FAQs

The Hampshire and the Solent Combined County Authority (HSCCA) is developing formal processes for organisations and individuals to submit funding proposals and project ideas. Information on how to submit proposals will be published once these arrangements are in place.

The Hampshire and the Solent Combined County Authority (HSCCA) is currently focused on establishing the organisation and does not presently offer work experience placements or unpaid internships. Future opportunities, if available, will be advertised on the HSCCA website.

You can subscribe to the HSCCA e-newsletter and follow the authority on LinkedIn. Regular updates on projects, decisions and key developments are also published on the website.

Details of the HSCCA’s governance arrangements, including the Board, advisory boards, committees and decision-making processes, are set out in the Constitution and Local Assurance Framework, which are published on our website.

Agendas, reports and supporting papers for public meetings are published on the HSCCA website before meetings take place. These can be found on the relevant Board meeting website pages.

Hampshire and the Solent Combined County Authority (HSCCA) Board meetings are held in public. Meeting dates, agendas, papers and attendance details are published on the HSCCA website in advance of each meeting. Members of the public can attend meetings and find relevant information on the Board pages of the website.

A new Hampshire and the Solent Combined County Authority (HSCCA) will guarantee long term funding of £1.3bn flowing into the region to improve local transport, promote economic growth and enhance skills, housing and quality of life in the region.

It will also mean more of the decisions that impact our region which are currently taken by national government will be taken locally instead.

More information on the benefits can be found throughout the website.

Government held a public consultation on proposals for a Combined County Authority in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight over February to April 2025. The outcomes of the consultation are available online.

While this was a government consultation, the upper tier local authorities promoted it on multiple communication channels and with community groups to ensure everyone had the opportunity to have their say.

Yes, the new Hampshire and the Solent Combined County Authority will mean significant amounts of government funding devolved to a regional level. This will mean more investment in the infrastructure of our region which can be directed towards our regional priorities. An intended benefit of the Hampshire and the Solent Combined County Authority is that it will also attract additional investment from non-government sources, helping to further boost economic growth and development in the region.

These decision-making powers currently sit with national government. By creating a regional Combined County Authority it will bring these powers to Hampshire and the Solent, so it’s a transfer of powers to the region and not a duplication. It is intended to increase democratic accountability.

The government will provide an investment fund to Combined County Authorities over the next 30 years. This funding is intended to support initiatives that fall within the powers and duties of the Hampshire and the Solent Combined County Authority (HSCCA) enabling significant investment in local priorities and infrastructure.

However, the investment fund is just one aspect of the financial opportunities available to the region. The HSCCA will aim to attract additional investment from non-government sources, such as private sector partners, and other public sector bodies. These alternative streams of funding can be used to drive further economic growth, regeneration projects, and innovation across the region, complementing the government investment fund.

When a Mayor is elected, they will have the option to raise a Mayoral Precept to further support the work of the HSCCA across their areas of competence. While the precept may play a role in funding, the broader aim is to create a thriving environment where multiple investment opportunities can be used to benefit the local community and economy.

Devolution is separate from local government reorganisation, although both are taking place across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Local government reorganisation could create new unitary councils replacing the current mix of county, district, borough and unitary councils, while the Isle of Wight remains a standalone unitary council. Until then, existing councils remain in place and continue to deliver local services. In contrast, the HSCCA focuses on strategic functions that benefit from a region-wide approach.