Purpose

To consider the report of the Leader of the Council providing an update on progress with Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Decision

To endorse the VJC terms of reference in respect of executive functions and to make any recommendations to Council and to authorise the Chief Executive following consultation with the Leader of the Council to make any minor operational amendments.

Reasons for the decision

As part of the core governance framework for Local Government Reorganisation in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, each new unitary area is recommended by the Government to create a Voluntary Joint Committee (VJC) as a precursor to the formal Joint Committee that will be created as part of the Structural Changes Order later this year.  This report sets out the detail of that request and the draft Terms of Reference that require endorsement by both Cabinet and Council as it is intended to discharge both executive and non-executive functions. 

As part of its terms of reference Governance Committee has oversight of all strategic LGR matters and therefore is required to consider this report in addition and make any appropriate recommendations. 

Alternative options considered

To not endorse the VJC Terms of Reference, the impact of which would be that the VJC could not be created.