These are the twelve councillors who will decide the fate of the Camrose football ground next Wednesday.

It has been years in the making but the planning application, put forward by the comapny of Basingstoke Town Football Club's former owner Rafi Razzak, will be presented next week.

The proposal wants to build 85 dwellings and demolish the Camrose pitch, terraces and club house.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council's planning officer Sue Tarvit has recommended the application for approval. 

However, civil servants don't have the power to approve applications. The decision rests with twelve councillors who sit on the development control committee.

They are: 

Councillor Paul Miller (Chair), Conservative 

13 Four Lanes Close
Chineham
Basingstoke
Hampshire
RG24 8RN

01256 467400 
07777659022

Basingstoke Gazette: Cllr Paul MillerCllr Paul Miller

Councillor Anne Court (Vice-Chair), Conservative 

138 Coniston Road
Kempshott
Basingstoke
Hampshire
RG22 5HZ

01256 354282 

cllr.anne.court@basingstoke.gov.uk

Basingstoke Gazette: Cllr Anne CourtCllr Anne Court

Councillor Dave George, Conservative 

8 Caesar's Way
Whitchurch
Hampshire
RG28 7ST

07769933629 

cllr.dave.george@basingstoke.gov.uk

Basingstoke Gazette: Cllr Dave GeorgeCllr Dave George

Councillor David Leeks, Conservative 

17A The Copse
Tadley
Hampshire
RG26 4HX

0118 981 7992 

cllr.david.leeks@basingstoke.gov.uk

Basingstoke Gazette: Cllr David LeeksCllr David Leeks

Councillor Nicholas Robinson, Conservative 

C/O Conservative Group Room - Civic Offices
London Road
Basingstoke
Hampshire
RG21 4AH

07585 578 295 

Cllr.nick.robinson@basingstoke.gov.uk

Basingstoke Gazette: Cllr Nicholas RobinsonCllr Nicholas Robinson

Councillor Sven Godesen, Conservative 

71 The Street
Old Basing
Basingstoke
Hampshire
RG24 7BY

01256 355359 

cllr.sven.godesen@basingstoke.gov.uk

Basingstoke Gazette:

Councillor Jane Frankum, Labour 

405 Abbey Road
Popley
Basingstoke
Hampshire
RG24 9EL

01256 819924 

cllr.jane.frankum@basingstoke.gov.uk

Basingstoke Gazette:

Councillor Stephanie Grant, Labour 

42 Chivers Close
South Ham
Basingstoke
RG22 6SG

07786 512226 

cllr.stephanie.grant@basingstoke.gov.uk

Basingstoke Gazette:

Councillor Andrew McCormick, Labour 

1 Warwick Road
Basingstoke
Hampshire
RG23 8DX

07879 436 985

Cllr.Andrew.McCormick@basingstoke.gov.uk

Basingstoke Gazette:

Councillor Michael Bound, Liberal Democrats 

7 Sheridan Crescent
Baughurst
Tadley
Hampshire
RG26 5HQ

0118 9813768 

cllr.michael.bound@basingstoke.gov.uk

Basingstoke Gazette:

Councillor David Potter, Basingstoke & Deane Independent Group 

40 Shooters Way
Basingstoke
Hampshire
RG21 5PN

07941 507 801

Cllr.David.Potter@basingstoke.gov.uk

Councillor Chris Tomblin, Basingstoke & Deane Independent Group 

Willow Tree House
Cufaude Lane
Bramley
Basingstoke
RG26 5DP

07549 637650

Cllr.Chris.Tomblin@basingstoke.gov.uk

Basingstoke Gazette:

What is a development control committee?

It's a posh way of saying a planning committee, essentially. These are the councillors who vote on what development is allowed to go ahead in the town. They vote on everything from conservatory extensions to huge multi-million pound developments like Manydown and the Leisure Park. Applications are sent to the committee for a number of reasons - such as the number of objections it has received, whether it constitutes a 'major development', or if a ward councillor wishes for it to be decided by the committee.

Where can I read the planning application to build on the Camrose?

You can read the document here

Who are councillors and how does it all work?

Councillors are kind of similar to MPs but on a local scale. The public votes in councillors to elect them in the nearest wards. However, it is fair to say traditionally voter turn out for local elections is low. Just one in three registered voters took part in local elections in 2018 and in some parts of the UK that figure was as low as one in four.

Councillors are paid an allowance by the taxpayer to represent the public and their constituents. Their contact details are usually available on the local authority's website to enable constituents to contact them with any problems they might have. 

Basingstoke's local council elections were due to take place in May 2020 but due to the coronavirus pandemic, they have now been postponed until Thursday, May 6, 2021.

Each year, a third of the council is usually up for election. However, in 2021, the boundaries of the wards around the borough will change, and the number of councillors will be reduced from 60 to 54, meaning that next year there will be 'all out' elections.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council currently has 60 seats, representing local people in 29 wards that make up the borough. The Conservative party makes up the ruling administration, but after the resignation of one of their councillors last year, they hold just under half of the seats, meaning they are a minority administration.

There are 29 Conservatives, 13 Labour councillors, 11 independents and seven Liberal Democrats. 

Councillors are often advised by the public servants who work for their local authority, such as Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council. Officers and staff employed by the council are not elected.

There are different types of councils. Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council operates in a two-tier system. It has less powers than Hampshire County Council, which is an upper-tier authority.

Find out more about this here