Winchester prepares to submit new councils proposal to government
Winchester City Council has been working with 11 other councils across the county on proposals to create new unitary councils across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
The joint proposal, Close enough to be local, big enough to stay strong builds a strongly evidenced-based case as to why four unitary councils on the mainland, maintaining the Isle of Wight as a separate council, is the best outcome for the area.
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.
It proposes three different options for the four new unitary councils for mainland Hampshire, at an average population size of 500,000, grouped around the major population centres of Southampton, Portsmouth, Winchester and Basingstoke. The Isle of Wight would remain its own island unitary authority, as now.
Alongside the other 11 councils, Winchester City Council fully backs the case for four mainland unitary councils - and each council must decide which of the three options they believe works best for their area and advise Government.
As shown by local engagement, residents across Winchester supported a proposal that created a Mid Hampshire unitary council created from the current district councils of Test Valley, Winchester and East Hampshire - the County Council services would be included in that new council.
The proposals will be debated at a full council meeting on 24 September, before being referred to cabinet for a decision on 25 September.
Winchester City Council Leader Cllr Martin Tod says.
‘The City Council team has worked closely and collaboratively with councils across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and – coming out of that – I’m confident we have a plan we can submit at the end of the month that is right for the whole region and right for our area.
The numbers work. We pass the government’s tests. Our preferred option [option 2] has been backed by feedback from our residents, is simple to implement, and geographically and economically coherent and balanced. None of the proposed new councils are so big that they will be remote and out of touch. All of the new councils are big enough and financially robust enough to deliver the vital services we all need.’
Following debate at Council, and subject to Cabinet approval, the joint proposal will be submitted to government on 26 September. It is expected that the government will then consult on the proposals it believes meet the criteria sometime in the autumn.
The full proposals can be viewed on the City Council's Local Government Reorganisation web page.