Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Cullen, Dowd, Frampton, Haywood, Linford, Rackham, Richards and Thierry.

To note any declarations of interests made by members in connection with an agenda item.  The nature of the interests must also be specified.

Members are asked to discuss any possible interests with Democratic Services prior to the meeting.

The Monitoring Officer confirmed that she had granted a dispensation to all Members of the Council to speak and vote on the report and recommendations at minute 63 below, in respect of local government reorganisation.  This was because it could be argued that Members could have a disclosable pecuniary interest in potential local government reorganisation, by virtue of their receipt of a Members’ allowance as a Member of New Forest District Council.

There were no other declarations of any disclosable pecuniary interests by Members.

The Chairman confirmed that he had called the meeting to meet the deadline set by the Government for the submission of an interim plan for local government reorganisation proposals for Hampshire and the Solent.

The recommendations were in two parts.  Part one dealt with an update on Devolution and the Council’s response to the Government consultation, which was for Council to determine.  Part two outlined recommendations that Cabinet would consider at its Special Meeting on 21 March 2025.  Council, through the course of debate and in passing any specific resolutions, was asked to advise the Cabinet in respect of those recommendations.

The Leader introduced the report and moved the adoption of the recommendations.  Cllr S Davies seconded the motion. 

In moving the recommendations, the Leader referred to the work undertaken by all political groups across the Council and thanked Members for their collaboration.  She expressed that despite it not being the Council’s priority to pursue local government reorganisation, it was imperative to ensure that work with all councils in Hampshire was collaborative, to secure the very best advantage to continue to make a difference for the good, not only for the New Forest but for the Council’s staff and all residents.

Taking Members through the report, she also thanked the Chief Executive and senior officers for their work to date and concluded by reiterating her top priority was to secure the best future for the unique and special place of the New Forest.

The Chairman referred to the advance notice of a number of amendments and proposals and confirmed that he would ask the Council to consider these each in turn first as amendments, in order to then move on to the substantive debate on local government reorganisation.

Amendment 1

Cllr Brand moved an amendment to recommendation 1(b), to read “that the Council delegates authority to the Leader of the Council, in consultation with all Political Group Leaders to respond to the Government consultation on the establishment of a Mayoral Strategic Authority.”  Cllr Woods seconded the amendment.

Put to the vote, the amendment was lost.

Amendment 2

Cllr Armstrong moved a proposal which read “It is the Council’s view that, Cabinet recommendation 2(b) should be amended as follows:- Delegate authority to the Leader of the Council , in consultation with all Political Group Leaders to approve the final interim submission on behalf of the Council, in the event that minor amendments are agreed by the 15 councils.”  Cllr J Davies seconded the amendment.

Put to the vote, the proposal was lost.

Amendment 3

Cllr M Wade moved a proposal which read “It is the Council’s view that, Cabinet recommendations 2(c) should be amended as follows:- Cabinet consider key points of importance in the development of a final proposal that reflects the unique geography, history, economy and communities of the New Forest.”  Cllr Cleary seconded the amendment.

Put to the vote, the proposal was carried.

Amendment 4

Cllr J Davies moved a proposal which read “It is the Council’s view that,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 63.