This special meeting of the New Forest District Council was scheduled to discuss the final proposal for local government reorganisation, and to answer questions from councillors. Members of the public were welcome to attend the meeting in person, or to watch a live stream on the council's website.

Local Government Reorganisation

The main item on the agenda was the final proposal for local government reorganisation (LGR). The agenda included a LGR - Final proposal report and several appendices:

• Letter from the Secretary of State Feb 2025
• LGR Interim Plan
• Interim Plan Feedback Form - Hampshire and the Solent
• Business Case
• Supporting Appendices - Appendix 1

Questions to the Leader of the Council

Councillors were scheduled to ask Councillor Jill Cleary, Leader of the Council, questions regarding the local government reorganisation.

Councillor David Harrison was scheduled to ask:

How can you present a united case for reorganisation when your own councillors can't agree which side they're on?

Councillor Caroline Rackham was scheduled to ask:

If adult social care isn't fragmented and unstable, why does your own evidence say it is?

Councillor Colm McCarthy was scheduled to ask:

How can you defend a case the NHS itself has branded 'damaging' and 'unprofessional'?

Councillor Stephanie Osborne was scheduled to ask:

Page 120 says the County was 'unwilling to discuss' district concerns who is telling the truth, you or Cllr Adams-King?

Councillor Mark Clark was scheduled to ask:

Two of your own Tory councillors, Michael Thierry and Barry Dunning, voted with Hampshire County Council and against New Forest District's submission. If even your side can't back the case you signed, why should residents believe it's credible?

Councillor Alex Wade was scheduled to ask:

What effort will be made by NFDC to present what Options 2 and 3 could mean for our Residents and provide a clear view of the likelihood of either proposals not favoured by NFDC being the final outcome?

Councillor Mark Clark was also scheduled to ask:

Do you accept that Thierry and Dunning voting against their own district's position shows party loyalty mattered more to them than representing New Forest residents?