Havant Borough Council is scheduled to meet on 24 September 2025, to discuss local government reorganisation, a motion to support halving violence against women and girls, and reports from the Mayor and cabinet leads. The meeting will also address public questions and councillor questions, and review committee appointments.

Local Government Reorganisation in Hampshire and the Solent

The council is scheduled to discuss the final plan options for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, prior to their submission to the government. The government has selected Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to be part of its Devolution Priority Programme (DPP), which requires district, existing unitary, and county councils to merge to form larger unitary councils.

The council will consider a cover report on local government reorganisation in Hampshire, along with appendix A - cabinet local government reorganisation in Hampshire. The council is asked to comment on the final proposal prior to consideration by the cabinet.

The cabinet report details three configurations developed, all variations with four unitaries on the mainland, with the Isle of Wight Council remaining independent. Each variation is based on establishing a unitary council centred around the four major urban economies and population centres of Southampton, Portsmouth, Winchester and Basingstoke.

The options are:

• Option 1: New Forest forms part of 'Mid Hampshire' (including Test Valley, Winchester and East Hants)
• Option 2: New Forest forms part of 'South West Hampshire' (including Southampton and Eastleigh)
• Option 1A: Includes boundary changes.

All three options include a South East Hampshire Unitary encompassing the existing boroughs of Havant, Fareham, Gosport and Portsmouth.

The council is asked to show primary support for Option 1A, which is outlined in more detail in appendix A2 - option 1A. This option would see the creation of a new unitary in the South West of the region formed by the existing boundaries of Southampton City Council and Eastleigh Borough Council joined with the parishes of Valley Park, Chilworth, Nursling and Rownhams, Totton and Eling, Marchwood Hythe and Dibden and Fawley. The South East of the region would develop a new unitary that comprised of the existing boundaries of Fareham, Gosport, Portsmouth, Havant, and the parishes of Newlands, Horndean, Clanfield and Rowlands Castle.

The cabinet report notes that the four new unitary councils on the mainland, would best meet the government's criteria and best serve communities into the future by:

• driving economic growth and housing delivery
• delivering high quality and sustainable public services with a focus on innovation and transformation to improve outcomes for communities
• achieving significant savings while being large enough to be financially sustainable
• unlocking and maximising devolution arrangements, working effectively alongside the Isle of Wight Council and the new elected Mayor for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, as constituent members of the strategic authority
• effectively engaging, empowering and serving their local communities by providing opportunities for residents to shape local decisions.

Support for Halving Violence Against Women and Girls

Councillor Jason Horton and Councillor Amy Redsull have proposed a motion for the council to support halving violence against women and girls.

The motion requests that the council:

• Continue to work with partners across Havant and Hampshire to support White Ribbon Day¹ on 25 November and the 16 Days of Action against Gender-Based Violence.
• Commit to continue to work with survivors and local specialists and 'by and for' services to understand the impact of Violence Against Women and Girls in Havant Borough Council.
• Consider appointing a councillor as a Violence Against Women and Girls Champion, to hold the council to account on these pledges and amplify the voice of survivors.
• For all members to commit to attending the required training to ensure that they are equipped to support those that suffer abuse.

The Public reports pack includes background text noting that Stop Domestic Abuse, formerly Havant Women's Aid, has been delivering services in Havant Borough since 1977. It notes that the organisation envisions a world free from domestic abuse and believes this can only be achieved by making domestic abuse and violence against women and girls everyone's responsibility.

Leader and Cabinet Lead Reports

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Phil Munday, and the Cabinet Leads may introduce their portfolio reports, followed by a 15-minute question time. The Public reports pack includes reports from:

• Councillor Phil Munday, Leader of the Council
• Councillor Philippa Gray, Cabinet Lead for Finance and Governance
• Councillor Richard Brown, Cabinet Lead for Planning and Enforcement
• Councillor Gillian Harris, Cabinet Lead for Regeneration & Communities
• Councillor Antonia Harrison, Cabinet Lead for Community Assets
• Councillor Grainne Rason, Cabinet Lead for Climate Emergency, Environment and Water Quality
• Councillor Amy Redsull, Cabinet Lead for Housing
• Councillor Netty Shepherd, Cabinet Lead for Commercial

Councillor Phil Munday's report notes that a full business case has been drafted regarding local government reorganisation, containing three possible unitary structures for the region. The report also provides an update on the council's corporate strategy, and communications and engagement activities.

Councillor Philippa Gray's report provides an update on human resources, finance and treasury, law and governance, and democratic and electoral services. The report notes that the council has received two petitions calling for a Community Governance Review²; Hayling Island and Emsworth.

Councillor Richard Brown's report provides an update on CCTV, enforcement, environmental health and licensing, and planning and development. The report notes that the council's planning committee has recently considered an outline planning application for the redevelopment of Land at Waterloo Park, Elettra Avenue, Waterlooville for a range including industrial, warehousing, retail, café/restaurant, leisure and gym uses.

Councillor Gillian Harris' report provides an update on economic development, regeneration, health partnerships/active wellbeing, and local food partnership/food support. The report notes that Havant Borough Council officers participated in the second Discover Your Leigh Park event, an activity day for young people 10-16 years of age.

Councillor Antonia Harrison's report provides an update on play area improvement programme, Purbrook Heath sports pitch drainage, Bartons Green basketball court refurbishment, Emsworth Recreation Ground Pavilion, Hayling Dirt Jumps, ECB Grass Pitch Improvement Fund, Waterlooville Regeneration, Customer Services, Open Space and the Apex Centre.

Councillor Grainne Rason's report provides an update on coastal management and the Civil Engineering and Landscape Team (CELT). The report notes that a key decision to progress with construction of the Langstone Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Scheme was agreed by Cabinet on 9 July 2025, but that the start of construction works will be changed to April 2027 due to a third-party procurement supplier failing to correctly advertise the opportunity in compliance with the Procurement Regulations 2023.

Councillor Amy Redsull's report provides an update on affordable housing delivery, Hampshire Home Choice (HHC) application data, housing advice & prevention, temporary accommodation provision and delivery.

Councillor Netty Shepherd's report provides an update on property & asset management, environmental services and procurement. The report notes that to enable residents to recycle a wider range of materials, the council has deployed five plastic banks across the borough.

Mayor's Report

Councillor Munazza Faiz (Mayor of Havant) is scheduled to provide a report on her activities. The Mayor's report in the Public reports pack details her attendance at the Home Instead Havant 10th Anniversary Open Day, Hayling College Street Art Installation, Hayling Light Railway Charity Fund Raising Day for the Alzheimer's Society, and Waterlooville U3a Open Day.

Other Matters

The agenda also includes:

• Apologies for absence.
• Declarations of interest.
• Confirmation of the minutes of the last meeting.
• Public participation.
• Questions at council.
• Political balance.
• Committee seat appointments.
• Special urgency decisions.