Decision details

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.

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.

To comply with the resolution of the Council, to delegate authority to the Leader of the Council to respond to the government consultation, on behalf of the Council.

To ensure that the interests of the Council, its communities, residents and businesses are represented as part of the devolution process.

See report.