Issue - meetings

The Leader referred to his recent email to councillors and staff regarding the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Local Government Association (HIOWLGA) proposal for Hampshire-wide devolution.  Once further details of the Hampshire-wide proposal were known, the Cabinet would discuss the matter further. The Leader would welcome members’ views then.  

Devolution for Hampshire

The Leader referred to his recent email to councillors and staff regarding the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Local Government Association (HIOWLGA) proposal for Hampshire-wide devolution.

The email explained that the Councilwas joining 14 other Councils across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to propose a Hampshire-wide devolution deal to the Government.

HIOWLGA at its meeting on 19 June had unanimously agreed to support a proposal covering Hampshire County Council, the 11 district councils and the unitary councils of Portsmouth, Southampton and the Isle of Wight Council, as the basis for developing devolution for the area.

The Leader of the County Council, Cllr Roy Perry, had written to Greg Clark MP, Secretary of State for Communities & Local Government, saying the Councils would prepare a devolution submission that would build on the strong partnership working that already existed across the area. The Leader of the Council had joined other local authority Leaders in supporting this proposal.

If successful, a “Combined Authority” would be established. This was not a new layer of Government, but would mean that the Government would devolve powers and funding, to allow greater local control over matters such as skills, transport, economic prosperity, infrastructure, and health and social care. Proposals would be built on the existing partnerships, powers and responsibilities of the local authorities and would be submitted to the Government by the end of July 2015. The proposals would not involve any change to local boundaries, but the changes would allow councils to make savings through administrative efficiencies and economies across the public sector. Once further details of the Hampshire-wide proposal were known, the Cabinet would discuss these at future meetings, where members’ views would be welcomed.

Promotion of the New Forest as a Toursim Destination

Members were shown the New Forest – Timeless Peace and Love SkyAd campaign which was running from 23 June to 20 July.  The campaign, developed by the Council in partnership with New Forest Tourism Association and the National Park Authority, aimed to target 141,000 couples in Greater London. These potential visitors all owned a Sky box and met the Experian socio-economic profile of using public transport and enjoying rural adventures.

Promotion of the New Forest Show

The television advert for this year’s New Forest Show which had recently been shown on Meridian T.V was played to members. The advert was also available online via the Show’s official website. Statistics had indicated that online tickets sales for the show increased dramatically following the airing of the advert. The Leader encouraged members to attend this year’s show.