organisations as well as residents through the ‘Delivering Differently in Wecock Farm’ project.

The project in Wecock Farm aims to empower residents to work more effectively with services and highlight any missed opportunities where issues could be dealt with sooner or more effectively.

A second bid was also put forward by HBC, along with 10 other district councils in Hampshire, for the funding which was also successful.

More than £300,000 was awarded to the second bid which will be spent county-wide.

This funding will be used to support the Hampshire Making Safe scheme which HBC has been working with for a number of years already.

The scheme works with victims of domestic abuse, enabling them to stay safe in their own homes, and this funding will enable continuation of services and support which is already in place.

The Hampshire Making Safe scheme partners with Hampshire Fire and Rescue, Hampshire Police, the Blue Lamp Trust and You Trust, as well as SDAS.

Councillor Leah Turner, Cabinet Lead for Communities and Housing, said: “We are thrilled to have been awarded these grants. It demonstrates yet again that when local authorities work alongside their partners, such as SDAS, so much more can be achieved.

“This funding will enable SDAS to continue with tackling really important issues that impact upon peoples’ quality of life. I would like to congratulate all of those who have been involved with the bid and will be watching the projects develop with a keen interest.”