A COUNCIL has prosecuted its former mayor for failing to comply with a planning enforcement notice.

Martin Hatley and a Mr T Hatley have been found guilty of breaching a planning enforcement notice following a trial at Southampton Magistrates’ Court on Friday September 9.

Both were fined £1,000 and £100 victim surcharge each, as well as Test Valley Borough Council’s costs of £3,884.74.

Cllr Hatley, of Baddesley Road, is a Conservative who represents Ampfield and Braishfield.

He has been suspended from the Tory group and has since the trial told colleagues that he will resign. The Chronicle has been told that if he does not resign steps will be taken to expel him.

Hampshire Chronicle:

The council issued a press release but did not gives Cllr Hatley's full name, the fact he is a councillor and former mayor, or provide a comment from a senior councillor as it usually does with these prosecutions.

The court heard that TVBC issued an enforcement notice in July 2020, due to a breach of planning control relating to land adjacent to Wheelhouse Park, North Baddesley.

The notice required that the use of the land for all storage purposes cease within six months, along with the removal of associated items.

The compliance period expired on August 16 2021, and following a failure to comply, the case went to court.

Cllr Phil North said: “It’s disappointing and totally unacceptable that a councillor of Cllr Hatley’s experience is in the position where he left the Council with no alternative but to prosecute him. He had been suspended from the Conservative Group pending the outcome of the trial.

"Now that he has been found guilty he has indicated his intention to resign as a member of the Conservative Group on Test Valley Borough Council and I expect written confirmation imminently.

"Clearly, Cllr Hatley’s behaviour has fallen below the standards expected of a Conservative councillor, so if his resignation is not forthcoming we will start proceedings to expel him.”