The Council met to discuss interim warding arrangements for the proposed North Hampshire Unitary Council and to appoint representatives to the North Hampshire Joint Committee. Key decisions included approving a preferred 108-councillor interim warding arrangement, with 88 and 85-councillor options as backstops, and appointing Councillors Gareth Williams and Calum Stewart to the Joint Committee.

Local Government Reorganisation Interim Warding Arrangements

The Council agreed to submit a proposal for a 108-councillor interim warding arrangement for the new North Hampshire Unitary Council, with a preferred distribution of 53 councillors for Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, 29 for Hart District Council, and 26 for Rushmoor Borough Council. This decision was made after considerable debate and amendment. The Council also agreed to submit an 88-councillor arrangement (option 88c) as a second preference and an 85-councillor arrangement (option 85c) as a third preference.

The initial recommendation from the Licensing and Corporate Business Committee was to propose a 108-councillor arrangement, maintaining existing ward boundaries in Rushmoor to ensure continuity and fair electoral representation based on elector numbers. Councillor Sarah Spall, Chair of the Licensing and Corporate Business Committee, introduced the report, emphasizing the importance of maintaining existing ward boundaries until a full review by the Boundary Commission could take place.

An amendment was proposed by Councillor Gareth Williams, Leader of the Council, and seconded by Councillor Sophie Porter, to include backstop options of 88 and 85 councillors. Councillor Williams explained that these were necessary in case the preferred 108-councillor proposal was not approved by the government. He confirmed that leaders from Hart District Council and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council would also be submitting responses based on 88 councillors. This amendment was carried by 17 votes to 16, with 2 abstentions.

A further amendment was proposed by Councillor G.B. Lyon and seconded by Councillor Steve Harden to change the second preference to option 88d and the third preference to option 85d. Councillor Lyon argued that West Heath ward had a stronger community link with Fernhill ward than with Cherrywood. However, this amendment was lost, with 14 votes in favour and 20 against, and 1 abstention.

The substantive motion, as amended, was then put to a vote. It was carried with 23 votes in favour, 10 against, and 2 abstentions. The decision means that Rushmoor will have 26 councillors in the proposed 108-councillor model, which aligns with the electorate distribution across the new authority area.

Appointments to the North Hampshire Joint Committee

The Council appointed Councillor Gareth Williams and Councillor Calum Stewart as representatives to the North Hampshire Joint Committee, with Councillor Keith Dibble nominated as a standing deputy. This decision followed the introduction of a report by Councillor Gareth Williams, Leader of the Council, which outlined the role of the Joint Committee in overseeing the initial stages of establishing the new North Hampshire Council.

The Joint Committee, which will consist of 12 councillors in total (6 from Hampshire County Council, and 2 each from Basingstoke and Deane, Hart, and Rushmoor), will be responsible for drafting a code of conduct, member allowances scheme, and meeting schedule for the new unitary council, as well as setting up an officer implementation team and preparing a high-level implementation plan. The committee will operate on a voluntary basis before the Structural Changes Order is confirmed by Parliament.

Two sets of nominations were received. Option 1 proposed Councillors Gareth Williams and Calum Stewart, with Councillor Keith Dibble as deputy. Option 2 proposed Councillors Gareth Williams and M.J. Tennant, with Councillor G.B. Lyon as deputy for Councillor Tennant, and Councillor Keith Dibble as a further deputy.

Option 1 was carried with 20 votes in favour, compared to 13 votes for Option 2. This appointment ensures that Rushmoor will have representation and influence during the transition period.