Extraordinary Council Meeting, Council - Thursday, 29th January, 2026 7.00 pm - Agenda and minutes

To receive a report from the Licensing and Corporate Business Committee (copy attached – Annex 1) which recommends that, in the light of the Community Governance Review consultation results, there should be no change in the community governance arrangements in Rushmoor. Cllr Jacqui Vosper, Chair of the Licensing and Corporate Business Committee will introduce this item.

Cllr Jacqui Vosper introduced the Report as Chair of the Licensing and Corporate Business Committee, which set out the results of the second-round consultation of the Community Governance Review, as agreed by the Council on 25th September, 2025, and the recommendations to the Council following consideration by the Committee.

It was MOVED by Cllr Jacqui Vosper, SECONDED by Cllr Sarah Spall, that the Council, in light of the Community Governance Review consultation results, should be recommended to make no change in the community governance arrangements within Rushmoor.

In PROPOSING the recommendations, Cllr Vosper apprised the Council of the key points arising from the consultation, which had shown very limited support for any change, particularly when the issue of council tax precept to support town and parish councils was introduced. It was also advised that once Local Government Reorganisation was complete, the new unitary authority would be able to conduct a new Community Governance Review. In the meantime, arrangements would be made to preserve the mayoralty charter and associated regalia through the reorganisation process. In SECONDING the recommendation, Cllr Spall advised that the Committee had discussed the results at great length and thanked all those involved in the process.

During debate, it was suggested that consultation fatigue may have affected the results, as residents had been consulted six times within a six month period by the end of 2025, and that understanding of the implications of introducing town and parish councils, or not, may have affected levels of engagement.

There voted FOR: 19; AGAINST: 0; ABSTAIN: 17; and the Recommendation was DECLARED CARRIED.

Under Standing Order 1 (4), a request for an extraordinary meeting of the Council was received from councillors G.B. Lyon, M.J. Tennant, S. Trussler, Steve Harden, Mara Makunura and P.G. Taylor to consider a motion of no confidence in the current administration and the Leader of the Council.  

The Council is asked to consider the following Notice of Motion, to be proposed by Cllr G.B. Lyon, pursuant to Standing Order 9 (1):

“This Council has no confidence in the administration and the Leader of the Council or their ability to secure a sustainable majority of support amongst councillors for the important decisions which lie ahead.

Therefore, we call on the current Leader to be removed from power with immediate effect, and for the Council to elect a new Leader who will form a new cross party coalition administration in order to secure the best outcomes for local residents.” 

Under Standing Order 1(4), a request had been received for an Extraordinary Meeting from councillors, G.B. Lyon, M.J. Tennant, S. Trussler, Steve Harden, Mara Makunura and P.G. Taylor to consider a motion of no confidence in the current administration and Leader of the Council. However, as this meeting was already taking place it had been agreed that the item would be considered at this time.

The Council was asked to consider the Motion as submitted by Cllr G.B. Lyon under Standing Order 10 (1), as set out below:

“This Council has no confidence in the administration and the Leader of the Council or their ability to secure a sustainable majority of support amongst councillors for the important decisions which lie ahead.

Therefore, we call on the current Leader to be removed from power with immediate effect, and for the Council to elect a new Leader who will form a new cross party coalition administration in order to secure the best outcomes for local residents.” 

In PROPOSING the Motion, Cllr Lyon emphasised the need for proportionality following the Council’s recent change to no overall control which meant that the administration no longer held a majority on the Council. He also felt that opportunities had been missed, and the confidence of residents lost. The Motion aimed to provide a platform to create a new cross-party cabinet that could represent all residents. In SECONDING the Motion, Cllr Tennant commented on changes in democracy on a local and national level and the perceived reluctance to work with opposition parties locally.

The point was made that it was important to ensure challenge on difficult decisions such as plans for the Budget 2026/27. 

In responding to the Motion, points were raised about the legacy of decisions made under the preceding administration, and that with the current timing it would be preferable to await the results of the elections in May 2026, when a new coalition cabinet could be established if appropriate. This would avoid further disruption in the short-term and would maintain the current position with a leader and cabinet that reflected the outcome of the most recent elections.

Following debate, the Motion was put to the meeting. In a recorded vote, there voted FOR: Cllrs A. Adeola, Sue Carter, A. Gani, Steve Harden, Peace Essien Igodifo, G.B. Lyon, Mara Makunura, S.J. Masterson, M.D. Smith, P.G. Taylor, M.J. Tennant, S. Trussler, Jacqui Vosper, the Deputy Mayor (Cllr P.J. Cullum) (14); AGAINST: Cllrs Gaynor Austin, C.W. Card, Leola Card, A.H. Crawford, Jules Crossley, Thomas Day, Keith Dibble, C.P. Grattan, Lisa Greenway, Christine Guinness, Julie Hall, Rhian Jones, Halleh Koohestani, Bill O’Donovan, Sophie Porter, M.J. Roberts, Dhan Sarki, Sarah Spall, Ivan Whitmee, Becky Williams, Gareth Williams (21); and ABSTAINED: the Mayor (Cllr  Calum Stewart) (1); and the Recommendation was DECLARED LOST.