Local Government Reorganisation – Update September 2025

An update has been received from the Chief Executive of Hart District Council on a significant development regarding the future structure of local government in Hampshire. He has advised that:

“A joint proposal entitled “Close enough to be local, big enough to stay strong” has been published today, Wednesday 3 September, by 12 of the 15 councils across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, including Hart District Council.

This proposal outlines the creation of four new unitary councils for mainland Hampshire, replacing the current 14 councils. The Isle of Wight would remain a separate unitary authority. The new councils would each serve approximately 500,000 residents and be responsible for all local services in their areas.

The key aims of the proposal are to:

– Save at least £63.9 million annually through streamlined governance.

– Drive economic growth and deliver redesigned public services tailored to local needs.

– Empower communities by enabling residents to shape local decisions.

– Maximise devolution opportunities, working collaboratively with the Isle of Wight Council and a newly elected regional Mayor.

The details of the proposal can be found here:

Full proposal

Supporting appendices

Three different options for the configuration of the four new unitary councils have been proposed, grouped around the major population centres of Southampton, Portsmouth, Winchester, and Basingstoke. Hart District Council has been actively involved in developing these proposals.

Unlike other proposals, we believe our approach means the best of both worlds: councils that are big enough to deliver primary services and be financially sustainable, but local enough to understand communities so they can tailor services more closely to their needs.

This is a comprehensive and evidence-based proposal that offers a bold vision for the future of local government in our region, ensuring every voice is heard and every service delivers real value. Covering a population of around two million people in mainland Hampshire, four new unitary councils would provide the scale of efficiency the government wants, whilst still being connected to the communities they serve.

Hart District Council will formally consider the proposal at the following meetings:

– Overview and Scrutiny Committee – Tuesday 9 September 2025

– Cabinet – Tuesday 16 September 2025

– Full Council – Thursday 25 September 2025