Hampshire County Council
Councillors:
78
Wards:
76
Committees:
49
Meetings (2025):
165
Meetings (2024):
156
Meeting
Cabinet - Hampshire
Meeting Times
Scheduled Time
Start:
Tuesday, 18th March 2025
10:30 AM
Tuesday, 18th March 2025
10:30 AM
End:
Tuesday, 18th March 2025
2:30 PM
Tuesday, 18th March 2025
2:30 PM
Meeting Status
Status:
Confirmed
Confirmed
Date:
18 Mar 2025
18 Mar 2025
Location:
Ashburton Hall, Elizabeth II Court, The Castle, Winchester
Ashburton Hall, Elizabeth II Court, The Castle, Winchester
Meeting Attendees
Committee Member
Leader of the Council
Committee Member
Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Hampshire 2050 - Finance
Agenda
1
Apologies for absence
To receive any apologies for absence.
Minutes
Apologies were noted from Councillor Henderson, Chairman of the Children and Young People Select Committee (standing observer). Councillor Phil North, Vice Chairman of the Children and Young People Select Committee attended in her place.
2
Declarations of interest
All Members who believe they have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting must declare that interest and, having regard to Part 3 Paragraph 1.5 of the County Council's Members’ Code of Conduct, leave the meeting while the matter is discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with Paragraph 1.6 of the Code. Furthermore all Members with a Personal Interest in a matter being considered at the meeting should consider, having regard to Part 5, Paragraph 4 of the Code, whether such interest should be declared, and having regard to Part 5, Paragraph 5 of the Code, consider whether it is appropriate to leave the meeting while the matter is discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with the Code.
Minutes
Members were mindful that where they believed they had a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in any matter considered at the meeting they must declare that interest at the time of the relevant debate and, having regard to the circumstances described in Part 3, Paragraph 1.5 of the County Council's Members' Code of Conduct, leave the meeting while the matter was discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with Paragraph 1.6 of the Code. Furthermore Members were mindful that where they believed they had a Personal interest in a matter being considered at the meeting they considered whether such interest should be declared, and having regard to Part 5,Paragraph 5 of the Code, considered whether it was appropriate to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with the Code.
3
Minutes of previous meeting
To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting
Attachments:
- Document Minutes of Previous Meeting 10 Mar 2025
Minutes
The minutes of the previous meeting held on 4 February 2025 were approved.
4
Chairman's Announcements
To receive any announcements the Chairman may wish to make.
Minutes
The Chairman gave a brief update on the topic of devolution and local government reorganisation. It was highlighted that a full Council meeting was scheduled for Thursday 20 March to discuss the proposals, followed by a Cabinet meeting on Friday 21 March to consider the recommendations made by the Council. The public consultation around devolution remained open until 13 April 2025.
5
Deputations
To receive any deputations notified under Standing Order 12.
Minutes
The following deputations were received from members of the public:
Peter Howard and Colin Harris: Headteacher and ex Headteacher whose schools had used the Stubbington Study Centre. Highlighted the success of Stubbington Study Centre and its impact on disadvantaged children, including the uniqueness and inspirational nature of Stubbington Study Centre.
Lyla Flewitt and George Scott: Year five pupils shared their personal experiences of a residential stay at the Stubbington Study Centre and the positive impact it had on their lives, including how the centre had been able to include their fellow pupil with additional needs.
Joseph Adamson: Advocated for the preservation of Stubbington Study Centre and the need to explore alternative sites for the secure children's home.
Lynne Murray: Representing the Hill Head Residents Association, highlighted developments since the Select Committee met to pre scrutinise the decision, including the listing of the Study Centre as an asset of community value and the letter from the Minister for Children and Families to a local MP that had been shared with Cabinet Members.
Peter Howard and Colin Harris: Headteacher and ex Headteacher whose schools had used the Stubbington Study Centre. Highlighted the success of Stubbington Study Centre and its impact on disadvantaged children, including the uniqueness and inspirational nature of Stubbington Study Centre.
Lyla Flewitt and George Scott: Year five pupils shared their personal experiences of a residential stay at the Stubbington Study Centre and the positive impact it had on their lives, including how the centre had been able to include their fellow pupil with additional needs.
Joseph Adamson: Advocated for the preservation of Stubbington Study Centre and the need to explore alternative sites for the secure children's home.
Lynne Murray: Representing the Hill Head Residents Association, highlighted developments since the Select Committee met to pre scrutinise the decision, including the listing of the Study Centre as an asset of community value and the letter from the Minister for Children and Families to a local MP that had been shared with Cabinet Members.
6
Proposals Relating to the Provision of a Specialist Secure Welfare Children's Home
To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Hampshire 2050, and the Director of Children’s Services, regarding the proposed re-purposing of the Stubbington Study Centre site to enable development of a new secure children’s home providing a safe and secure environment for the most vulnerable children in the County Council’s care.
Attachments:
- Document Report - Proposals relating to the provision of a specialist secure welfare children's home 10 Mar 2025
- Document Appendix 1 List of Providers Location map For Providors used for Hampshire Schools 10 Mar 2025
- Document Appendix 2 Location map and plan for Stubbington 10 Mar 2025
- Document Appendix 3 Location map of schools that visit Stubbington 10 Mar 2025
- Document Appendix 6 Stubbington Study Centre Consultation Insight Summary 10 Mar 2025
- Document Appendix 7 Questions and Answers on specialist secure children's homes 10 Mar 2025
- Document Appendix 8 Equalities Impact Assessment 10 Mar 2025
- Document Appendix 9 Consultation Data Report Overall Responses 10 Mar 2025
- Document Appendix 10 Consultation Data Report Demographic Split 10 Mar 2025
- Document Appendix 11 Consultation Data Report Key Analysis Groups 10 Mar 2025
- Document Letter from Chairman of the Hampshire 2050 Corporate Services and Resources Select Committee 10 Mar 2025
- Document Decision Record 19 Mar 2025
Minutes
Cabinet received a report of the Deputy Chief Executive and the Director of Children's Services, regarding the proposed repurposing of Stubbington Study Centre to enable the development of a new secure children's home providing a safe and secure environment for the most vulnerable children in the County Council’s care.
The report highlighted the need for investment in infrastructure to support vulnerable children as the current facility at Swanwick Lodge secure children’s welfare home was nearing the end of its life. There was potential to secure £60 million in funding from the Department for Education to fund a new build secure children’s home in Hampshire to replace Swanwick Lodge, if a suitable site could be identified before the end of March 2025. The review of sites identified that the Stubbington Study Centre site was the most viable option that met the criteria and the timescale.
It was noted that over 5,000 responses had been received to a consultation about the proposals and 13,587 signatures had been accepted from Hampshire residents to a petition to save the Stubbington Study Centre.
The Director of Children’s Services highlighted that Swanwick lodge provided an important service to vulnerable children and it was important to seek a continuation of this type of service locally in the future. It was noted that should Swanwick Lodge close, the next closest unit was in Exeter in Devon, whereas there were a number of other outdoor centres similar to Stubbington within Hampshire.
The Cabinet heard from the following non-Executive Members who had asked to speak at the meeting on this topic:
Councillor Meenaghan – expressed support for not closing the Stubbington Study Centre and maintaining the opportunity it provides to 6,000 children a year. Councillor Ford – urged seeking an alternative site for the children’s home rather than force a choice between that and the well loved Study Centre, including seeking sites from District and Borough Councils. Councillor Burton – suggested seeking extra time from the Department for Education to identify an alternative site for a children’s home. Councillor Hayre – recognised the duty of councillors as corporate parents of the children that use the secure welfare children’s home, but also the strong views of her constituents who want to retain the Stubbington Study Centre. As local member for the division including the Study Centre she requested that Cabinet agree to retain the Stubbington Study Centre and explore alternative options for a children’s home.
The Chairman invited the Chairman of the Hampshire 2050, Corporate Services and Resources Select Committee to comment, as the Select Committee had pre-scrutinised the proposals. The Select Committee Chairman drew Cabinet’s attention to the recommendations made by the Select Committee, included in the pack of papers for this meeting. The Select Committee had been unanimous in their recommendation not to close the Stubbington Study Centre, while recognising the need for a new specialist secure welfare children’s home.
Cabinet members acknowledged the importance of both the Stubbington Study Centre and the need for a new secure children's home. They recognised the challenges in identifying suitable sites and the potential risk of losing the funding opportunity if a site could not be identified within the required timeframe.
Councillor Chadd, Executive Lead Member for Children's Services, proposed a set of alternative resolutions to the recommendations presented by officers in the report. Councillor Adams-King seconded the proposed alternative resolutions as follows:
1. That Cabinet commends Officers for their hard work on identifying suitable sites, and notes the challenges of identifying suitable sites within the time frame and the criteria prescribed by the Department for Education.
2. That despite being the only viable site in the County Council’s ownership currently meeting the Department for Education site criteria, the Stubbington site will not be re-purposed for the development of a new residential secure unit.
3. That Cabinet recognises the pressing need for new investment to secure a new secure children’s home to support Hampshire’s most vulnerable children and therefore:
• Requests that officers formally write to the DfE to apply for a 6 month extension to allow further time to identify a potential new site.
• Requests that officers consider future sites that may become available and, in doing so, formally write to all District and Borough Councils to identify suitable sites in their ownership that could be transferred to the County Council.
4. That Cabinet note and accept the potential risks of losing the funding opportunity if a site cannot be identified within a suitable timeframe, and the consequential impacts on the future operations of Swanwick Lodge if the funding opportunity is withdrawn.
5. That Cabinet requests that Officers separately develop a long-term business plan for the education and outdoor centres service.
Further to this, Councillor Forster, Executive Member for Education, proposed an additional resolution, which was seconded by Cllr Huggins:
6. That Cabinet requests that Officers contact local schools to respond to and confirm any provisional booking requests or enquiries (including those which may have been ‘on hold’), and to ensure the County Council is intelligently marketing the centre so as to operate it at full capacity.
The Chairman called a brief adjournment of the meeting so that the wording of the alternative resolutions could be confirmed and shared with those in attendance.
When the meeting resumed, the Chairman invited Cabinet Members to debate the proposed alternative resolutions.
Cabinet Members thanked those who had made deputations and provided feedback on the proposals in other ways. Cabinet Members recognised the support for the Stubbington Study Centre and also the excellent service provided currently from the Swanwick Lodge Secure Children’s Home.
The Chairman invited the Vice Chairman of the Children & Young People Select Committee to comment and the Vice Chairman urged Cabinet to reject the proposal to close Stubbington Study Centre and seek an alternative site for a secure welfare children’s home.
Following a summation by the Chairman, the proposed alternative resolutions, taken together, were put to the vote and agreed unanimously. Cabinet then voted on the resolutions as amended and it was unanimously therefore
RESOLVED:
1. That Cabinet commends Officers for their hard work on identifying suitable sites, and notes the challenges of identifying suitable sites within the time frame and the criteria prescribed by the Department for Education.
2. That despite being the only viable site in the County Council’s ownership currently meeting the Department for Education site criteria, the Stubbington site will not be re-purposed for the development of a new residential secure unit.
3. That Cabinet recognises the pressing need for new investment to secure a new secure children’s home to support Hampshire’s most vulnerable children and therefore:
• Requests that officers formally write to the DfE to apply for a 6 month extension to allow further time to identify a potential new site.
• Requests that officers consider future sites that may become available and, in doing so, formally write to all District and Borough Councils to identify suitable sites in their ownership that could be transferred to the County Council.
4. That Cabinet note and accept the potential risks of losing the funding opportunity if a site cannot be identified within a suitable timeframe, and the consequential impacts on the future operations of Swanwick Lodge if the funding opportunity is withdrawn.
5. That Cabinet requests that Officers separately develop a long-term business plan for the education and outdoor centres service.
6. That Cabinet requests that Officers contact local schools to respond to and confirm any provisional booking requests or enquiries (including those which may have been ‘on hold’), and to ensure the County Council is intelligently marketing the centre so as to operate it at full capacity.
The report highlighted the need for investment in infrastructure to support vulnerable children as the current facility at Swanwick Lodge secure children’s welfare home was nearing the end of its life. There was potential to secure £60 million in funding from the Department for Education to fund a new build secure children’s home in Hampshire to replace Swanwick Lodge, if a suitable site could be identified before the end of March 2025. The review of sites identified that the Stubbington Study Centre site was the most viable option that met the criteria and the timescale.
It was noted that over 5,000 responses had been received to a consultation about the proposals and 13,587 signatures had been accepted from Hampshire residents to a petition to save the Stubbington Study Centre.
The Director of Children’s Services highlighted that Swanwick lodge provided an important service to vulnerable children and it was important to seek a continuation of this type of service locally in the future. It was noted that should Swanwick Lodge close, the next closest unit was in Exeter in Devon, whereas there were a number of other outdoor centres similar to Stubbington within Hampshire.
The Cabinet heard from the following non-Executive Members who had asked to speak at the meeting on this topic:
Councillor Meenaghan – expressed support for not closing the Stubbington Study Centre and maintaining the opportunity it provides to 6,000 children a year. Councillor Ford – urged seeking an alternative site for the children’s home rather than force a choice between that and the well loved Study Centre, including seeking sites from District and Borough Councils. Councillor Burton – suggested seeking extra time from the Department for Education to identify an alternative site for a children’s home. Councillor Hayre – recognised the duty of councillors as corporate parents of the children that use the secure welfare children’s home, but also the strong views of her constituents who want to retain the Stubbington Study Centre. As local member for the division including the Study Centre she requested that Cabinet agree to retain the Stubbington Study Centre and explore alternative options for a children’s home.
The Chairman invited the Chairman of the Hampshire 2050, Corporate Services and Resources Select Committee to comment, as the Select Committee had pre-scrutinised the proposals. The Select Committee Chairman drew Cabinet’s attention to the recommendations made by the Select Committee, included in the pack of papers for this meeting. The Select Committee had been unanimous in their recommendation not to close the Stubbington Study Centre, while recognising the need for a new specialist secure welfare children’s home.
Cabinet members acknowledged the importance of both the Stubbington Study Centre and the need for a new secure children's home. They recognised the challenges in identifying suitable sites and the potential risk of losing the funding opportunity if a site could not be identified within the required timeframe.
Councillor Chadd, Executive Lead Member for Children's Services, proposed a set of alternative resolutions to the recommendations presented by officers in the report. Councillor Adams-King seconded the proposed alternative resolutions as follows:
1. That Cabinet commends Officers for their hard work on identifying suitable sites, and notes the challenges of identifying suitable sites within the time frame and the criteria prescribed by the Department for Education.
2. That despite being the only viable site in the County Council’s ownership currently meeting the Department for Education site criteria, the Stubbington site will not be re-purposed for the development of a new residential secure unit.
3. That Cabinet recognises the pressing need for new investment to secure a new secure children’s home to support Hampshire’s most vulnerable children and therefore:
• Requests that officers formally write to the DfE to apply for a 6 month extension to allow further time to identify a potential new site.
• Requests that officers consider future sites that may become available and, in doing so, formally write to all District and Borough Councils to identify suitable sites in their ownership that could be transferred to the County Council.
4. That Cabinet note and accept the potential risks of losing the funding opportunity if a site cannot be identified within a suitable timeframe, and the consequential impacts on the future operations of Swanwick Lodge if the funding opportunity is withdrawn.
5. That Cabinet requests that Officers separately develop a long-term business plan for the education and outdoor centres service.
Further to this, Councillor Forster, Executive Member for Education, proposed an additional resolution, which was seconded by Cllr Huggins:
6. That Cabinet requests that Officers contact local schools to respond to and confirm any provisional booking requests or enquiries (including those which may have been ‘on hold’), and to ensure the County Council is intelligently marketing the centre so as to operate it at full capacity.
The Chairman called a brief adjournment of the meeting so that the wording of the alternative resolutions could be confirmed and shared with those in attendance.
When the meeting resumed, the Chairman invited Cabinet Members to debate the proposed alternative resolutions.
Cabinet Members thanked those who had made deputations and provided feedback on the proposals in other ways. Cabinet Members recognised the support for the Stubbington Study Centre and also the excellent service provided currently from the Swanwick Lodge Secure Children’s Home.
The Chairman invited the Vice Chairman of the Children & Young People Select Committee to comment and the Vice Chairman urged Cabinet to reject the proposal to close Stubbington Study Centre and seek an alternative site for a secure welfare children’s home.
Following a summation by the Chairman, the proposed alternative resolutions, taken together, were put to the vote and agreed unanimously. Cabinet then voted on the resolutions as amended and it was unanimously therefore
RESOLVED:
1. That Cabinet commends Officers for their hard work on identifying suitable sites, and notes the challenges of identifying suitable sites within the time frame and the criteria prescribed by the Department for Education.
2. That despite being the only viable site in the County Council’s ownership currently meeting the Department for Education site criteria, the Stubbington site will not be re-purposed for the development of a new residential secure unit.
3. That Cabinet recognises the pressing need for new investment to secure a new secure children’s home to support Hampshire’s most vulnerable children and therefore:
• Requests that officers formally write to the DfE to apply for a 6 month extension to allow further time to identify a potential new site.
• Requests that officers consider future sites that may become available and, in doing so, formally write to all District and Borough Councils to identify suitable sites in their ownership that could be transferred to the County Council.
4. That Cabinet note and accept the potential risks of losing the funding opportunity if a site cannot be identified within a suitable timeframe, and the consequential impacts on the future operations of Swanwick Lodge if the funding opportunity is withdrawn.
5. That Cabinet requests that Officers separately develop a long-term business plan for the education and outdoor centres service.
6. That Cabinet requests that Officers contact local schools to respond to and confirm any provisional booking requests or enquiries (including those which may have been ‘on hold’), and to ensure the County Council is intelligently marketing the centre so as to operate it at full capacity.
7
EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC
To resolve that the public be excluded from the meeting during the following item of business, as it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present during this item there would be disclosure to them of exempt information within Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, and further that in all the circumstances of the cases, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons set out in the exempt appendices.
The intention to hold part of this Cabinet meeting in private was notified on the County Council’s website on 17 February 2025 in accordance with Part 3, Chapter 4 of the Constitution and no representations regarding this intention have been received.
The intention to hold part of this Cabinet meeting in private was notified on the County Council’s website on 17 February 2025 in accordance with Part 3, Chapter 4 of the Constitution and no representations regarding this intention have been received.
Minutes
It was not necessary to exclude the press and public and the discussion all took place in public.
8
Proposals relating to the provision of a specialist secure welfare children's home - Exempt Appendices
To consider exempt appendices in relation to Item 6 on the agenda. (Appendix 4 regarding the site selection process, which contains confidential information relating to the County Council’s assets, and Appendix 5 which includes confidential financial information relating to the costs of running the Stubbington Study Centre).
Attachments:
- Document Appendix 4 EXEMPT Site Selection 10 Mar 2025
- Document Appendix 5 EXEMPT Confidential appendix on financial information 10 Mar 2025
Minutes
Cabinet noted the Exempt Appendices to Item 6 (Proposals Relating to the Provision of a Specialist Secure Welfare Children’s Home) and took these into account in taking their decision.
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