Havant Borough Council (HBC) is a step closer to finalising its proposal to restructure councils in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight as part of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).
Since the beginning of the year, HBC has been working closely with 11 of the 15 other local authorities in the county to draw up proposals to replace the current two-tier system of councils with a new, streamlined unitary structure.
Today (3 September), the proposal document Close enough to be local, big enough to stay strong, is being published by the 12 councils involved ahead of its submission to government on 26 September.
Read the proposal and appendices by clicking on the below links:
It will be debated at HBC’s Full Council meeting on 24 September and Cabinet will then meet on 25 September to vote on whether to approve the proposal.
The proposal contains three different options, each comprising four new unitary councils for mainland Hampshire with the Isle of Wight remaining a separate unitary authority, as it currently is.
The proposed mainland councils all have an average population size of 500,000 and are grouped around the major population centres of Southampton, Portsmouth, Winchester and Basingstoke.
In each of the three options put forward, Havant Borough Council would form a new unitary authority with Portsmouth City Council, Fareham Borough Council and Gosport Borough Council, although one option does recommend boundary changes that would affect the parishes of Newlands, Horndean, Clanfield and Rowlands Castle.
Leader of Havant Borough Council, Councillor Phil Munday, said: “We have worked closely with our colleagues in neighbouring councils to develop plans that we believe will deliver the best possible opportunities and outcomes for communities across our region.
“Local Government Reorganisation – combined with devolution and the introduction of a regional Mayor – gives us a real opportunity to improve public services, make local government more responsive and accountable and to deliver better value for money.
“As we’ve developed these plans, we have looked at the big picture to consider how services like housing, education, social care, highways, and economic development can best be delivered.
“Just as important though, is making sure the plans reflect our communities and their sense of place and identity. We have tried to develop a structure for Havant that is simpler and that aligns the proposed new council more closely with partners such as health and police, so that services can be more joined up and efficient.”
The proposal is the result of joint work by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, Eastleigh Borough Council, Fareham Borough Council, Hart District Council, Havant Borough Council, Isle of Wight Council, New Forest District Council, Portsmouth City Council, Rushmoor Borough Council, Southampton City Council, Test Valley Borough Council and Winchester City Council.
For more information about their meeting schedule and voting arrangements regarding the proposal ahead of the submission date of 26 September, please visit their respective websites.
Find out more information from the 12 councils involved in the development of the joint proposal.