It has announced a move to a simpler system of local government, with five new unitary councils replacing the current 15 county, district, borough and unitary councils that serve Hampshire, Southampton, Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight. Each new council will be responsible for delivering all local services in its area.
Under the model chosen by Government, there will be four new unitary councils on the Hampshire mainland, with the Isle of Wight remaining a standalone unitary council:
- North Hampshire: Basingstoke, Hart and Rushmoor
- Mid Hampshire: New Forest, Test Valley, Winchester and East Hampshire
- South West Hampshire: Eastleigh and Southampton
- South East Hampshire: Portsmouth, Havant, Gosport and Fareham
- Isle of Wight
This model also recommends the following boundary changes:
- Move the parishes of Totton and Eling, Marchwood, Hythe and Dibden, Fawley (currently under New Forest District Council) and Chilworth, Nursling, Rownhams and Valley Park (currently under Test Valley Borough Council) to the proposed South West Unitary.
- Move the parishes of Newlands (currently under Winchester City Council) Clanfield, Horndean and Rowlands Castle (currently under East Hampshire District Council) to the proposed South East unitary.
What the announcement means
- Instead of having two councils (County Council and district council) delivering services in some areas, one council is responsible for everything.
- This aims to make services simpler to access, more joined up and easier for people to understand.
- The new councils are due to be up and running from 1 April 2028.
For now, nothing changes. All council services will continue to run as normal, delivered by existing councils, while detailed planning takes place for the transition.
Hampshire County Council continues to hold full responsibility for delivery of its services during this period, with a clear focus on maintaining performance, continuity and accountability for residents.
This includes ensuring there continues to be a clear focus on:
- Protecting vital services, especially children’s services and adult social care to continue to support the most vulnerable in communities.
- Making sure the day to day support people rely on isn’t disrupted.
- Creating councils that are strong enough financially to plan for the future and deliver value for money.
Chief Executive of Hampshire County Council, Gary Westbrook, said: “The Government has now set out its intention for new councils in our area. Their proposed model differs from the configuration we put forward last autumn which would have seen a total of four unitary councils created – three on the Hampshire mainland and one for the Isle of Wight, and we will shortly be writing to the Secretary of State to seek clarification on the process used to assess the options put forward by councils.
“Although Government has set out its intended approach, it is important to be clear that nothing changes immediately. Hampshire County Council remains fully responsible and accountable for delivering services to residents, and we’ll continue to deliver all our usual services, as normal – particularly in vital areas such as social care for the most vulnerable, and we are committed to doing so to the high standards residents expect.
“We’ll continue to engage constructively with the other councils affected by today’s announcement, and importantly, support our staff through this period of change. Our workforce delivers essential services every day, and we are committed to treating people with fairness, openness and respect, providing clear information and supporting colleagues every step of the way.”
For more details, including the map of the new councils and current timeline for the next stages, see www.hants.gov.uk/lgr.