Hampshire County Council
Councillors:
78
Wards:
76
Committees:
49
Meetings (2026):
57
Meetings (2025):
155
Meeting
Cabinet - Hampshire
Meeting Times
Scheduled Time
Start:
Thursday, 30th October 2025
10:30 AM
Thursday, 30th October 2025
10:30 AM
End:
Thursday, 30th October 2025
2:30 PM
Thursday, 30th October 2025
2:30 PM
Meeting Status
Status:
Confirmed
Confirmed
Date:
30 Oct 2025
30 Oct 2025
Location:
Ashburton Hall, Elizabeth II Court, The Castle, Winchester
Ashburton Hall, Elizabeth II Court, The Castle, Winchester
Meeting Attendees
Committee Member
Councillor Jan Warwick
Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Hampshire 2050 - Finance
Present, as expected
Committee Member
Councillor Liz Fairhurst
Executive Lead Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health
Present, as expected
Committee Member
Councillor Zoe Huggins
Executive Member for Hampshire 2050 - Transformation and People
Present, as expected
Committee Member
Leader of the Council
Committee Member
Councillor Lulu Bowerman
Executive Member for Highways and Passenger Transport
Present, as expected
Agenda
1
Apologies for absence
To receive any apologies for absence.
Minutes
Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Chadd, Executive Lead Member for Children’s Services, and Councill Mocatta Chairman of Hampshire 2050, Corporate Services and Resources Select Committee (standing observer).
2
Declarations of interest
All Members who believe they have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting must declare that interest and, having regard to Part 3 Paragraph 1.5 of the County Council's Members’ Code of Conduct, leave the meeting while the matter is discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with Paragraph 1.6 of the Code. Furthermore all Members with a Personal Interest in a matter being considered at the meeting should consider, having regard to Part 5, Paragraph 4 of the Code, whether such interest should be declared, and having regard to Part 5, Paragraph 5 of the Code, consider whether it is appropriate to leave the meeting while the matter is discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with the Code.
Minutes
The following Councillors declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in the item regarding Hampshire and Solent Devolution, as Members receiving allowances from other Local Authorities within Hampshire:
Councillor Huggins – Councillor at Gosport Borough Council and the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Authority
Councillor K North – Councillor at Test Valley Borough Council
Councillor Warwick – Councillor at Winchester City Council
Councillor Forster – Councillor at Hart District Council
Councillor Adams King – Councillor at Test Valley Borough Council
Councillor Liz Fairhurst – Councillor at Havant Borough Council
All members of the Cabinet also declared a disclosable pecuniary interest as
Members receiving allowances from Hampshire County Council.
It was noted that all Members had the benefit of a dispensation granted by the
Conduct Advisory Panel enabling them to fully participate and vote in any
business of the County Council where they may otherwise be prevented from
doing so in consequence of being in receipt of a Member’s Allowance.
Councillor Huggins – Councillor at Gosport Borough Council and the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Authority
Councillor K North – Councillor at Test Valley Borough Council
Councillor Warwick – Councillor at Winchester City Council
Councillor Forster – Councillor at Hart District Council
Councillor Adams King – Councillor at Test Valley Borough Council
Councillor Liz Fairhurst – Councillor at Havant Borough Council
All members of the Cabinet also declared a disclosable pecuniary interest as
Members receiving allowances from Hampshire County Council.
It was noted that all Members had the benefit of a dispensation granted by the
Conduct Advisory Panel enabling them to fully participate and vote in any
business of the County Council where they may otherwise be prevented from
doing so in consequence of being in receipt of a Member’s Allowance.
3
Minutes of previous meeting
To confirm the minutes of the previous meetings (to follow).
Attachments:
- Document 2025-09-23 Cabinet Minutes Draft 22 Oct 2025
- Document decision records 23 Sept 2025 Cabinet 22 Oct 2025
- Document 2025-09-26 Cabinet Minutes Draft 22 Oct 2025
- Document decision records 26 Sept 2025 Cabinet 22 Oct 2025
Minutes
The Minutes of the Cabinet meetings held on 23 and 26 September 2025 were agreed as an accurate record.
4
Chairman's Announcements
To receive any announcements the Chairman may wish to make.
Minutes
The Chairman had no announcements to make at this meeting.
5
Deputations
To receive any deputations notified under Standing Order 12.
Minutes
No deputations were received at this meeting.
6
Hampshire and Solent Devolution Update and Next Steps
To consider a report of the Director of Hampshire 2050 updating Cabinet on the outcome of negotiations to mitigate the risk of financial liabilities to Hampshire County Council arising from the content of the Statutory Instrument to create a Hampshire and Solent Mayoral Combined County Authority (MCCA), alongside other updates relating to the creation of the MCCA.
Attachments:
- Document Cabinet Report 22 Oct 2025
- Document Memorandum of Understanding 22 Oct 2025
- Document Decision Record 30 Oct 2025
Minutes
Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Hampshire 2050 updating Cabinet on the outcome of negotiations to mitigate the risk of financial liabilities to Hampshire County Council arising from the content of the Statutory Instrument to create a Hampshire and Solent Mayoral Combined County Authority (MCCA), alongside other updates relating to the creation of the MCCA.
It was noted that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) had been agreed between the upper tier authorities that any overspend of the MCCA budget would require unanimous approval by the representatives on the MCCA. While not legally binding, there would be a reputational and political impact if an authority were to break this commitment.
Cabinet Members congratulated the Leader and Officers for getting the parties involved to a position of agreement that enabled devolution to progress, given the benefits it was anticipated to bring.
The recommendations in the report were considered and agreed, a decision
record is attached to these minutes.
It was noted that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) had been agreed between the upper tier authorities that any overspend of the MCCA budget would require unanimous approval by the representatives on the MCCA. While not legally binding, there would be a reputational and political impact if an authority were to break this commitment.
Cabinet Members congratulated the Leader and Officers for getting the parties involved to a position of agreement that enabled devolution to progress, given the benefits it was anticipated to bring.
The recommendations in the report were considered and agreed, a decision
record is attached to these minutes.
7
Exclusion of the Press and Public
To direct that the public be excluded from the meeting during the following item of business, as it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present during that item, confidential information would be disclosed to them in breach of the duty of confidence.
The intention to hold part of this Cabinet meeting in private was notified on the County Council’s website on 16 October 2025 in accordance with Part 3, Chapter 4 of the Constitution and no representations regarding this intention have been received.
Access to Information Regulations require the County Council to publish a notice of the intention to hold all or part of a Cabinet meeting in private, providing 28 days notice. On this occasion compliance with this provision has been impracticable, and therefore in accordance with paragraph 6 of the Regulations, the Chairman of the relevant Select Committee has consented to the meeting being held in private because the matter is urgent and the meeting cannot reasonably be delayed. The report seeks to delegate authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader, to agree the final form of the Statutory Instrument which it is expected will be required during November, and therefore the decision is required before the end of October.
The intention to hold part of this Cabinet meeting in private was notified on the County Council’s website on 16 October 2025 in accordance with Part 3, Chapter 4 of the Constitution and no representations regarding this intention have been received.
Access to Information Regulations require the County Council to publish a notice of the intention to hold all or part of a Cabinet meeting in private, providing 28 days notice. On this occasion compliance with this provision has been impracticable, and therefore in accordance with paragraph 6 of the Regulations, the Chairman of the relevant Select Committee has consented to the meeting being held in private because the matter is urgent and the meeting cannot reasonably be delayed. The report seeks to delegate authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader, to agree the final form of the Statutory Instrument which it is expected will be required during November, and therefore the decision is required before the end of October.
Minutes
It was not necessary to exclude the press and public and the discussion all took place in public.
8
Confidential Appendix to Devolution Update Report
To consider a Confidential Appendix which details the Government’s financial settlement for the proposed Mayoral County Combined Authority for Hampshire and the Solent area, which at the time of publication of this agenda is confidential.
Attachments:
- Document Cabinet Appendix 22 Oct 2025
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