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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
End:
Tuesday, 9th September 2025
11:00 PM
Meeting Status
Status:
Confirmed; Extraordinary
Date:
09 Sep 2025
Location:
Council Chamber
Meeting Attendees
Gill Butler photo
Committee Member
Gill Butler

Community Campaign Hart

Present, as expected

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Dr Jane Worlock photo
Chair
Dr Jane Worlock

Conservative

Present, as expected

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Spencer Farmer photo
Committee Member
Spencer Farmer

Conservative

Present, as expected

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Ben Thomas photo
Committee Member
Ben Thomas

Community Campaign Hart

Present, as expected

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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

Dan Taylor photo
Committee Member
Dan Taylor

Liberal Democrat

Apologies

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Richard Jones photo
Committee Member
Richard Jones

Community Campaign Hart

In attendance

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Stuart Bailey photo
Vice-Chairman
Vice-Chair of Council
Stuart Bailey

Liberal Democrat

Apologies

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Jon Hale photo
Committee Member
Jon Hale

Conservative

Present, as expected

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Daisy Khepar photo
Committee Member
Daisy Khepar

Liberal Democrat

Expected

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Dermot Smith photo
Committee Member
Dermot Smith

Independent

Present, as expected

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Bethany Woods photo
Committee Member
Bethany Woods

Liberal Democrat

Apologies

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Officer
Committee and Members Services Officer
Emma Evans1

In attendance

Andy Brown photo
Guest
Andy Brown

Liberal Democrat

In attendance

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Officer
Digital, Customer & Change Manager
Steven Bennett

In attendance

Officer
Lucy Ivie

In attendance

Chris Axam photo
Guest
Chris Axam

Community Campaign Hart

In attendance

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Graham Cockarill photo
Guest
Portfolio Holder - Planning Policy
Graham Cockarill

Liberal Democrat

In attendance

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Tina Collins photo
Guest
Portfolio Holder - Community Safety and Regulatory Services
Tina Collins

Community Campaign Hart

In attendance

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Dr Anne Crampton photo
Guest
Dr Anne Crampton

Conservative

In attendance

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Angela Delaney photo
Guest
Angela Delaney

Community Campaign Hart

In attendance

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Chris Dorn photo
Guest
Chair of Council
Chris Dorn

Conservative

In attendance

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David Neighbour photo
Guest
Leader of the Council
David Neighbour

Liberal Democrat

In attendance

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Stephen Highley photo
Guest
Stephen Highley

Conservative

In attendance

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Wendy Makepeace-Browne photo
Guest
Wendy Makepeace-Browne

Community Campaign Hart

In attendance

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Tim Southern photo
Guest
Tim Southern

Conservative

In attendance

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Peter Wildsmith photo
Guest
Portfolio Holder - Housing and Community Services
Peter Wildsmith

Liberal Democrat

In attendance

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Agenda
0 Presentation Local Government Reorganisation
Attachments:
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Previous Meetings
Meeting

14th Oct 2025

Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Meeting

9th Sep 2025

Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Meeting

4th Sep 2025

Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Meeting

12th Aug 2025

Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Meeting

8th Jul 2025

Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Meeting

10th Jun 2025

Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Meeting

13th May 2025

Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Meeting

8th Apr 2025

Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Meeting

18th Mar 2025

Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Meeting

11th Mar 2025

Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Future Meetings
Meeting

11th Nov 2025

Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Meeting

9th Dec 2025

Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Meeting

13th Jan 2026

Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Meeting

10th Feb 2026

Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Meeting

10th Mar 2026

Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Meeting

14th Apr 2026

Overview and Scrutiny Committee

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