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Welcome to the July edition of Test Valley Business Matters. I hope the weather is benefitting you rather than playing havoc with your operations.
This edition highlights Local Government Reorganisation. We are really keen that business views are considered as the decisions are made. More details are included below - please tell us what you think. We are also including images of the Theatre Square proposed for the area outside the entrance of the new Lights Theatre in Andover.
Please share the newsletters with other businesses in the borough; they can sign up to receive them at the Business Newsletter | Test Valley Borough Council
 Local Government Reorganisation
Currently Council services in this area are delivered partly by Hampshire County Council (eg social care, children's services, road maintenance) and partly by TVBC (eg planning services, bin collections etc). The Government plans to abolish both the County Council and the district/borough Councils and create unitary authorities which deliver all services in a given area. There are on-going discussions about how the boundaries for the unitary authorities should be drawn. More information can be found here: Local Government Reorganisation.
Residents of Councils including Test Valley are being encouraged to complete the residents' survey which can be found here: Have Your Say Today.
However, we are really keen to hear the business view too. We would be grateful in particular for your answers to these questions:
- What do you as a business value most about how local services are delivered, how partnerships between councils are supported and how you are currently engaged?
- What are the challenges or barriers you face and what could be improved?
- What should be the guiding principles that are at the heart of any new council so that they deliver the best outcomes for communities and businesses?
Please email answers to policyteam@testvalley.gov.uk with the email title "LGR - business view". It would be really helpful if you can include any specific examples to illustrate your points. The deadline is 23:59 on Sunday 27 July.
 Andover Theatre update
As previously reported, the old Poundstretcher unit at the entrance to the Chantry Centre is being demolished to make way for the new Lights Theatre. The demolition contractors, Erith, will conclude their Preconstruction Services Agreement (PCSA) at the end of July. By this time, they will have devised a full technical method statement on the most economic, timely and least disruptive approach to demolition. Following this, there will be period of asbestos removal (this was known and planned for), ahead of the demolition that will begin in late summer / early autumn. Erith and TVBC will communicate directly with all affected businesses and residents throughout.
As part of the subsequent construction phase for the new theatre, a 'Theatre Square' is proposed, subject to planning permission. This involves the following changes:
- Removing the roof of the Chantry Centre as far as Subway
- Creating a new entrance to the Chantry Centre by Subway
- Setting the new theatre entrance back by 6 metres compared to the current building line and moving the frontage of the former O2 unit back by about 2 metres, to create more space in the square
- Installing colonnades on the units opposite the theatre to match the theatre frontage
- Fronting the blasted concrete which is currently above the library with the same brick as used for the theatre.
- Matching the new frontage to the Chantry Centre to the cladding on the theatre.
Artists' impressions are shown below. Note that the signage is indicative only and would be subject to further design and advertising consent.
Proposed view of the new Chantry Centre entrance from the current entrance point:
 Proposed view from the new theatre looking across the square to the library entrance:
Andover events
The following events are planned in Andover:
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Andover World Street Party on 25 August
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Taste of Test Valley on 28 September
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Andover Christmas Festival on 21 November (deadline for applications is Friday 25 July)
If you are interested in a stall for any of these events, please complete the form here: Andover Markets & Events 2025. Standard fees range from £40-£75 per stall although there is a discount for businesses that already operate from a town centre premises. If you do not currently receive details of events directly, and would like to be added to the traders' list, please contact Events@testvalley.gov.uk. Please note that where events such as the Christmas Festival are oversubscribed, decisions will be made depending on how local the traders are, their brand presentation, their sustainability, inclusivity and complementarity with other traders.
 Current grant schemes
Just a reminder that we have a number of grant schemes running. Some are funded by central Government where all funding must be spent by March 2026. Please contact us if you would like to discuss any of the schemes - we really want to distribute all the funding available to Test Valley businesses.
If you are considering an application for a town centre frontage grant, please drop in to a planning advice session in the Upper Guildhall on the morning of Wednesday 16 July (9am to12 noon) or the afternoon of Monday 15 September (1pm to 4pm). You will have the opportunity to talk through your ideas and the application process.
Cyber security
Many activities put you at risk of cyber crime, such as running an online booking system or shop, using Wifi in the office, or taking payments using a card machine. The National Cyber Security Centre offers a free online check of common vulnerabilities in your public-facing IT. All checks are remote and use the same information as cyber criminals often use to find easy targets. Check your cyber security - NCSC.GOV.UK
There are further free resources available for SMEs, large organisations and self-employed people/sole traders here Cyber security advice NCSC.GOV.UK
 Workplace charging scheme
This scheme provides support for organisations towards the cost of installing up to 40 electric vehicle charging points at their sites. The scheme covers up to 75% costs capped at £350 per socket and 40 sockets per organisation. The closing date is 31 March 2026. Workplace Charging Scheme - GOV-UK Find a grant
 Capital Grants
The Government has opened a new round of its Capital Grants offer to support sustainable food production and environmental improvement. Funding can be used for a wide range of projects including tree planting, flood prevention, improved slurry storage and water filtration. Capital Grants are three-year agreements. The guide for applicants is here: Applicant's guide: Capital Grants 2025 - GOV.UK
 Public Procurement consultation
The Government has outlined a new set of proposals to build on the changes introduced in the Procurement Act 2023. They are consulting on these proposals until 5 September 2025 and businesses are invited to respond. The full document and link for your response can be accessed here: Public Procurement: Growing British industry, jobs and skills - consultation on further reforms to public procurement - GOV.UK
The proposals include:
- Requiring large contracting authorities to publish targets for direct spend with SMEs and Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise organisations (VCSEs) and to report against them.
- Requiring contracting authorities to exclude suppliers from bidding if they cannot demonstrate prompt payment of invoices to their supply chains.
- Clarifying when contracts can be awarded without full competition for services delivered to vulnerable clients, prioritising continuity and quality of care.
- Granting Ministerial powers to designate specific services, works or goods as critical to national security and to contract directly with trusted suppliers.
- Requiring standard assessments of major contracts to test whether service delivery should be in-house or outsourced.
- Assessing potential suppliers' contributions to jobs and skills in the procurement process and monitoring the successful supplier's performance on this.
- Using standardised social value criteria and metrics in procurement, and specifying the geographic area where social value must be delivered.
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