Hart Borough Council
Councillors:
32
Wards:
11
Committees:
14
Meetings (2025):
66
Meetings (2024):
60
Meeting
Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Hart
Meeting Times
Scheduled Time
Start:
Tuesday, 9th September 2025
7:00 PM
Tuesday, 9th September 2025
7:00 PM
End:
Tuesday, 9th September 2025
11:00 PM
Tuesday, 9th September 2025
11:00 PM
Meeting Status
Status:
Confirmed; Extraordinary
Confirmed; Extraordinary
Date:
09 Sep 2025
09 Sep 2025
Location:
Council Chamber
Council Chamber
Meeting Attendees
Officer
Executive Director, Corporate Services & S151 Officer
Graeme Clark
In attendance
Officer
Executive Director - Community
Kirsty Jenkins
In attendance
Officer
Chief Executive
Daryl Phillips
In attendance
Officer
Committee and Members Services Officer
Emma Evans1
In attendance
Officer
Digital, Customer & Change Manager
Steven Bennett
In attendance
Officer
Lucy Ivie
In attendance
Guest
Portfolio Holder - Planning Policy
Guest
Portfolio Holder - Community Safety and Regulatory Services
Guest
Portfolio Holder - Housing and Community Services
Agenda
0
Presentation Local Government Reorganisation
Attachments:
- Document Presentation Local Government Reorganisation 10 Sep 2025
Minutes
1
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 Cllrs Bailey, Taylor and Cllr Woods, who was substituted by Cllr Brown.
2
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
No declarations made.
3
Chair's Announcements
Minutes
No announcements.
4
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.
5
Final Proposal for Local Government Reorganisation
To receive a presentation that aims to share the collaborative vision of the 12 Hampshire Councils proposal titled “Close enough to be local, big enough to stay strong.” It outlines a strategic plan for the future of local government that is designed to effectively serve the residents of Hampshire and the Solent.
The proposal is the result of joint work by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, Eastleigh Borough Council, Fareham Borough Council, Hart District Council, Havant Borough Council, Isle of Wight Council, New Forest District Council, Portsmouth City Council, Rushmoor Borough Council, Southampton City Council, Test Valley Borough Council and Winchester City Council.
It proposes three different options for the four new unitary councils for mainland Hampshire, at an average population size of 500,000, grouped around the major population centres of Southampton, Portsmouth, Winchester and Basingstoke. The Isle of Wight would stay its own island unitary authority, as it currently is.
The vision is designed to better drive economic growth, deliver redesigned public services tailored to local needs and empower communities by enabling residents to shape local decisions. It is backed by the 12 councils as the best way to unlock and maximise devolution arrangements with the new councils working effectively with the Isle of Wight Council and the new elected Mayor for the whole region.
The presentation will focus solely on the vision and the rationale that underlies it. It is intended to ensure that members have a clear understanding of the vision before it is discussed at Council on 25 September. It is not intended that there will, at this time, be a debate about the merits of the proposal, and there is no intention to contrast the vision with alternative proposals that other councils might submit.
The full proposal can be found here: Full Proposal
The supporting appendices can be found here: Supporting Appendices
The proposal is the result of joint work by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, Eastleigh Borough Council, Fareham Borough Council, Hart District Council, Havant Borough Council, Isle of Wight Council, New Forest District Council, Portsmouth City Council, Rushmoor Borough Council, Southampton City Council, Test Valley Borough Council and Winchester City Council.
It proposes three different options for the four new unitary councils for mainland Hampshire, at an average population size of 500,000, grouped around the major population centres of Southampton, Portsmouth, Winchester and Basingstoke. The Isle of Wight would stay its own island unitary authority, as it currently is.
The vision is designed to better drive economic growth, deliver redesigned public services tailored to local needs and empower communities by enabling residents to shape local decisions. It is backed by the 12 councils as the best way to unlock and maximise devolution arrangements with the new councils working effectively with the Isle of Wight Council and the new elected Mayor for the whole region.
The presentation will focus solely on the vision and the rationale that underlies it. It is intended to ensure that members have a clear understanding of the vision before it is discussed at Council on 25 September. It is not intended that there will, at this time, be a debate about the merits of the proposal, and there is no intention to contrast the vision with alternative proposals that other councils might submit.
The full proposal can be found here: Full Proposal
The supporting appendices can be found here: Supporting Appendices
Minutes
The Chief Executive gave a presentation on the final proposal for Local Government Reorganisation (attached).
Members discussed the following:
· The three main unitary options, focusing on boundary changes and the New Forest area's position.
· The financial implications including concerns about council tax harmonisation, the exclusion of inflation from calculations and the overall lack of detailed financial impact calculations.
· Changes to local representation with fewer councillors could lead to less local representation, with a potential shift to more full-time roles.
· The report contained minimal references to the Armed Forces Covenant and did not reflect Hart’s protected landscapes and environment.
· The approval process, noting a single unified submission is required, Cabinet will submit a motion to Council and there is potential for a side letter to be submitted to address local concerns.
· The proposed financial savings and that they are based on assumptions about organisational right-sizing and service contract consolidation.
· The political realities of the current position and that the reorganisation is inevitable and driven by government policy.
The Chief Executive agreed to ask KPMG for more background behind the financial saving assumptions.
The Leader of the Council committed to reviewing external comments and enhancing references to the Military Covenant and Hart’s Countryside.
Members discussed the following:
· The three main unitary options, focusing on boundary changes and the New Forest area's position.
· The financial implications including concerns about council tax harmonisation, the exclusion of inflation from calculations and the overall lack of detailed financial impact calculations.
· Changes to local representation with fewer councillors could lead to less local representation, with a potential shift to more full-time roles.
· The report contained minimal references to the Armed Forces Covenant and did not reflect Hart’s protected landscapes and environment.
· The approval process, noting a single unified submission is required, Cabinet will submit a motion to Council and there is potential for a side letter to be submitted to address local concerns.
· The proposed financial savings and that they are based on assumptions about organisational right-sizing and service contract consolidation.
· The political realities of the current position and that the reorganisation is inevitable and driven by government policy.
The Chief Executive agreed to ask KPMG for more background behind the financial saving assumptions.
The Leader of the Council committed to reviewing external comments and enhancing references to the Military Covenant and Hart’s Countryside.
Previous Meetings
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