Local Government Reorganisation FAQs

The Government has launched a programme of local government reorganisation aimed at simplifying and improving local council services. 

As part of this, the Government is planning to replace all two-tier systems - where services are split between county and district or borough councils - with new unitary councils. It means the county and district councils will no longer exist and brand-new organisations will be created.

The Government has decided to create five unitary councils for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight from 1 April 2028. These councils will provide all services in their respective areas.

Devolution is the transfer of powers and funding from national to local government. It is a process that enables more decisions to be made closer to the local people, communities and businesses they affect. 

A devolution agreement creates a new single body, known as a Strategic Authority. The Strategic Authority for the combined geographic area of Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton will be known as Hampshire and the Solent.

The Hampshire and the Solent Strategic Authority will be led by a directly elected Mayor. The first Mayoral election is expected to take place in May 2028.

Unitary authorities are a single tier of local government responsible for all local services in an area. They may cover a whole county, part of a county or a large town or city. 

They provide services such as education, waste collection, roads, housing, the countryside, leisure centres, planning, children’s services, adult social care, community funding and elections.  

From 1 April 2028, Hart District Council will no longer exist. A new North Hampshire unitary authority will be created comprising Hart, Basingstoke and Deane and Rushmoor,

The Government will prepare the necessary legislation called a Structural Changes Order for Parliamentary approval. This will establish the new single tier of local government and make provision to abolish predecessor councils. The Structural Changes Order process takes six to nine months.

Elections for the new Hampshire and Ise of Wight unitary councils will take place in May 2027. After the elections, a shadow council will be set up. A shadow council is a temporary body made up of the newly elected councillors.  

Its role is to:  

• prepare for the official launch of the new councils
• agree budgets, policies and governance arrangements
• ensure everything is ready for the transfer of services from 1 April 2028. 

From 1 April 2028 the new councils will go live.  

Until then, Hampshire County Council and the existing 14 district, borough and unitary councils in Hampshire will continue to run all day-to-day services.  

These councils are working closely together to ensure a smooth transition to the new councils, while maintaining essential services without disruption.  

During this process there is no disruption to council services. Hart and Hampshire County Council will continue to deliver services as normal and residents will still be able to access support in the same way

No decisions have been made on the locations at this time. We will update you when we know more.

No, town and parish councils are not impacted by Local Government Reorganisation. They have important local responsibilities that will be unchanged.