A HUGE thank you to the Federation of Small Businesses who last month crowned Test Valley the best All Round Small Business Friendly Council in the South Central Region.

I’m particularly proud of this considering the extraordinary efforts of the team in getting the national lockdown and additional restrictions grants out to businesses as quickly as possible during the pandemic.

The FSB were also impressed by our approach to stimulating demand in Andover’s Chantry Centre through pop-up shops and our year-on-year cut to the service charge. Our Small Business and Independent Retailer Grants were also praised, which we’ve paid out to 77 businesses over the past two years. These grants have meant that business survival rates have exceeded the national average. Helped by our Andover Skills Training Fund and our Youth Employment Hub initiative to support 16–24-year-olds into education, training or employment. My thanks to all the councillors and council officers who have worked so hard to achieve this. 

As we head towards winter, I’m pleased to confirm that the first tranche of Test Valley’s Cost of Living Support Grants have been approved and paid out. Enabling organisations that help some of the most vulnerable residents in our borough cope with extra demand. In Andover, this includes £1,000 to Harrow Way Community School towards expanding their established Breakfast Club and £2,500 to Andover Foodbank and Citizens Advice Test Valley. If you run an organisation that you think might benefit from our scheme then there are more details at testvalley.gov.uk/cost-of-living-support. 

Finally, congratulations to Cllr Neil Gwynne who has, this week, become the new Leader of the Opposition on Test Valley Borough Council. My thanks go to his predecessor, Cllr Celia Dowden for her willingness to work across party lines for the benefit of local residents. This was especially apparent during Covid when we had to make some quick decisions to help communities and businesses but also more recently with the cost-of-living crisis. It is my intention to continue that good cross-party working relationship with Neil.