Councils across Hampshire working together to shape the future of local government – and they need your input
Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) is working with eleven authorities across Hampshire and the Solent to transform local government.
The changes are in response to the government’s request for councils across England to look at how local government is organised.
The 12 councils have launched a survey for residents to inform the biggest change to local government in 50 years. Residents are being urged to share what matters most to them in their area and help shape how local councils provide services in future—so they reflect real places, local identity and culture, priorities, and people.
In Hampshire, in line with the government’s ask, the proposal is to move away from the current ‘two-tier’ council structure currently in place in most of the county, and replace it with a number of unitary authorities, which will provide all council services for the area they cover.
TVBC has been working with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, Eastleigh Borough Council, Fareham Borough Council, Hart District Council, Havant Borough Council, Isle of Wight Council, New Forest District Council, Portsmouth City Council, Rushmoor Borough Council, Southampton City Council, and Winchester City Council, to develop options that would work best for residents, businesses and the wider community.
The evidence they have gathered shows that four mainland unitary councils delivering all council services in the areas they cover, would be big enough to deliver strategic services, but local enough to understand communities so they can tailor services more closely to their needs. Isle of Wight council would remain unchanged.
For Test Valley, one of the options being explored could see TVBC join with Winchester, New Forest and East Hampshire.
Each council must decide their preferred option to submit to government in September, informed by feedback from the public.
Following submission in September, it is expected that the government will consult on the options that meet their criteria.
Hampshire County Council is also working with East Hampshire District Council to develop their own options, and they will be asking residents for feedback on their proposals separately.
