The Overview and Scrutiny Committee of East Hampshire District Council met on Tuesday 23 September 2025 to discuss the English Devolution White Paper, local government reorganisation, and the committee's work plan. The committee was also scheduled to discuss the Cabinet Forward Plan. Some of the meeting was scheduled to be held in private due to the discussion of financial information.

English Devolution White Paper and Local Government Reorganisation

The committee was scheduled receive a report on the English Devolution White Paper and a proposal to government regarding local government reorganisation (LGR).

A prior meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 3 July 2025 included a discussion of the formation of a Task and Finish Group for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), open to all committee members. Councillors D Podger, E Woodard, B Mouland, and I James had indicated their interest in participating in the group, with Councillor C Maines also expressing interest. A workshop was scheduled for 14 July, in closed session, to allow members to ask questions on LGR ahead of the LGR options submission to Full Council on 17 July.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Plan

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee was scheduled to review and make changes to its work plan. The committee's draft work programme for 2025/26 included the following items:

• Local government reorganisation
• Shareholders Sub-Committee Report
• Climate Change Roadmap
• Review of the Property Portfolio
• Annual Budget Meeting

The committee was also scheduled to consider adding the following items to the work plan:

• Parking Policy Report
• Environmental Services Update
• IDOX Review

The committee had previously agreed to review part two of the parking policy strategy and requested that environmental services updates be added to the work programme, noting that there had been no member scrutiny on how the service was progressing. The committee was informed that an end-of-year update for the environmental service delivery would be going to Shareholders Sub-Committee on 28 August and could be added to the committee's agenda for the September meeting.

Cabinet Forward Plan

The committee was scheduled to discuss the Cabinet Forward Plan. The Cabinet Forward Plan included the following items:

• Q1 Performance Report
• Allocation of Affordable Housing Contributions for the Delivery of Shared Equity Housing in Medstead
• Future of Building Control Services
• Local Government Reorganisation
• Budgetary Implications Relating to Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)
• Designation of Horndean Parish as a Neighbourhood Area
• Annual Budget Meeting

The committee was also scheduled to consider the following items for inclusion in the Cabinet Forward Plan:

• Parking Policy Report
• IT and Digital Strategy
• Community Development Strategy