Government consultation on council changes

The Government is running a consultation on proposed changes to local government in Hart and the wider Hampshire county.

It wants to replace the current two-tier system of district and borough councils and replace with larger unitary authorities which deliver all services.

Four proposals are being consulted on:

• East Hampshire District Council and Hampshire County Council submitted a proposal for four unitary councils.
• Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, New Forest District Council and Test Valley Borough Council submitted a proposal for five unitary councils.
• Winchester City Council submitted a separate proposal for five unitary councils.
• Eastleigh Borough Council, Fareham Borough Council, Hart District Council, Havant Borough Council, Portsmouth City Council, Rushmoor Borough Council and Southampton City Council also submitted a proposal for five unitary councils.

Under Hart’s proposal, we would join forces with Basingstoke and Deane and Rushmoor Borough Councils to form a unitary authority for North Hampshire. Four additional unitary councils are proposed for the rest of the mainland and the Isle of Wight. Our submission supported some boundary changes to parts of the New Forest and Winchester.

Have your say

Take part in the Government consultation and give your views on the proposals:

Respond to Government consultation

The consultation closing date is Sunday 11 January 2026.