Eleven councils across Hampshire have today submitted a joint business case to Government proposing the creation of four new unitary authorities for mainland Hampshire. The submission, titled “Close enough to be local, big enough to stay strong”, sets out a vision for modern, sustainable local government that delivers better services while staying rooted in local communities.
The proposal is backed by an overwhelming majority of councils in Hampshire (Basingstoke and Deane, Eastleigh, Fareham, Hart, Havant, New Forest, Portsmouth*, Rushmoor, Southampton, Test Valley, and Winchester), representing more than three quarters of local authorities in the area.
The new structure would see four new councils formed, grouped around the major centres of Southampton, Portsmouth, Winchester and Basingstoke. The Isle of Wight would stay its own island unitary authority, as it currently is. All three proposed options meet the Government’s criteria for reorganisation, with an average population size of 500,000, and financial analysis shows that all three options would deliver over £63 million in recurring annual savings, through streamlined services, reduced duplication, and more efficient governance.
The business case is informed by one of the largest public engagement exercises ever undertaken by local government in the region. More than 13,000 residents across Hampshire and Isle of Wight took part in the engagement, sharing their views on identity, service delivery, and what matters most to them in future council arrangements.
Cllr Paul Harvey, Leader of Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council and speaking on behalf of the 11 councils jointly submitting the proposal, said:
The submission will now be considered by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), who are expected to run a public consultation on the proposals later this year.
Cllr Simon Martin, Leader of Fareham Borough Council, said: “We have fought against LGR in Fareham because we don’t believe it is necessary; however, given that we have no choice, this Council has supported Option 1A which means, should the government continue with LGR, Fareham will form part of a new Unitary Council with its partner authorities, Gosport, Havant and Portsmouth. This option also includes boundary changes so our new authority would include Clanfield, Horndean and Rowlands Castle from East Hampshire and Newlands from Winchester.
“We have also fought hard to keep Fareham together throughout this process and want to ensure it retains its identity and doesn’t just become absorbed in a wider regional area. As a result of consultation undertaken earlier this year, when more than 1,000 voted to keep Fareham together, the proposal to split parts of Fareham has now been dropped.
“Fareham has a rich history that predates the arrival of the Romans in about AD43, and was mentioned in the Domesday book in 1086 so I want to safeguard Fareham in its entirety for the future. For that reason, I’m actively pursuing options that will allow us to protect our historic borough status.”
