All options put forward for the major restructure of Hampshire’s councils remain in play as the Government launches the next stage of the process.
Local authorities in the region submitted their final proposals for local government reorganisation (LGR) in September.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, which will have the final say on the make-up of the new larger council areas, has decided to include all 4 options for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight in its public consultation.
Residents and local organisations, including councils, health providers, police, businesses, voluntary and community sector and educational bodies, are being encouraged to have their say on the plans, which aim to deliver savings and transform public services.
Local government minister Alison McGovern said:
“Too many places are being held back by complicated council structures that confuse local people and waste money.
“We’re fixing that by streamlining councils into single, easy-to-understand structures that can improve their public services, speed up decision making and help create jobs and opportunities in their communities.”
The LGR programme in Hampshire is part of the government’s national plans to replace the mix of unitary and two-tier local authority structures with larger unitary councils delivering all services.
The options put forward by councils were:
- East Hampshire District Council and Hampshire County Council submitted a proposal for 4 unitary councils.
- Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, New Forest District Council and Test Valley Borough Council support a proposal for 5 unitary councils.
- Winchester City Council support a separate proposal for 5 unitary councils.
- Eastleigh Borough Council, Fareham Borough Council, Hart District Council, Havant Borough Council, Portsmouth City Council, Rushmoor Borough Council and Southampton City Council support a proposal for 5 unitary councils with boundary changes.
All 4 proposals leave the Isle of Wight unchanged as an existing unitary council.
Gosport Borough Council and Isle of Wight Council did not submit a proposal.
Speaking today, Councillor Phil Jordan, Leader of the Isle of Wight Council, has commented:
“Whilst the Council failed to submit its own proposals by the required timeframe in October, I am pleased that the public are being asked to comment on the Solent proposals generally.
I would encourage all residents to respond to the consultation process and to make their views known. It is worth noting that all of the proposals being consulted upon keep the Island as the single unitary authority it currently is. The most sensible outcome for our Island is for that to happen and we look forward to Governments final decision in 2026.”
All of the councils backing a 5-authority model put forward a joint business case for this overall approach.
The government’s LGR consultation will run for 7 weeks until 11th January 2026.
A decision from ministers on the make-up of the new councils is expected to be made by March next year.
The consultation can be viewed online at www.consult.communities.gov.uk/local-government-reorganisation/hampshire-isle-of-wight-portsmouth-southampton/.
Bring on devolution, time for change, change can be
good.
If you don’t try it, you won’t know.
Vote rigging by the back door, get rid of Jordan and the rest of them, just need people in there who know what they are doing, not rejects from the monkey haven.