Hampshire County Council
Councillors:
78
Wards:
76
Committees:
49
Meetings (2026):
57
Meetings (2025):
155
Meeting
Cabinet - Hampshire
Meeting Times
Scheduled Time
Start:
Friday, 27th February 2026
10:30 AM
Friday, 27th February 2026
10:30 AM
End:
Friday, 27th February 2026
2:30 PM
Friday, 27th February 2026
2:30 PM
Meeting Status
Status:
New
New
Date:
27 Feb 2026
27 Feb 2026
Location:
Ashburton Hall, Elizabeth II Court, The Castle, Winchester
Ashburton Hall, Elizabeth II Court, The Castle, Winchester
Meeting Attendees
Committee Member
Councillor Lulu Bowerman
Executive Member for Highways and Passenger Transport
Present, as expected
Committee Member
Councillor Liz Fairhurst
Executive Member for Corporate Services – People, and Member and Cabinet Development
Present, as expected
Committee Member
Leader of the Council
Committee Member
Councillor Jan Warwick
Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Corporate Services - Finance
Present, as expected
Agenda
1
Apologies for absence
To receive any apologies for absence.
Minutes
No apologies for absence were received, all Cabinet Members were present.
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
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 had no announcements to make at this meeting.
5
Devolution Update and Next Steps
To consider a report of the Chief Executive providing an update on the implications of the Government’s deferral of the Hampshire and Solent mayoral election and the expected functions, responsibilities, and funding that the new Mayoral Combined County Authority (MCCA) will assume prior to the mayoral election. The report seeks delegated authority to agree the final form of the Statutory Instrument to create the MCCA.
Attachments:
- Document Item 5 - Devolution Update and Next Steps 18 Feb 2026
- Document Item 5 - Devolution Update and Next Steps - Appendix A 18 Feb 2026
- Document Item 5 - Devolution Update and Next Steps - Appendix B 18 Feb 2026
- Document Item 5 - Devolution Update and Next Steps - Appendix C 18 Feb 2026
- Document Item 5 - Devolution Update and Next Steps - Appendix D 18 Feb 2026
- Document Item 5 - Devolution Update and Next Steps - Appendix E 18 Feb 2026
- Document 2026-02-26 Letter from Chairman of the County Council 18 Feb 2026
- Document Decision Record 02 Mar 2026
Minutes
Cabinet received a report of the Chief Executive providing an update on the
implications of the Government’s deferral of the Hampshire and Solent mayoral election and the expected functions, responsibilities, and funding that the new Mayoral Combined County Authority (MCCA) would assume prior to the mayoral election. The report sought delegated authority to agree the final form of the Statutory Instrument to create the MCCA.
It was noted that while the election of a mayor had been deferred to May 2028
Government had agreed to make 40% of the annual investment fund available
in the two years prior to the Mayor’s election. Risk mitigations had been agreed such as requiring unanimous support for some decisions. It was noted that the report had been considered by Hampshire’s full Council the previous day and received unanimous support.
The recommendations in the report were considered and agreed, a decision
record is attached to these minutes.
implications of the Government’s deferral of the Hampshire and Solent mayoral election and the expected functions, responsibilities, and funding that the new Mayoral Combined County Authority (MCCA) would assume prior to the mayoral election. The report sought delegated authority to agree the final form of the Statutory Instrument to create the MCCA.
It was noted that while the election of a mayor had been deferred to May 2028
Government had agreed to make 40% of the annual investment fund available
in the two years prior to the Mayor’s election. Risk mitigations had been agreed such as requiring unanimous support for some decisions. It was noted that the report had been considered by Hampshire’s full Council the previous day and received unanimous support.
The recommendations in the report were considered and agreed, a decision
record is attached to these minutes.
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