Agenda and minutes

To elect a Vice-Chair for the municipal year 2025-26.

RESOLVED: that Councillor McCreanor be elected as Vice-Chair for the 2025/26 Municipal Year.

To approve and sign as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 14^th April and 12^th May 2025and to deal with any matters arising, attached.

RESOLVED: that the minutes for the Committee meeting on 14^th April and 12^th May 2025 be approved and signed as a correct record.

To consider the report of the Director People and Culture detailing the HR Quarterly Governance and Assurance report.

The Committee received and noted the report of the Director People and Organisational Culture detailing the Human Resources (HR) Data Quarter Four 24/25 Report.

The report was presented in the newly updated format to provide assurance overview of the People and Organisational Culture Service with action being taken, focussed on five priority areas and highlighted key points for noting.

It was noted that a new leadership development programme had begun with 45 leaders having signed up to the Management Essentials Programme.  The Committee also noted that vacancy management and agency spend had been a key area for development ensuring an understanding of vacancies and long-term plans.

The Committee raised concerns regarding the lack of dismissal statistics within the report and suggested it would be helpful to see comparison sickness stats against sector average and industry best practices included in reporting going forward.  The Committee also indicated that it would be helpful to see included trend analysis comparing current figures with previous quarters and a paragraph on the number of consultants employed by the authority both short and long term.

To receive a presentation from the Director of Policy and Performance.

The Committee noted that following the Annual General Meeting of Council responsibility had been included within terms of reference of Governance Committee the areas of Devolution and Local Government Organisation, so it was important to understand the remit and ensure that there was not duplication of work across the organisation and as such had invited Munira Holloway, Director of Strategy and Performance to give a presentation and provide an overview of the areas of work.

It was noted that Devolution and Local Government Reform were two separate strands of work running to different timelines but were related activities.  In relation to Devolution and its high-level timeline, Government ran a consultation until mid-April, then from mid to late June it would be confirmed if statutory tests had been met and the intention was to lay the relevant legislation in order that a Mayoral Authority could be established.  Once statutory instruments had been laid there would be the first release of mayoral capacity funding which was expected to be late October.  Early 2026 Councils needed to submit assurance frameworks for review and the Mayoral Combined County Authority would then be established.  By 30^th March 2026 notices of elections needed to have been published in order for Mayoral Elections to be held in May 2026 which would also include the release of further funding and relevant investment.

The Committee noted that a Regional Programme Board had been established which included the four Upper Tier Authorities and two District Representatives.  Programme Director Roles had been appointed and reported to the Regional Programme Board, Chief Executive’s and Leaders.  Several key work streams had been set up with leads agreed across the region. 

In relation to Local Government Re-organisation, it was noted that interim proposal had been submitted to Government on behalf of all 15 Authorities, 14 on the mainland plus the Isle of Wight which had been debated at Cabinet.  Core principles around the proposal were around looking at the number of Unitary Authorities and how that would then be established.  KPMG had been working with all authorities across Hampshire and Isle of Wight to develop further proposals.  It was noted that there had been further work and Southampton was remaining part of the regional process with 12 out of the other 15 Authorities.  Hampshire County Council and East Hampshire had pulled out of the process and were looking to develop their own proposals to submit to Government.

Since the interim submission regular meetings have been held with Chief Executives and Council Leaders to narrow down the potential configuration options which was now three options all of which were based on 4 Unitary Authorities plus the Isle of Wight as an exception.  Two of the options were without the need for boundary changes and one of the options would require a boundary change.  It was noted that as part of the submission to Government and because Southampton was on the Devolution Priority Programme, our submission to Government was in fact 26^th September and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.