Hampshire County Council
Councillors:
78
Wards:
76
Committees:
49
Meetings (2026):
57
Meetings (2025):
155
Meeting
Cabinet - Hampshire
Meeting Times
Scheduled Time
Start:
Thursday, 15th January 2026
2:00 PM
Thursday, 15th January 2026
2:00 PM
End:
Thursday, 15th January 2026
6:00 PM
Thursday, 15th January 2026
6:00 PM
Meeting Status
Status:
Confirmed
Confirmed
Date:
15 Jan 2026
15 Jan 2026
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 Lulu Bowerman
Executive Member for Highways and Passenger Transport
Present, as expected
Committee Member
Leader of the Council
Agenda
1
Apologies for absence
To receive any apologies for absence.
Minutes
Apologies were received from Councillor Forster, Executive Member for Education. Apologies were also noted from Select Committee Chairmen Councillor Mocatta and Councillor Branson.
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
Members were mindful that where they believed they had a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in any matter considered at the meeting they must declare that interest at the time of the relevant debate and, having regard to the circumstances described in Part 3, Paragraph 1.5 of the County Council's Members' Code of Conduct, leave the meeting while the matter was discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with Paragraph 1.6 of the Code. Furthermore Members were mindful that where they believed they had a Personal Interest in a matter being considered at the meeting they considered whether such interest should be declared, and having regard to Part 5, Paragraph 5 of the Code, considered whether it was appropriate to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with the Code.
All members of the Cabinet declared a disclosable pecuniary interest as Members receiving allowances from Hampshire County Council. Councillor Huggins also declared an interest as a member of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority. Councillor Adams-King also declared an interest as a member of a committee of the Local Government Association.
It was noted that the Conduct Advisory Panel had resolved to grant a dispensation, commencing on 1 August 2025 and expiring on 31 July 2029, to all Members and Co-opted Members of the County Council in receipt of an allowance under the Hampshire County Council Members’ Allowances Scheme (section 33(2)(a) and (d)) or Members’ Allowances Scheme of another relevant Authority (section 33(2)(e)) from the provisions of sections 31(4)(a) and (b) of the Localism Act enabling all Members and Co-opted Members of the County Council to participate and vote in any business of the County Council where they would otherwise be prevented from doing so in consequence of being in receipt of a Member Allowance.
All members of the Cabinet declared a disclosable pecuniary interest as Members receiving allowances from Hampshire County Council. Councillor Huggins also declared an interest as a member of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority. Councillor Adams-King also declared an interest as a member of a committee of the Local Government Association.
It was noted that the Conduct Advisory Panel had resolved to grant a dispensation, commencing on 1 August 2025 and expiring on 31 July 2029, to all Members and Co-opted Members of the County Council in receipt of an allowance under the Hampshire County Council Members’ Allowances Scheme (section 33(2)(a) and (d)) or Members’ Allowances Scheme of another relevant Authority (section 33(2)(e)) from the provisions of sections 31(4)(a) and (b) of the Localism Act enabling all Members and Co-opted Members of the County Council to participate and vote in any business of the County Council where they would otherwise be prevented from doing so in consequence of being in receipt of a Member Allowance.
3
Deputations
To receive any deputations notified under Standing Order 12.
Minutes
No deputations were received at this meeting.
4
Chairman's Announcements
To receive any announcements the Chairman may wish to make.
Minutes
The Chairman congratulated Councillor Fairhurst on being awarded an MBE in the New Years Honors for her 14 years of service as an Executive Member on Hampshire County Council.
5
Local Government Reorganisation: determination of the County Council's response to a letter dated 18 December 2025 from the Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness in relation to the local elections scheduled to be held on 7 May 2026.
To consider a report of the Chief Executive in relation to a letter received from the Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness regarding the potential postponement of local elections if it would release capacity to deliver local government reorganisation.
Attachments:
- Document Report supporting determination of response to Ministers letter of 18 Dec 2025 02 Jan 2026
- Document Letter - Outcome of Extraordinary County Council 12 January 2026 02 Jan 2026
- Document Decision Record 16 Jan 2026
Minutes
Cabinet considered a report of the Chief Executive in relation to a letter received from the Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness regarding the potential postponement of local elections if it would release capacity to deliver local government reorganisation. It was noted that the Government had written to authorities with elections scheduled for May 2026, asking for views on whether elections should be postponed if doing so would release capacity to deliver Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). Responses were required by 15 January 2026.
Appendix 2 to the report was highlighted, which set out indicative timelines for elections, LGR and devolution and how they overlapped. It was also noted that the report and two amendments had been debated at Full Council on 12 January 2026, and the Chairman of the Council had written summarising Council’s position and agreed amendment, and the letter had been added to the papers for this meeting.
Cabinet Members raised detailed questions concerning funding, legal process, organisational capacity and risk. Regarding funding for LGR it was confirmed no further funding was expected. Initial business case funding had allocated £151,000 to Hampshire County Council, but the overall cost of LGR was estimated at £80–£132 million, to be met through reserves, capital release and future savings.
It was discussed whether a Council could initiate a Judicial Review of the LGR decision and it was confirmed that this was possible and if that happened it was likely to introduce delay and complexity to the process.
It was discussed that it was difficult to establish in detail what would be required to progress LGR over the coming year until Government announced the option to be taken forward. It was noted that decision making relating to LGR would initially be through Joint Committees, with Shadow Authorities to be established in May 2027 to take on the planning.
Members expressed concerns about the impact of LGR on services currently provided by the County Council, and that it was difficult to know what the impacts would be until the chosen option was confirmed.
Cabinet Members spoke in support of the amended resolution agreed by the full Council, that it would be preferable for elections to go ahead and LGR to be postponed.
The Leader proposed, and Cllr Warwick seconded, the amendment agreed by Full Council as follows:
That Cabinet:
1. Notes the contents of the Cabinet report, the views expressed in debate and recommendation of full Council on 12 January 2026; and
2. Confirms, having considered the matters set out in the report, including the capacity considerations and the debate and recommendation of full Council that the response to the Minister’s letter should indicate a view that the County Council election for May 2026 should not be postponed and taking into account the concerns around capacity to ensure the safe and effective delivery of Local Government Reorganisation in Hampshire and the Solent, the introduction of unitary councils should instead be postponed by at least one year.
3. Agrees that the Leader will write to the Minister setting out the views of Hampshire County Council reflecting the key points of discussion at full Council and Cabinet.
The amended resolution was agreed unanimously. A decision record is attached to these minutes.
Appendix 2 to the report was highlighted, which set out indicative timelines for elections, LGR and devolution and how they overlapped. It was also noted that the report and two amendments had been debated at Full Council on 12 January 2026, and the Chairman of the Council had written summarising Council’s position and agreed amendment, and the letter had been added to the papers for this meeting.
Cabinet Members raised detailed questions concerning funding, legal process, organisational capacity and risk. Regarding funding for LGR it was confirmed no further funding was expected. Initial business case funding had allocated £151,000 to Hampshire County Council, but the overall cost of LGR was estimated at £80–£132 million, to be met through reserves, capital release and future savings.
It was discussed whether a Council could initiate a Judicial Review of the LGR decision and it was confirmed that this was possible and if that happened it was likely to introduce delay and complexity to the process.
It was discussed that it was difficult to establish in detail what would be required to progress LGR over the coming year until Government announced the option to be taken forward. It was noted that decision making relating to LGR would initially be through Joint Committees, with Shadow Authorities to be established in May 2027 to take on the planning.
Members expressed concerns about the impact of LGR on services currently provided by the County Council, and that it was difficult to know what the impacts would be until the chosen option was confirmed.
Cabinet Members spoke in support of the amended resolution agreed by the full Council, that it would be preferable for elections to go ahead and LGR to be postponed.
The Leader proposed, and Cllr Warwick seconded, the amendment agreed by Full Council as follows:
That Cabinet:
1. Notes the contents of the Cabinet report, the views expressed in debate and recommendation of full Council on 12 January 2026; and
2. Confirms, having considered the matters set out in the report, including the capacity considerations and the debate and recommendation of full Council that the response to the Minister’s letter should indicate a view that the County Council election for May 2026 should not be postponed and taking into account the concerns around capacity to ensure the safe and effective delivery of Local Government Reorganisation in Hampshire and the Solent, the introduction of unitary councils should instead be postponed by at least one year.
3. Agrees that the Leader will write to the Minister setting out the views of Hampshire County Council reflecting the key points of discussion at full Council and Cabinet.
The amended resolution was agreed unanimously. A decision record is attached to these minutes.
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