AN extraordinary meeting of East Hampshire District Council’s (EHDC) cabinet witnessed the withdrawal of the only item on the agenda.

Members were due to make a decision last week on the establishment of the ‘East Hampshire Trading Company’, to enable the council’s trading operations, including Regenco (responsible for the Whitehill and Bordon regeneration project), to work with the private sector.

But EHDC deputy leader Richard Millard reported that when the agenda had been drawn up, an opportunity had presented itself for the council to sell its services to the private sector, which would have required the establishment of a local

authority trading company.

However, the timeframe for taking forward the proposal had now changed, proving an opportunity for further engagement with councillors before a final decision is made.