Agenda and minutes

Apologies for non attendance were received from Councillors Cox, Casey and Herridge

There were none

The Mayor thanked the Council for adhering to his request for appropriate behaviour at Council meetings and advised that Members were encouraged to visit Fort Brockhurst for the exhibition following the Council meeting.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 5 February were signed as a true and correct record subject to the amendment identified.

(NOTE: Standing Order No. 3.4 requires that notice of a Deputation should be received by the Borough Solicitor NOT LATER THAN 12 O’CLOCK NOON ON MONDAY 24 MARCH 2025 and likewise Standing Order No. 3.5 requires that notice of a Public Question should be received by the Borough Solicitor NOT LATER THAN 12 O’CLOCK NOON ON MONDAY 24 MARCH 2025)

There were none

NOTE: Members are reminded that Standing Order No. 3.3 requires that Notice of Question pursuant to that Standing Order must be received by the Borough Solicitor NOT LATER THAN 12 O’CLOCK NOON ON TUESDAY 25 MARCH 2025 )

There was one Member’s question in the name of Councillor Hammond to the Leader of the Council.

Can the Leader please update the Council on any developments regarding the Government’s proposals for Local Government Reorganisation.

There have been a significant number of meetings and expression of interests needed to be submitted by the 21March 2025 from the 11 districts, 2 unitary authorities and the Isle of Wight and Hampshire County Councils.

At this stage there had not been a submission as those in question felt there were many unanswered questions and there it was felt that the proposals would put financial hardship on financially sound authorities. It had been stated that more time would be needed to consider proposals and that there was no desire to conform to the desired outcomes of potentially four or five unitary authorities.

It was felt that most authorities reflected this in that there was no desire to lose a sense of place by being subsumed into a different area.

There was no desire to inherit the debt held by Hampshire County Council and previous examples of reorganisation in Somerset had faired poorly

There was some ongoing uncertainty about the sizes of the authorities proposed.

Overall it was felt that this was not the way forward but the Council would continue to sit at the table, and explore shared working practices.

Supplementary question.

The Council was advised that the supplementary question did not relate to the initial question but that it had been permitted to be asked by the Borough Solicitor.

In the Leader’s opinion should the constitution be changed to allow members of the public to ask questions on any subject matter they deem appropriate as long as it is not defamatory or racist or offensive.

Answer: It was not thought that the constitution needed amending but that questions should be accepted as long as they met the above criteria.

Policy and Organisation Board – 12 March 2025

RESOLVED: That the Part II minutes of the Policy and Organisation Board on the 12 March be accepted.

Consideration was given to a report of the Borough Solicitor detailing a request to appoint 2 additional Independent Persons.

The Members that had interviewed them advised that they were strong candidates already undertaking the role at Portsmouth City Council.

RESOLVED: That

The Council approves:

1)    The increase of number appointments of Independent Persons from two to three; and

2)    The appointment of Mr Chris Rider and John Young as an Independent Person, from this date, for the purposes of Section 28 of the Localism Act 2011 for the period of 4 years ending on 30 April 2029.

Report to follow.

Consideration was given to a report of the Borough Treasurer detailing the Investment Strategy.

RESOLVED: The Investment Strategy as detailed in this report be approved

Report to follow.

Consideration was given to a report of the Borough Treasurer detailing the Capital Strategy.

RESOLVED: That the Council approves the Capital Strategy for 2025/26

Members welcomed that Councillors had come together to play their part in ensure that Stubbington Study Centre was saved.

Members thanked the Mayor for his successful year.

Members also welcomed the continuation of security in the High Street and the continuation of free markets and the nest and anchor market this weekend.