Decision details

To consider the report of the Leader of the Council seeking approval to the Solent governance review and Combined Authority.

Having complied with paragraph 15 of the Council’s Access to Information Procedure Rules, Cabinet is recommended to:

(i)  Note the report;

(ii)  Endorse the findings of the Solent Governance Review and its conclusion that in principle a Mayoral Combined Authority is in the best interests of Southampton;

(iii)  Approve, in draft, the Solent Combined Authority Governance Scheme for consultation; and

(iv)  Delegate to the Chief Executive any actions necessary to fulfil the resolutions in this report.

This report is submitted for consideration as a General Exception under paragraph 15 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules in Part 4 of the City Council’s Constitution, notice having been given to the Chair of the relevant Scrutiny Panel and the public.

This report has been brought forward in this timeframe following discussions between the Leaders of Southampton, Portsmouth and Isle of Wight Councils to enable a decision to be made on the Governance Review and draft Governance Scheme and to enable the subsequent commencement of formal consultation with the public over the draft Governance Scheme.

There are significant benefits for Southampton and the wider Solent area in being part of a Combined Authority with the Isle of Wight and Portsmouth. To create this Combined Authority we need to undertake a governance review and approve a Governance scheme. The recommendation enables the City Council to fulfil this requirement. We will then need to consult extensively on the scheme, in conjunction with the other participating councils, and report back to Cabinet with the results of this consultation.

To not undertake this process (and hence not propose a Combined Authority).