Extraordinary Council Meeting, Council - Thursday, 18th June, 2026 7.00 pm - Agenda and draft minutes

To receive a Report from the Licensing and Corporate Business Committee  (copy attached – Annex 1) which invites the Council to agree a response to the Government on proposals for interim ward arrangements for the proposed new North Hampshire Unitary Council. Cllr Sarah Spall, Chair of the Licensing and Corporate Business Committee, will introduce this item.  

Cllr Sarah Spall introduced the Report of the Licensing and Corporate Business Committee held on 16th June, 2026, as set out in Updated Annex 1. The Committee had considered the distribution of councillors across the proposed North Hampshire Council and options for interim warding arrangements in response to the Government and preparations for local government reorganisation. 

It was MOVED by Cllr Sarah Spall; SECONDED by Cllr Bill O’Donovan – That the Council:

1)    submit a proposal based on a 108-councillor interim warding arrangement and agree the proposed number of councillors for each North Hampshire district as follows:

·       Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council – 53 councillors

·       Hart District Council – 29 councillors

·       Rushmoor Borough Council – 26 councillors

2)    Agree the proposed interim warding arrangements as set out in Table 1 of the Report in updated Annex 1.

In presenting the recommendation it was emphasised that the strong view of the Committee was to maintain the existing ward boundaries in Rushmoor until a review could be carried out by the Boundary Commission, and that this was a key principle on which the 108-councillor option had been proposed, together with fair electoral representation across the whole area based on elector numbers.  

In considering the proposal, it was highlighted that maintaining the existing ward boundaries would help provide continuity and trust in the process for residents until the Boundary Commission could carry out an independent and full boundary review of the new authority area once the new Council had formed.

During debate, it was MOVED by Cllr Gareth Williams and SECONDED by Cllr Sophie Porter that the Recommendation be amended to insert the following words (text in bold):

1)   Submit a proposal based on a 108-councillor interim warding arrangement and agree the preferred proposed number of councillors for each North Hampshire district as follows:

·       Basingstoke and Deane - 53 councillors.

·       Hart - 29 councillors.

·       Rushmoor - 26 councillors.

2)    Agree the preferred proposed interim warding arrangements as set out in Table 1

3)    Agree as a second preference, an 88-councillor distribution and interim warding arrangements, as per option 88c in Appendix 1

4)    Agree as a third preference, an 85-councillor distribution and interim warding arrangements, as per option 85c in Appendix 1

In proposing the amendment, Cllr Williams advised that he was fully supportive of the proposal for 108 councillors, but felt that backstop options needed to be identified, from within the 85 and 88 councillor options, as set out in the report, should the Minister not approve the higher number of councillors. In seconding the amendment, Cllr Porter advised that options 85c and 88c had been identified because these options brought together West Heath and Cherrywood wards as communities with a link and interest in the Pride in Place Government funding programme for Cherrywood.

During debate on the amendment, an oppositional view was expressed that by putting forward a backstop option the Council was weakening its position on the 108-councillor proposal as recommended by the Licensing and Corporate Business Committee.

The Leader  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9a

To receive a report from the Leader of the Council (copy attached – Annex 2) which asks the Council to appoint two councillor representatives to the North Hampshire Joint Committee. Cllr Gareth Williams, Leader of the Council, will introduce this item.  

The Leader of the Council, Cllr Gareth Williams, introduced a report which asked the Council to appoint two councillor representatives to the North Hampshire Joint Committee. Two sets of nominations had been received, and the Council was asked to vote on its preferred option.

Option 1 - It was MOVED by Cllr Gareth Williams; SECONDED by Cllr Sophie Porter – That approval be given to the appointment of Cllrs Gareth Williams and Calum Stewart with Cllr Keith Dibble or another Member appointed by the Leader of the Council to act as standing deputy as required.

Option 2 – It was MOVED by Cllr Steve Harden, SECONDED by Cllr Paul Taylor – That approval be given to the appointment of Cllrs Gareth Williams and M.J. Tennant with Cllr G.B. Lyon as standing deputy for Cllr M.J. Tennant, and Cllr Keith Dibble or another Member appointed by the Leader to act as standing deputy.

Option 1- There voted FOR: 20

Option 2 – There voted FOR: 13

and Option 1 was DECLARED CARRIED.