A SHUTTLE bus service has been axed by councillors who have voted to raise council tax while cutting public services.

In a raft of measures approved by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, Basingstoke shuttle bus will be scrapped; the cost of bulky waste will be increased; 26 council jobs will be made redundant and B Love Festival will be canned if the authority is unable to outsource it. 

The minority Conservative-run authority said the measures will protect services while Labour accused them of being “bereft of compassion”. 

Councillor Hannah Golding, cabinet member for finance and service improvement, said she was “pleased” with the budget for 2021/22, saying: “We have protected core services which matter and we have a £1million reserve to support the climate change agenda. We have also ensured our planning department has the resources it needs to conduct the Local Plan review.

She continued: “I do acknowledge redundancies but it is important we run efficiently.”
The councillor added: “We have been able to make all these changes but still keep our council tax low. Our small increase means we’ll still be one of the lowest in the country. The people of Basingstoke absolutely do get value for money from their council.” 

You can read the full story in this week’s edition of The Gazette. Also in this week's paper:

  • A Hampshire care home has issued a heartwarming appeal to encourage members of the public from ‘far and wide’ to write into its residents.
  • A Kickboxer has launched a community patrol of Basingstoke in response to various suspected child abduction incidents. 
  • Residents of a block of flats which has been deemed unsafe have been left in limbo after the installation of a new fire alarm system has been delayed.
  • A national issue with Covid vaccine supplies has affected a Basingstoke vaccination centre, forcing it to close on certain days. 
  • Tributes have been paid to a former mayor of Basingstoke, who passed away last week at the age of 85.
  • A volunteer from Basingstoke is sending a plea to retail giant Amazon after one of its delivery drivers backed into his family car - leaving it unable to start.
  • An industry campaigner has warned that coronavirus restrictions could spark the end for pub culture as we know it.
  • Land on the edge of Basingstoke earmarked for 2,500 new homes should be protected, according to a countryside charity.
  • PLUS: All the latest from Basingstoke Magistrates' Court.
  • Two pages of your letters to the editor.
  • Pictures: Spring has sprung in Basingstoke
  • All the latest news from our communities.
  • An eight-page puzzle special.
  • Business news.
  • Three pages of entertainment news.
  • Three pages of sports news. And much more!

To arrange a home delivery of the Gazette or Advertiser call 0800 7314 900 or 0845 7078 150 or email deliveries@newsquest.co.uk. If we do not cover your area, we will advise you with details of other available agents.

If you live outside our circulation area you can still receive our newspapers through a postal subscription order. To subscribe to the Basingstoke Gazette or Andover Advertiser visit basingstokegazette.co.uk/subscribe or andoveradvertiser.co.uk/subscribe or call 0800 7314900. You can also sign up for a delivered subscription here: https://adbooker.andoveradvertiser.co.uk/store/andbassubs/.