Councils back “five unitary council” model and urge residents to have their say on Local Government Reorganisation
A group of 11 councils across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight is urging residents, businesses and partners to take part in the Government’s consultation on Local Government Reorganisation. Together the councils all support a five-unitary council model as the best fit for our area to keep services local and deliver at least £63.9m a year of savings. This is in line with the Government’s guidance that new councils should have an average population size of circa 500,000 people.
Our case in simple terms
- Small enough to stay local. Four new councils on the mainland, at an average population size of 500,0000, built around the population centres of Basingstoke, Winchester, Southampton and Portsmouth, with the Isle of Wight remaining its own unitary. This keeps decisions close to communities, ensures services will be tailored to local needs including those in rural areas and protects local identity and relationships with businesses, the NHS, police, schools, town and parish councils and voluntary groups.
- Large enough to stay strong. Each council would have the scale to run complex services well, enable economic growth, invest for the long term and be financially resilient - removing duplication and unlocking at least £63.9m a year in recurring savings, paying back the cost of reorganisation in around three years.
Cllr Paul Harvey, Leader of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, speaking for the group of councils, said: “Our message is clear that we want councils close enough to communities to maintain connection and big enough to deliver all services. Our proposal has the support of 11 local authorities in Hampshire and it is focused on our economic geographies that make most sense to the way residents live and work.”
Cllr Phil North, Leader of Test Valley Borough Council: “This consultation marks the last chance for you, our communities, to influence the biggest change to local councils in a generation. Whilst reorganising local government isn’t a path we would have chosen, it remains our firm belief that creating five new councils – including a mid-Hampshire authority with Test Valley, Winchester, New Forest and East Hampshire – is the best option for our communities. Creating councils that are still small enough to be local, but big enough to stay strong, while saving millions, cutting duplication and keeping our market towns and rural areas together. The alternative would see us paired with the City of Southampton in a much larger council. But whatever your view, and whichever option you support, please respond to the government’s consultation and make sure your voice is heard.”
You can find out more and have your say in the Government consultation at www.closeenoughtobelocal.co.uk.
Backed by the vast majority of local authorities
Eleven councils are supporting the five-unitary approach: Basingstoke and Deane, Eastleigh, Fareham, Hart, Havant, New Forest, Portsmouth*, Rushmoor, Southampton, Test Valley, and Winchester. This builds on years of practical joint working and reflects the distinct economic geographies that drive jobs and growth in our area.
*Portsmouth City Council's request to be excluded from reorganisation was rejected by government so it now supports a five-unitary model.
What the evidence says
Our business case shows the five-unitary model is the most balanced option for service quality, local voice and long-term finances - designed around real travel-to-work patterns and anchored around our four urban centres plus the Island.
Independent research from the District Councils’ Network found no evidence that creating very large “mega councils” improves performance or saves more money; in many areas, smaller unitaries perform as well or better. This supports our view that councils should be big enough to be sustainable, not bigger than needed.
Find out more and respond to the Government consultation:
www.closeenoughtobelocal.co.uk