Minutes:
The Leader reminded members that, over recent months, he had been engaging with all neighbouring authorities and keeping an open mind to evaluate potential options for the devolution of powers from central government to local authorities. To date however he had not seen any proposals that he considered would bring sufficient benefits in service delivery or value for money for local residents.
The Leader was also aware that the context had changed following the EU referendum and the subsequent major changes to the government which had instigated the proposals. It was expected that further clarification about the future direction of the Government’s plans on devolution would be received from the new Secretary of State, Sajid Javid, in the autumn and there should not therefore be any rush to any apparent solution before the Government confirmed its position.
The Leader highlighted two consultations that had commenced the previous week that looked at the future of local government in Hampshire.
Firstly the consultation by the Solent Devolution Deal, being progressed by the Southampton, Portsmouth and Isle of Wight Unitary Authorities together with the Solent Enterprise Local Enterprise Partnership. This consultation ran until 18 September 2016. The structure did not include any district councils, but this Council, together with others, was listed as possible associate members or observers.
Secondly, the County Council had launched a consultation under the banner “Serving Hampshire” to ask for views on different ways that the County and the 11 district councils could change or be re-organised. The consultation was not in partnership with any of the district councils affected. Options included replacing all 11 district and borough councils with one all-purpose unitary authority. The consultation ran until 20 September 2016.
The Leader, together with other district council leaders, had met with the Leader and Deputy Leader of the County Council on 29 July to express concern over the timing of the consultation and also that it would have been better if the consultation had been more collaborative with all councils in Hampshire. It was a shared objective to ensure the best possible local services were provided to all residents, and to provide good value.
These consultations could cause uncertainty in the New Forest community as well as for the Council’s own staff. All members were therefore encouraged to look closely at both these consultations. The Chief Executive would be sending the necessary internet links to all members and staff later in the day.
The Chief Executive had been requested to organise some events early in September, at different locations, to provide the opportunity for the Leader and Chief Executive to answer the questions raised by members and staff about these consultations.. The Leader would then ensure that a response was made on behalf of the Council, following full consideration by the Council.
In the ensuing debate it was noted that the Chief Executive of Hampshire County Council had attended a recent meeting of the New Forest Association of Local Councils to present the consultation options and to suggest the role that could be played by town and parish councils in the future. This meeting had been well attended by local council representatives and it was hoped that the attendees would encourage their councils to respond to the consultation. District Councillors were also asked to encourage their town and parish councils to respond. To assist the town and parish councils further it was agreed that the internet links on the consultations would be circulated to them and, in addition, consideration would be given to widening the events planned for the Council’s members and staff to include representatives of the wider community. It was suggested that these events may be usefully scheduled for after the events already organised by the County Council.