The Local Authority is holding three Select Committee meetings starting on Monday 14 July, to scrutinise a range of savings recommendations now published. These have been developed following the findings of the Future Services Consultation – Spring 2025, held between March and May this year. The consultation asked for the public’s views on proposals in four service areas to change and reduce some local services to help the Authority meet a remaining budget shortfall of at least £97.6 million for 2025/26.
The recommendations to be considered this month, include:
- Planned Highway maintenance - reducing County Council core funding for annual planned highway maintenance, while maximising the use of increased Government grant funding where available (for 2025/26, this equates to an additional £3.4 million for structural highway maintenance repairs.)
- Older Adults’ Day Services - seeking an alternative provider to deliver and develop services at Chesil Lodge in Winchester and Newman Court in Basingstoke, to support a wider range of needs within the local population; increasing charges for the day care services provided at both sites, to bring them into line with the average market rate (those attending would contribute to the cost based on the usual adult social care financial assessment)
- Post-16 Transport Only - focusing the County Council’s resources on those most in need, including by amending the eligibility criteria so that the County Council would only assist Post-16 students with special educational needs or a disability (SEND), and who are from low-income families; seeking a contribution from families to the costs of transport for those who are eligible; supporting SEND students to develop their independent travel skills by introducing mandatory Independent Travel Training (ITT) for some; and requiring parents/carers/responsible adults to act as a Passenger Assistant where possible. These recommendations would apply for students starting new courses from September 2026
- Both School Transport and Post-16 Transport – using standing capacity on large buses transporting children to mainstream settings in exceptional circumstances; increasing financial contributions from parents towards discretionary transport; prioritising support for public transport season tickets and personal transport budgets over contracted transport where possible.
At each Select Committee, County Councillors from across the Local Authority’s political parties will scrutinise the consultation results and savings recommendations, together with analysis of the potential impact on residents of the proposals, if they were to go ahead.
The meetings are scheduled as follows:
| Select Committee | Date of meeting | Savings recommendations to be considered |
| Children and Young People Select Committee | Monday 14 July 2025 | Post-16 Transport School Transport & Post-16 Transport |
| Health and Adult Social Care Select Committee | Wednesday 16 July 2025 | Older Adults’ Day Services |
| Universal Services Select Committee | Wednesday 16 July 2025 | Planned highway maintenance |
| Cabinet | Friday 8 August 2025 | All proposals |
Leader of Hampshire County Council, Councillor Nick Adams-King, said: “Making savings is never easy, especially when it involves decisions that affect the services upon which our residents rely. But while we are making good progress in transforming how we work and are beginning to see a way towards managing our pressures more sustainably, rising costs and increasing demand, particularly across adult and children’s social care, continue to challenge us as never before.
“In the absence of steps by central Government to address these pressures, we must take responsible action now to ensure the County Council can continue to deliver essential support where it’s needed most, protecting the long-term sustainability of our services.
“My Cabinet colleagues and I will carefully consider these recommendations later this month in the context of the consultation responses, the feedback from the Select Committees and any deputations made to us.
“We remain committed to working efficiently, innovatively, and in partnership with our communities to navigate these challenges together.”