Gosport Borough Council
Councillors:
28
Wards:
14
Committees:
10
Meetings (2025):
47
Meetings (2024):
47
Meeting
Council - Gosport
Meeting Times
Scheduled Time
Start:
Wednesday, 26th March 2025
6:00 PM
Wednesday, 26th March 2025
6:00 PM
End:
Wednesday, 26th March 2025
10:00 PM
Wednesday, 26th March 2025
10:00 PM
Meeting Status
Status:
Confirmed
Confirmed
Date:
26 Mar 2025
26 Mar 2025
Location:
Council Chamber, Town Hall, Gosport, PO12 1EB
Council Chamber, Town Hall, Gosport, PO12 1EB
Meeting Attendees
Public
Margaret Snaith-Tempia Honorary Alderman
Expected
Public
Bob Foster Honorary Alderman
Expected
Public
Keith Laurence Gill Honorary Alderman
Expected
Agenda
1
To receive apologies for Members for their inability to attend the meeting
Minutes
Apologies for non attendance were received from Councillors Cox, Casey and Herridge
2
Declaration of Interest
Minutes
There were none
3
Mayors Communications
Minutes
The Mayor thanked the Council for adhering to his request for appropriate behaviour at Council meetings and advised that Members were encouraged to visit Fort Brockhurst for the exhibition following the Council meeting.
4
To confirm the minutes of the Council meetings held on 5 February 2025
Attachments:
- Document Minutes Public Pack, 05/02/2025 Council 18 Mar 2025
Minutes
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 5 February were signed as a true and correct record subject to the amendment identified.
5
To receive Deputations in accordance with Standing Order No. 3.4 and to answer<br/>any Public Questions pursuant to Standing Order No 3.5, such questions to be<br/>answered orally during a time not exceeding 15 minutes
(NOTE: Standing Order No. 3.4 requires that notice of a Deputation should be received by the Borough Solicitor NOT LATER THAN 12 O’CLOCK NOON ON MONDAY 24 MARCH 2025 and likewise Standing Order No. 3.5 requires that notice of a Public Question should be received by the Borough Solicitor NOT LATER THAN 12 O’CLOCK NOON ON MONDAY 24 MARCH 2025)
Minutes
There were none
6
Questions (if any) pursuant to Standing Order No. 3.3<br/>
NOTE: Members are reminded that Standing Order No. 3.3 requires that Notice of Question pursuant to that Standing Order must be received by the Borough Solicitor NOT LATER THAN 12 O’CLOCK NOON ON TUESDAY 25 MARCH 2025 )
Minutes
There was one Member’s question in the name of Councillor Hammond to the Leader of the Council.
Can the Leader please update the Council on any developments regarding the Government’s proposals for Local Government Reorganisation.
There have been a significant number of meetings and expression of interests needed to be submitted by the 21March 2025 from the 11 districts, 2 unitary authorities and the Isle of Wight and Hampshire County Councils.
At this stage there had not been a submission as those in question felt there were many unanswered questions and there it was felt that the proposals would put financial hardship on financially sound authorities. It had been stated that more time would be needed to consider proposals and that there was no desire to conform to the desired outcomes of potentially four or five unitary authorities.
It was felt that most authorities reflected this in that there was no desire to lose a sense of place by being subsumed into a different area.
There was no desire to inherit the debt held by Hampshire County Council and previous examples of reorganisation in Somerset had faired poorly
There was some ongoing uncertainty about the sizes of the authorities proposed.
Overall it was felt that this was not the way forward but the Council would continue to sit at the table, and explore shared working practices.
Supplementary question.
The Council was advised that the supplementary question did not relate to the initial question but that it had been permitted to be asked by the Borough Solicitor.
In the Leader’s opinion should the constitution be changed to allow members of the public to ask questions on any subject matter they deem appropriate as long as it is not defamatory or racist or offensive.
Answer: It was not thought that the constitution needed amending but that questions should be accepted as long as they met the above criteria.
Can the Leader please update the Council on any developments regarding the Government’s proposals for Local Government Reorganisation.
There have been a significant number of meetings and expression of interests needed to be submitted by the 21March 2025 from the 11 districts, 2 unitary authorities and the Isle of Wight and Hampshire County Councils.
At this stage there had not been a submission as those in question felt there were many unanswered questions and there it was felt that the proposals would put financial hardship on financially sound authorities. It had been stated that more time would be needed to consider proposals and that there was no desire to conform to the desired outcomes of potentially four or five unitary authorities.
It was felt that most authorities reflected this in that there was no desire to lose a sense of place by being subsumed into a different area.
There was no desire to inherit the debt held by Hampshire County Council and previous examples of reorganisation in Somerset had faired poorly
There was some ongoing uncertainty about the sizes of the authorities proposed.
Overall it was felt that this was not the way forward but the Council would continue to sit at the table, and explore shared working practices.
Supplementary question.
The Council was advised that the supplementary question did not relate to the initial question but that it had been permitted to be asked by the Borough Solicitor.
In the Leader’s opinion should the constitution be changed to allow members of the public to ask questions on any subject matter they deem appropriate as long as it is not defamatory or racist or offensive.
Answer: It was not thought that the constitution needed amending but that questions should be accepted as long as they met the above criteria.
7
Part II minutes of the Board of the Council
Policy and Organisation Board – 12 March 2025
Attachments:
- Document Part II P and O 18 Mar 2025
Minutes
RESOLVED: That the Part II minutes of the Policy and Organisation Board on the 12 March be accepted.
8
Appointment of independent person
Attachments:
- Document Independent Person - Report March 2025 18 Mar 2025
Minutes
Consideration was given to a report of the Borough Solicitor detailing a request to appoint 2 additional Independent Persons.
The Members that had interviewed them advised that they were strong candidates already undertaking the role at Portsmouth City Council.
RESOLVED: That
The Council approves:
1) The increase of number appointments of Independent Persons from two to three; and
2) The appointment of Mr Chris Rider and John Young as an Independent Person, from this date, for the purposes of Section 28 of the Localism Act 2011 for the period of 4 years ending on 30 April 2029.
The Members that had interviewed them advised that they were strong candidates already undertaking the role at Portsmouth City Council.
RESOLVED: That
The Council approves:
1) The increase of number appointments of Independent Persons from two to three; and
2) The appointment of Mr Chris Rider and John Young as an Independent Person, from this date, for the purposes of Section 28 of the Localism Act 2011 for the period of 4 years ending on 30 April 2029.
9
Investment Strategy 2025-26
Report to follow.
Attachments:
- Document Investment Strategy 2025-26 18 Mar 2025
Minutes
Consideration was given to a report of the Borough Treasurer detailing the Investment Strategy.
RESOLVED: The Investment Strategy as detailed in this report be approved
RESOLVED: The Investment Strategy as detailed in this report be approved
10
Capital Strategy 2025-26
Report to follow.
Attachments:
- Document Capital Strategy Full Council 2025-26 final 18 Mar 2025
Minutes
Consideration was given to a report of the Borough Treasurer detailing the Capital Strategy.
RESOLVED: That the Council approves the Capital Strategy for 2025/26
RESOLVED: That the Council approves the Capital Strategy for 2025/26
11
Any other items
Minutes
Members welcomed that Councillors had come together to play their part in ensure that Stubbington Study Centre was saved.
Members thanked the Mayor for his successful year.
Members also welcomed the continuation of security in the High Street and the continuation of free markets and the nest and anchor market this weekend.
Members thanked the Mayor for his successful year.
Members also welcomed the continuation of security in the High Street and the continuation of free markets and the nest and anchor market this weekend.
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