URL: https://iow.moderngov.co.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=777

Decision Maker: Full Council

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Purpose:

Content: The Leader introduced the report and explained that the process had started with 15 Local Authorities working together, but had since split into two groups, with Hampshire and East Hants opting to put forward their own submission and Gosport withdrawing from the process. It was noted that in both submissions that would be made the Isle of Wight Council would remain its own local authority area. A huge amount of work had been undertaken on the submission, with options reducing from 16 to 3. An addendum to the report had been published and circulated which changed option 3 of the in the submission to 1A.   Council questioned the boundary changes that were mentioned in the addendum and were advised that no changes had been made to the submission it being a technical legal point to change the numbering of the option to 1A.   Concern was raised regarding the amount of paperwork supplied and it being difficult to read in the timescales therefore it was unsafe to make a decision by those who had not read all the papers.   It was noted that the statutory invitation had been sent to all Local Authorities in Hampshire and Isle of Wight to put forward proposals to cover the proposals to cover the whole geographic area. For a formal submission, the Local Authority was obliged to provide a recommendation and indicate the preferred option.   Council noted the Hampshire, East Hants submission had recently been published and asked why it had not been included in the recommendations as an option.   Council were uncomfortable with giving a preference for boundary changes which impacted mainland authorities.   The Leader recommended that council took two separate votes, the first was paragraph 2 in the report (That Full Council approve the full proposal to government as set out in Appendix 1) and then a vote to support one of the three detailed options included in the full proposal.   Council requested the first proposal be clarified to include what the full proposal included.   A proposal to agree the full submission of the business case for four mainland authorities and the Isle of Wight Council as an exception as set out in appendix 1 was made and duly seconded   A vote was taken the result of which was:   RESOLVED:   THAT the recommendation/motion to approve the LGR Full Business Case proposal for a five unitary authority model (four mainland authorities and the IW) as set out in Appendix 1 fell.  

Date of Decision: September 17, 2025