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Hart Borough Council
Councillors: 32
Wards: 11
Committees: 14
Meetings (2025): 65
Meetings (2024): 60

Meeting

Council - Hart

Minutes
Pending
Meeting Times
Scheduled Time
Start:
Thursday, 25th September 2025
7:00 PM
End:
Thursday, 25th September 2025
11:00 PM
Meeting Status
Status:
Confirmed
Date:
25 Sep 2025
Location:
Council Chamber
Meeting Attendees
Dermot Smith photo
Committee Member
Dermot Smith

Independent

Expected

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Chris Dorn photo
Chair
Chair of Council
Chris Dorn

Conservative

Expected

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Chris Axam photo
Committee Member
Chris Axam

Community Campaign Hart

Expected

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

Liberal Democrat

Expected

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Gill Butler photo
Committee Member
Gill Butler

Community Campaign Hart

Apologies

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Tony Clarke photo
Committee Member
Portfolio Holder - Digital and Communications
Tony Clarke

Community Campaign Hart

Expected

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Selena Coburn photo
Committee Member
Selena Coburn

Conservative

Expected

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Graham Cockarill photo
Committee Member
Portfolio Holder - Planning Policy
Graham Cockarill

Liberal Democrat

Expected

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Tina Collins photo
Committee Member
Portfolio Holder - Community Safety and Regulatory Services
Tina Collins

Community Campaign Hart

Expected

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Dr Anne Crampton photo
Committee Member
Dr Anne Crampton

Conservative

Expected

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Gerry Crisp photo
Committee Member
Gerry Crisp

Liberal Democrat

Expected

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Katie Davies photo
Committee Member
Katie Davies

Community Campaign Hart

Expected

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Angela Delaney photo
Committee Member
Angela Delaney

Community Campaign Hart

Apologies

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Spencer Farmer photo
Committee Member
Spencer Farmer

Conservative

Expected

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Steve Forster photo
Committee Member
Steve Forster

Conservative

Expected

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Jon Hale photo
Committee Member
Jon Hale

Conservative

Expected

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Robert Harward photo
Committee Member
Robert Harward

Liberal Democrat

Expected

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David Neighbour photo
Committee Member
Leader of the Council
David Neighbour

Liberal Democrat

Expected

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Alan Oliver photo
Committee Member
Portfolio Holder - Development Management
Alan Oliver

Community Campaign Hart

Apologies

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Richard Quarterman photo
Committee Member
Portfolio Holder - Climate Change and Corporate Services
Richard Quarterman

Liberal Democrat

Expected

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James Radley photo
Committee Member
Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder - Finance
James Radley

Community Campaign Hart

Expected

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Tim Southern photo
Committee Member
Tim Southern

Conservative

Expected

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Ben Thomas photo
Committee Member
Ben Thomas

Community Campaign Hart

Expected

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Peter Wildsmith photo
Committee Member
Portfolio Holder - Housing and Community Services
Peter Wildsmith

Liberal Democrat

Expected

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Bethany Woods photo
Committee Member
Bethany Woods

Liberal Democrat

Apologies

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Dr Jane Worlock photo
Committee Member
Dr Jane Worlock

Conservative

Expected

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Officer
Chief Executive
Daryl Phillips

Expected

Officer
Committee and Member Services Manager
Sharon Black

Democratic Services

Expected

Stephen Highley photo
Committee Member
Stephen Highley

Conservative

Expected

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Richard Jones photo
Committee Member
Richard Jones

Community Campaign Hart

Expected

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Daisy Khepar photo
Committee Member
Daisy Khepar

Liberal Democrat

Expected

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Dan Taylor photo
Committee Member
Dan Taylor

Liberal Democrat

Expected

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Andy Brown photo
Committee Member
Andy Brown

Liberal Democrat

Expected

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Wendy Makepeace-Browne photo
Committee Member
Wendy Makepeace-Browne

Community Campaign Hart

Expected

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Officer
Committee and Members Services Officer
Emma Evans1

Expected

Agenda
1 Minutes of Previous Meeting
To confirm the Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 31 July 2025.
Attachments:
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.
3 Presentation by Mustard Seed Autism
At the request of the Chairman a presentation from Mustard Seed Autism.
4 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.
5 Council Procedure Rule 12 - Questions by the Public
To receive any questions from members of the public submitted in line with Council Procedure Rule 12.

Note: The text of any question under Council Procedure Rule 12 must be given to the Chief Executive (email committeeservices@hart.gov.uk) no later than Noon on Friday, 19 September 2025.
6 Council Procedure Rule 14 - Questions by Members
To receive any questions from Members submitted in line with Council Procedure Rule 14.

Note: The text of any question under the Council Procedure Rule 14.3 must be given to the Chief Executive (email committeeservices@hart.gov.uk) not later than 5.00pm on Monday 22 September 2025.

The text of any question under Council Procedure Rule 14.4 must be submitted to the Chief Executive before 10.00am on Thursday 25 September 2025.
7 Chairman's Announcements
8 Cabinet Members' Announcements
9 Chief Executive's Announcements
10 Minutes of Committees
The Minutes of the following Committees, which met on the dates shown, are submitted.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 14.1, Members are allowed to put questions at Council without Notice in respect of any matters in the Minutes to the Leader of the Council or any Chairman of the relevant meeting at the time those Minutes are received by Council.

Meeting

Date

Page Numbers

For Decision

Audit

22 July 2025

11-15

Cabinet

7 August 2025

16-18

Overview and Scrutiny

12 August 2025

19-23

Development Management

20 August 2025

24-26

Overview and Scrutiny

4 September 2025

27-33

Overview and Scrutiny (Extraordinary)

9 September 2025

34-35
11 Community Governance Review - Final Recommendations
To receive the findings of the recently completed Community Governance Review and the recommended changes.

Recommendation

The Council resolves to:

i) Agree the increase of councillors in Elvetham Heath Parish from 7 to 9.

ii) Agree the change in name of Long Sutton Parish to Long Sutton & Well.

iii) Agree the increase of councillors in Odiham Parish from 10 to 11.

iv) Agree the increase of councillors in Winchfield Parish from 5 to 7.

v) Agree to creating two wards within the Parish of Hook using the existing polling district boundaries. (Names to be agreed by Returning Officer in consultation with the Parish Council. Number of councillors to be divided equally between the parish wards.)
12 Final Proposal for Local Government Reorganisation
Council is asked to endorse the following recommendation from Cabinet:

Subject to the ‘Close Enough to be Local, Big Enough to Stay Strong document attached as Appendix 2, being modified or that a covering letter be submitted to the Secretary of State to include the following points:

1. Hart and Rushmoor have both received the 'Silver' Award in recognition of their efforts regarding the Military Covenant; and

2. Natural England has acknowledged the exemplary work of Hart and Rushmoor in collaborating across county boundaries to protect the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area (TBHSPA). Together, we have achieved Green Flag status for County Parks and developed Suitable Alternative Natural Green Space (SANGS), supporting future growth and housing delivery while fostering SPA mitigation, ecological enhancement, and biodiversity net gain opportunities.

The Council approves the proposed ‘Close Enough to be Local, Big Enough to Stay Strong’ submission to the government by the 26 September 2025 deadline and by doing so confirms that:

(1) A five-unitary Council structure, with four new mainland unitary councils plus the Isle of Wight, would best meet the Government’s criteria and provide the most effective solution for local government reorganisation in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

(2) A unitary council based on the areas comprising Basingstoke & Deane, Hart, and Rushmoor is the best option for Hart as, in line with the assessment criteria, it represents the most effective and optimum balance of a council large enough to deliver high-quality services and value for money but small enough to be connected to the place and the needs of the people the council serves.

(3) The Council fully endorses Option 1A, an adaptation of the core proposal, Option 1, within the "Close Enough to be Local, Big Enough to Stay Strong" framework. The Council urges the Secretary of State to modify the original Option 1 proposal to incorporate Option 1A because the proposed boundary changes better meet government criteria, drive economic growth, create unitary authorities that reflect and serve cohesive communities, and realise the full potential of local government reorganisation.

(4) In the event of minor editorial changes being necessary to the ‘Close Enough to be Local, Big Enough to Stay Strong’proposal, if all the other 11 councils agree to them, the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader, is authorised to approve such amendments on behalf of Hart District Council.
13 Approval of Absence from Council Meetings - Councillor Gerry Crisp
The Council is asked to approve Councillor Gerry Crisp's continued absence from meetings due to ill-health, beyond the six-month limit set by Section 85(1) of the Local Government Act 1972, extending the exemption until 31 January 2026.
14 Outside Bodies - Feedback from Members
To receive any feedback from Members who are representatives of the Council on an Outside Body.
Previous Meetings
Meeting

25th Sep 2025

Council

Meeting

31st Jul 2025

Council

Meeting

29th May 2025

Council

Meeting

24th Apr 2025

Council

Meeting

20th Feb 2025

Council

Meeting

30th Jan 2025

Council

Meeting

28th Nov 2024

Council

Meeting

26th Sep 2024

Council

Meeting

25th Jul 2024

Council

Meeting

16th May 2024

Council

Future Meetings
Meeting

27th Nov 2025

Council

Meeting

29th Jan 2026

Council

Meeting

19th Feb 2026

Council

Meeting

30th Apr 2026

Council

Meeting

21st May 2026

Council

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