A new regional authority preparing to take on major powers across Hampshire and the Solent currently has just one directly employed IT officer, an audit has revealed.
Hampshire and the Solent Combined County Authority (HSCCA) had between 30 and 40 directly employed staff as of October, although a number of operational roles are being filled on an interim basis.
Its sole directly employed IT officer is an interim technical programme lead working four days a week, who had been with the organisation for around nine days when audit work was carried out.
The findings are contained in an internal audit report by Elizabeth Goodwin, chief internal auditor for Portsmouth, Southampton and Isle of Wight councils.
Digital director due in 2027
HSCCA is recruiting a director of digital and systems, but the report says the successful candidate is unlikely to take up the position until around March 2027.
More powers on the way
Meanwhile, the authority is preparing to expand significantly as more responsibilities are devolved from central government to the region.
Ms Goodwin’s report said,
“What is clear is over the next 12 months the size of HSCCA and its IT need will both scale significantly.”
The demands on its IT systems are expected to increase as HSCCA takes on responsibilities currently handled elsewhere, including business support through the growth hub and adult skills funding and training.
The authority, which has access to around £17.8m of its government investment fund in 2026/27, is preparing to take responsibility for commissioning adult training from next year, allowing decisions over funding and courses to be tailored to the needs of residents and employers across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
Staff are also expected to be recruited or transferred from other organisations as HSCCA expands.
IT provided by Southampton City Council
At present, Southampton City Council provides HSCCA’s core IT, including hardware, network and internet connectivity, Microsoft 365, anti-malware software and IT support.
However, Ms Goodwin’s report said the services provided by the council are on a “largely informal/rolling basis”.
She said the “immediate need is to normalise current arrangements”, potentially through service-level agreements covering areas including performance and business continuity.
Looking further ahead, the report envisages a standalone IT service “resourced in line with organisational need”, although the timeline for introducing this remains less clear.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
