Hart District Council has today supported a major proposal for the reorganisation of local government in Hampshire, advocating for the creation of four new unitary authorities across the mainland.
The submission, titled “Close enough to be local, big enough to stay strong,” outlines a visionary plan for modern, sustainable local government that aims to deliver better services while remaining deeply rooted in local communities.
Supported by 11 of the 14 councils in Hampshire, including Basingstoke and Deane, Eastleigh, Fareham, Hart, Havant, New Forest, Portsmouth, Rushmoor, Southampton, Test Valley, and Winchester, this proposal represents the collective voice of more than three-quarters of the local authorities in the area.
Under the new structure, Hart would join forces with Basingstoke and Deane and Rushmoor Borough Councils to form a unitary authority for North Hampshire. Three additional unitary councils are proposed for the rest of the mainland.
This plan is backed by one of the largest public engagement exercises ever undertaken by local government in the region. Over 13,000 residents across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight participated, sharing their views on identity, service delivery, and what matters most to them in future council arrangements.
A separate engagement exercise for a North Hampshire authority revealed that residents prioritise listening to the needs of the local community and delivering high-quality, efficient services. Over 90% of Hart residents surveyed agreed that decisions about local services should be made by those who understand the local area and tailored to meet local needs. The proposed structure for North Hampshire emerged as the most supported option.
Councillor David Neighbour, Leader of Hart District Council, expressed confidence in the proposal, stating:
“We believe the business case we’ve submitted today will best serve the people of Hart. Our engagement activities showed that residents wanted services to remain local while delivering the quality and efficient services they rely on.
“These options will create councils large enough to be sustainable but close enough to their communities to meet the unique needs of their areas. This business case is the result of collaborative work with councils who know their communities and will deliver organisations that, most importantly, work for local people into the future.”
The submission will now be considered by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, which is expected to conduct a public consultation on the proposals submitted by all councils across Hampshire later this year.