Rushmoor Borough Council members have voted to submit a final proposal to the government to reorganise local councils in Hampshire.
At a full meeting of the council last night (Thursday 25 September), councillors approved a recommendation from Cabinet that the proposal is submitted to the government by its deadline today (Friday) and confirmed that a five-unitary council structure, made up of four new mainland unitary councils and a separate Isle of Wight unitary council, would be the best option for residents in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
In December 2024, the government invited councils to submit proposals to replace the current system of local government in Hampshire, including Hampshire County Council, the 11 district and borough councils, Southampton and Portsmouth city councils and the Isle of Wight council, with new unitary councils, which would provide all services in the local area.
Rushmoor Borough Council is one of the 12 councils that have been working closely together to create the joint proposal, called ‘Close Enough to be Local, Big Enough to Stay Strong’ which will be submitted to the government today. The focus of the work has been on improving services, bringing decision-making closer to local people and making the best use of public funds.
Following extensive consultation with residents and partners, which has informed the proposal, members agreed that, as part of the proposal, the recommended option for Rushmoor would be a unitary council based on the areas of Rushmoor, Hart and Basingstoke and Deane.
The new north Hampshire council would provide all the services currently run by Hampshire County Council in this area, as well as those of Rushmoor, Hart and Basingstoke and Deane councils.
In doing so, it would represent the best balance of a council large enough to deliver high quality services and value for money, but small enough to be connected to the place and needs of the people it serves.
In response to the reorganisation proposals, the council has also been consulting on initial options for very local representation, including parish and town councils or neighbourhood area committees. None of these exist at the moment in Rushmoor.
At last night’s meeting, councillors agreed to a second phase of more detailed consultation to explore these options in more depth. This is likely to include the areas these new arrangements could cover and residents’ views on paying an additional council tax precept.
Councillor Gareth Williams, Leader of Rushmoor Borough Council, said: “I believe that this reorganisation will improve the lives of our residents, as the new unitary council will ultimately provide a better all-round service to local people in future.
“The current confusion over which council is responsible for which service will become a thing of the past. Instead, services will be redesigned and brought together, to make it easier for people to access them and understand who is delivering them. Services will be tailored to respond to the local needs of our communities so that outcomes are better for our residents in the future.
“I’m pleased that this proposal was backed by a clear majority of councillors across the chamber in Rushmoor, recognising that this option offers the best available solution for residents of this borough.”
To read the submission to government, visit our local government reorganisation page.
Joint press release from Hampshire councils
Majority of Hampshire councils unite behind plan for local government reorganisation
Eleven councils across Hampshire have today submitted a joint business case to government proposing the creation of four new unitary authorities for mainland Hampshire. The submission, titled “Close enough to be local, big enough to stay strong”, sets out a vision for modern, sustainable local government that delivers better services while staying rooted in local communities.
The proposal is backed by an overwhelming majority of councils in Hampshire (Basingstoke and Deane, Eastleigh, Fareham, Hart, Havant, New Forest, Portsmouth*, Rushmoor, Southampton, Test Valley, and Winchester), representing more than three quarters of local authorities in the area.
The new structure would see four new councils formed, grouped around the major centres of Southampton, Portsmouth, Winchester and Basingstoke. The Isle of Wight would stay its own island unitary authority, as it currently is. All three proposed options meet the Government’s criteria for reorganisation, with an average population size of 500,000, and financial analysis shows that all three options would deliver over £63 million in recurring annual savings, through streamlined services, reduced duplication, and more efficient governance.
The business case is informed by one of the largest public engagement exercises ever undertaken by local government in the region. More than 13,000 residents across Hampshire and Isle of Wight took part in the engagement, sharing their views on identity, service delivery, and what matters most to them in future council arrangements.
Cllr Paul Harvey, Leader of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and speaking on behalf of the 11 councils jointly submitting the proposal, said: “The business case we’re submitting today is the product of significant, collaborative work by councils who know their communities and want the best for them.
“It reflects our shared belief that services should be run by councils big enough to be sustainable but close enough to remain local. With consistent financial benefits, strong public backing, and a structure that fits how people actually live their lives, this proposal is the right choice for Hampshire.”
The submission will now be considered by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), who are expected to run a public consultation on the proposals later this year.
*Portsmouth have requested to be excluded from the local government reorganisation process but have collaborated throughout in the production of the business case. If Portsmouth are mandated by government to be subject to local government reorganisation, they fully support this business case.
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