Purpose

This report deals with the Council’s
response to the government’s consultation on establishing a
Mayoral Combined County Authority across Hampshire, Portsmouth,
Isle of Wight and Southampton.

The proposed response is to be submitted by the Leader, on behalf
of the Council, following the Council’s resolution at its
special meeting on 20 March 2025, to delegate authority to the
Leader to respond on behalf of the Council.

As indicated in the report considered by Council on 20 March 2025,
the proposed response supports the overarching principles of
devolution, seeking to support the transfer of enhanced decision
making from central government and the ability to retain a greater
share of more locally generated funding.

Whilst being optimistic about the potential for devolution, the
response details the matters that, in the opinion of the Council,
require greater clarification, including clarity on the scale and
timing of funding, and the role of district councils through any
transition period of local government reorganisation.

Decision

On 11 April 2025, Cllr Jill Cleary, Leader
made the following decision:

That the response attached at Appendix 1, be submitted to
government as the Council’s response to the consultation on
establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority across Hampshire,
Portsmouth, Isle of Wight and Southampton.

The decision is not subject to Call-In as both the Chief Executive
and the Monitoring Officer are satisfied that it must be
implemented urgently.

Details of the document the Portfolio Holder considered are
attached below.