Purpose

To enable Fareham Borough Council
to meet the timescales set by the Government for the submission of an interim position
statement as plans are developed for local Government Reorganisation across
Hampshire and the Solent area.

 

The Government has selected
Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, and all Councils in the area including Fareham
Borough Council, to be part of its Devolution Priority Programme (DPP).  A requirement of the DPP is that the district,
county and neighbouring unitary councils should merge with neighbouring
authorities to form larger unitary councils (also known as local government
reorganisation or LGR).

 

The Secretary of State has
formally requested that interim LGR proposals are made by 21 March 2025, with final
business cases to be submitted by 26 September 2025. Following the final
business case submission, Minister will decide their preferred option for LGR
in Hampshire, and lay legislation in Parliament leading to the new councils
taking legal effect from 1 April 2028 at the latest.

 

The report presents the draft
interim plan that has been developed in collaboration with all Councils across
Hampshire/IoW and seeks the approval of the Executive to submit it to
Government by 21 March.

 

The Executive is also asked to endorse
the progression of the work, under the direction of the Executive Leader and Chief
Executive Officer, in order to develop a final business case for Full Council
consideration later in 2025.

Decision

RESOLVED that the Executive:

 

(a)  notes
the progress made in relation to local government reorganisation in Hampshire
and the Solent;

 

(b)  supports
the submission of the interim plan, attached as Appendix A to the report subject
to the correction of the deficit figure at paragraph 4 of the submission letter
on page 19 of the agenda pack which should read £136 million;

 

(c)  supports
the Executive Leader and the Chief Executive Officer in progressing to the next
stage of the work programme, in order to support a detailed proposal for
reorganisation; and

 

(d)  delegates
authority to the Chief Executive Officer, following consultation with the
Executive Leader, to commit resources as necessary, to develop a detailed
proposal.