Hart Borough Council
Councillors:
33
Wards:
11
Committees:
14
Meetings (2025):
61
Meetings (2024):
60
Meeting
Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Hart
Meeting Times
Scheduled Time
Start:
Tuesday, 8th July 2025
7:00 PM
Tuesday, 8th July 2025
7:00 PM
End:
Tuesday, 8th July 2025
11:00 PM
Tuesday, 8th July 2025
11:00 PM
Meeting Status
Status:
Confirmed
Confirmed
Date:
08 Jul 2025
08 Jul 2025
Location:
Council Chamber
Council Chamber
Meeting Attendees
Officer
Executive Director, Corporate Services & S151 Officer
Graeme Clark
Expected
Officer
Executive Director - Place
Mark Jaggard
Expected
Officer
Executive Director - Community
Kirsty Jenkins
Expected
Officer
Chief Executive
Daryl Phillips
In attendance
Chair
Jane Worlock
Present, as expected
Vice-Chairman
Vice-Chair of Council
Officer
Committee and Members Services Officer
Emma Evans1
Expected
Officer
Digital, Customer & Change Manager
Steven Bennett
In attendance
Officer
Committee Services Officer
Kathy Long
Democratic Services
In attendance
Committee Member
Portfolio Holder - Community Safety and Regulatory Services
Agenda
0
Local Government Reorganisation Presentation
Attachments:
- Document LGR slides for O&S July 10 Jul 2025
Minutes
1
Minutes of Previous Meeting
The minutes of the meeting of 10 June 2025 are attached to be confirmed and signed as a correct record.
Attachments:
- Document Minutes of Previous Meeting 27 Jun 2025
Minutes
Subject to an amendment to include Cllr Bailey as present at the meeting, the minutes of the meeting held on 10 June 2025 were confirmed and signed as a correct record.
Proposed by Cllr Butler and seconded by Cllr Jones and agreed by all those who were present at the previous meeting.
Proposed by Cllr Butler and seconded by Cllr Jones and agreed by all those who were present at the previous meeting.
2
Apologies for Absence
To receive any apologies for absence from Members*.
*Note: Members are asked to email Committee Services before the meeting as soon as they know they will be absent.
*Note: Members are asked to email Committee Services before the meeting as soon as they know they will be absent.
Minutes
Apologies had been received from Cllr Hale, who was substituted at the meeting by Cllr Crampton.
3
Declarations of Interest
To declare disclosable, pecuniary and any other interests*.
*Note: Members are asked to email Committee Services before the meeting as soon as they know they may have an interest to declare.
*Note: Members are asked to email Committee Services before the meeting as soon as they know they may have an interest to declare.
Minutes
Councillor Bailey declared a non-prejudicial interest in Minute 18 (Local Government Reorganisation) as a Hampshire County Councillor.
4
Chair's Announcements
Minutes
The Chairman announced that, following the voluntary redundancy of the Executive Director of Place, the Environmental Health and Licensing service function has been transferred to Community Services. The Development Management, Building Control, and Health and Safety service functions had been moved to Corporate Services, and the Chief Executive would take responsibility for the Planning Policy function.
As a consequence, the Place Service Panel would no longer exist. Members previously on that Panel would need to be re-allocated to the membership of either the Community Service Panel or the Corporate Service Panel. It was agreed that Cllrs Butler and Khepar would move to the Community Service Panel. Committee Services would contact Cllr Thomas to find out on which Service Panel he would like to sit.
The Committee was advised that more details on these changes would be sent out to Members that week.
As a consequence, the Place Service Panel would no longer exist. Members previously on that Panel would need to be re-allocated to the membership of either the Community Service Panel or the Corporate Service Panel. It was agreed that Cllrs Butler and Khepar would move to the Community Service Panel. Committee Services would contact Cllr Thomas to find out on which Service Panel he would like to sit.
The Committee was advised that more details on these changes would be sent out to Members that week.
5
Public Participation (Items on the Agenda)
Anyone wishing to make a statement to the Committee should contact Committee Services at least two clear working days before the meeting. Further information can be found
online.
online.
Minutes
None.
6
Local Government Reorganisation
To receive a presentation on the current position on the Hampshire & Solent Local Government Reorganisation discussions.
Minutes
Introduction to Hampshire and Solent Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation
The Chief Executive, on behalf of the Leader, presented a joint update on the current position regarding the work Hart is undertaking to progress proposals for the future Local Government reorganisation across Hampshire. The presentation covered the following areas
· Government Plans: Replace 15 councils with larger unitary councils by April 2028, excluding the Isle of Wight
· Proposal Submission: Councils must submit one preferred proposal by September 2025
Main Themes and Messages:
· Government Feedback:
· Progress and Options:
o Initially explored eight unitary governance options
o Developing three variations of a four-unitary model, including a Northern Hampshire Unitary Council (Hart/Rushmoor/Basingstoke)
· KPMG's Role:
o Independent analysis and support
o Draft business case in August 2025, final proposals by September 2025 [7].
· Hart's Strategic Position:
o Collaboration with Rushmoor and Basingstoke & Deane
o Dual-track engagement strategy
· Stakeholder Engagement:
o Public and stakeholder input on local identity and governance
o Surveys and workshops until mid-August
· Project Management and Financial Implications:
o Rushmoor to support Hart with expertise
o Potentially up to £200k costs (subject to a report on 10 July to Cabinet)
o Funded from 2024/25 budget underspend
· Key Dates:
o Overview & Scrutiny on 9 September 2025
o Cabinet 16 September 2025
o Council 25 September 2025
o Submission to the government by 26 September 2025
o Possible decision by the Government, Spring 2026
o Shadow Authorities May 2027
o New unitaries by 1 April 2028.
The key message was that the timescales provided by the Government to bring forward proposals were far too short, and that any business case would be of a very high level, leaving many questions unanswered with insufficient time to be appropriately addressed.
It was agreed that a copy of the presentation would be appended to the meeting minutes.
Cllrs Dorn and Highley (in attendance virtually) left the meeting at the end of this item.
Note: Cllr Bailey declared a non-pecuniary interest in this item as a Hampshire County Councillor.
The Chief Executive, on behalf of the Leader, presented a joint update on the current position regarding the work Hart is undertaking to progress proposals for the future Local Government reorganisation across Hampshire. The presentation covered the following areas
· Government Plans: Replace 15 councils with larger unitary councils by April 2028, excluding the Isle of Wight
· Proposal Submission: Councils must submit one preferred proposal by September 2025
Main Themes and Messages:
· Government Feedback:
· Progress and Options:
o Initially explored eight unitary governance options
o Developing three variations of a four-unitary model, including a Northern Hampshire Unitary Council (Hart/Rushmoor/Basingstoke)
· KPMG's Role:
o Independent analysis and support
o Draft business case in August 2025, final proposals by September 2025 [7].
· Hart's Strategic Position:
o Collaboration with Rushmoor and Basingstoke & Deane
o Dual-track engagement strategy
· Stakeholder Engagement:
o Public and stakeholder input on local identity and governance
o Surveys and workshops until mid-August
· Project Management and Financial Implications:
o Rushmoor to support Hart with expertise
o Potentially up to £200k costs (subject to a report on 10 July to Cabinet)
o Funded from 2024/25 budget underspend
· Key Dates:
o Overview & Scrutiny on 9 September 2025
o Cabinet 16 September 2025
o Council 25 September 2025
o Submission to the government by 26 September 2025
o Possible decision by the Government, Spring 2026
o Shadow Authorities May 2027
o New unitaries by 1 April 2028.
The key message was that the timescales provided by the Government to bring forward proposals were far too short, and that any business case would be of a very high level, leaving many questions unanswered with insufficient time to be appropriately addressed.
It was agreed that a copy of the presentation would be appended to the meeting minutes.
Cllrs Dorn and Highley (in attendance virtually) left the meeting at the end of this item.
Note: Cllr Bailey declared a non-pecuniary interest in this item as a Hampshire County Councillor.
7
Crime and Disorder Joint Committee Update
To receive feedback from members on the recent Crime and Disorder Committee.
Minutes
Cllr Collins had been invited to attend the meeting as the Portfolio Holder responsible for community safety and provided an update on the work of the Safer North Hampshire Community Safety Partnership.
Cllrs Bailey and Butler were the Council’s representatives on the Crime and Disorder Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which met annually to undertake the statutory performance review of the Safer North Hampshire Community Safety Partnership. Both Councillors had been present at the meeting held on 19 June 2025. They provided a summary of the meeting, drawing attention to the non-attendance by one of the constituent authorities and the timing of the meeting, which was so close to the constituent authorities’ annual meetings for making appointments to the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
It was agreed that the Chair would discuss feedback from the meeting with Cllrs Bailey and Butler and that the Chair and the Chief Executive would then contact the Chair of the Safer North Hampshire Community Safety Partnership to provide feedback following the meeting of the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 19 June 2025.
Cllrs Collins and Axam left the meeting after this item.
Cllrs Bailey and Butler were the Council’s representatives on the Crime and Disorder Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which met annually to undertake the statutory performance review of the Safer North Hampshire Community Safety Partnership. Both Councillors had been present at the meeting held on 19 June 2025. They provided a summary of the meeting, drawing attention to the non-attendance by one of the constituent authorities and the timing of the meeting, which was so close to the constituent authorities’ annual meetings for making appointments to the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
It was agreed that the Chair would discuss feedback from the meeting with Cllrs Bailey and Butler and that the Chair and the Chief Executive would then contact the Chair of the Safer North Hampshire Community Safety Partnership to provide feedback following the meeting of the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 19 June 2025.
Cllrs Collins and Axam left the meeting after this item.
8
Cabinet Work Programme
To consider the Cabinet Work Programme.
Attachments:
- Document 25 07 10 Cabinet Work Programme V2 27 Jun 2025
Minutes
The Committee noted the Cabinet Work Programme.
9
Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme
To consider and amend the Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme.
Attachments:
- Document July O&S draft work programme v2 27 Jun 2025
Minutes
Members considered and amended the Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme as follows:
· The Corporate Peer Challenge Action Plan will be considered at the August 2025 meeting
· The Development Management data exception report would be moved to the Corporate Service Plan with no separate exception reporting to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and regular statistical Service Plan KPI reporting. data monitoring would now be followed
· An additional Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting would be organised to take place on 4 September 2025 and would cover all items scheduled for September, except the Local Government Reorganisation item.
· The Draft Local Plan Programme would be deferred from the August meeting to the meeting on 4 September.
· Local Government Reorganisation would be the sole item for the Committee meeting on 9 September.
· The Corporate Peer Challenge Action Plan will be considered at the August 2025 meeting
· The Development Management data exception report would be moved to the Corporate Service Plan with no separate exception reporting to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and regular statistical Service Plan KPI reporting. data monitoring would now be followed
· An additional Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting would be organised to take place on 4 September 2025 and would cover all items scheduled for September, except the Local Government Reorganisation item.
· The Draft Local Plan Programme would be deferred from the August meeting to the meeting on 4 September.
· Local Government Reorganisation would be the sole item for the Committee meeting on 9 September.
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