Some frequently asked questions about changes to local government
In December, the Government announced a major programme of reform for local government, including two related but separate initiatives:
Devolving powers and funding from Whitehall to local areas by establishing regional Mayoral Strategic Authorities with populations of 1.5 million or more in all areas of England which don’t already have them.
Creating new unitary local authorities with populations of at least 500,000 that will replace the current two-tier structure of a County Council working with Districts and Borough Councils.
The County Council and the three existing unitary Councils in Hampshire (Hampshire County Council, Southampton City Council, Portsmouth City Council and Isle of Wight Council) asked to be included in the Government's priority programme for Devolution (DPP) and, on 5 February 2025, the Government confirmed that the Hampshire/Solent bid would be included in the priority programme.
The Government has asked for work to begin on creating a combined strategic authority for the Hampshire and Solent region, which would be led by an elected Mayor. At the same time, the Government has written to all the councils in the Hampshire and Solent region (including Winchester City Council) asking them to submit proposals to form new unitary councils (instead of the current two-tier structure of a county council and district and borough councils). An interim plan was submitted to government on behalf of all council on 21 March, you can view this on our website.
Government's Devolution Consultation and our response
The Government ran a public consultation on Devolution from 17 February to 13 April 2025 asking for the people's views on proposals to establish a new Mayoral Strategic Authority for Southampton, Portsmouth, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
Devolution is where powers that currently sit with the national government are given to a local area so local decision makers can have more of a say in what happens in their area. It is important because it ensures that decisions are made closer to the local people, communities and businesses they affect. The Government is keen to do this through something called Strategic Authorities.
Hampshire County Council, Portsmouth City Council, Southampton City Council and Isle of Wight Council jointly requested to be part of the government’s priority programme for devolution. The Government confirmed that the Hampshire/Solent bid was accepted on 5 February 2025.
This means work to create a new Strategic Combined Authority led by an elected mayor across the Hampshire and Solent region will begin. Therefore, this year’s Hampshire County Council elections will be postponed and an election for the Mayor will take place in 2026.
A Strategic Authority is where two or more authorites collaborate to take collective decisions across council boundaries.
The strategic authority will have an elected Mayor who will have responsibility for driving local economic growth, strategic planning and infrastructure, strategic transport and other areas, with powers and funding passed down from government departments to the Mayor.
The Mayoral Strategic Authority will work closely with local authorities in the Hampshire Solent region to develop and deliver their plans with most of their focus on responsibilities that are currently held by Whitehall.
The following list shows areas where strategic authorities should have strategic level coordination
Transport and local infrastructure
Skills and employment support
Housing and strategic planning
Economic development and regeneration
Environment and climate change
Health, wellbeing and public service reform
Public safety
Local Government Reorganisation
On 5 February 2025, the Secretary of State wrote to all councils in Hampshire to formally invite proposals for forming new, larger unitary councils within the Hampshire and Solent region instead of the current structure of a County Council and Districts and Borough Councils. The Government would like councils to have populations of around 500,000 - and each new unitary council would offer all services that are currently provided across the district council and the county council.
As part of Local Government Reorganisation, the Government has asked all councils in the Hampshire/ Solent region, including Winchester City Council, to work together to develop and submit proposals to create new unitary councils, including setting out what they think the geographies of each council should be.
The Government has asked for final formal proposals to be submitted in the Autumn for them to consider. A date for when the Government will make its final decisions has not been announced, but they expect the new councils to be in place for April 2027 or April 2028.
On Monday 3 March, Leader of the Council, Cllr Martin Tod, gave an overview of whats being asked by government for both Devolution and reorganising Local Governement. You can now view the slides from the evening. (pdf, 1.6mb)
