New Forest District Council teams up with other authorities in response to local government reorganisation plans

UNDER-threat New Forest District Council has joined with other Hampshire authorities in asking for more time to respond to local government reorganisation plans.

Those plans will see NFDC axed as the government looks to replace the current mix of two-tier systems and unitary councils across the country with larger strategic authorities which will deliver all services. Each will have an elected mayor, with elections expected in May 2026.

Councils have been asked to submit proposals for the reorganisation to the government by Friday 21st March.

Hampshire County Council’s application to join fast track devolution – along with councils of Isle of Wight, Portsmouth City and Southampton City – was recently approved by the government.

Now those councils, and 11 others including NFDC, have teamed up to prepare an interim plan for Hampshire and the Solent Local Government Reorganisation.

However, no specific details of how the reorganisation could look have been given, the report states, as a consensus has yet to be agreed due to timescales – with the exception that the Isle of Wight should remain separate and distinct.

Conservative-run NFDC says it will publish its report into local government reorganisation tomorrow (Wednesday).

Speaking ahead of the report, leader Cllr Jill Cleary said the authority should not be forced into a structure which doesn’t “reflect our local identity”.

“New Forest District Council firmly believes that any future local government reorganisation must reflect the distinct identity, needs, and aspirations of our communities,” she said.

“The New Forest is a special place with a unique history, strong communities and a focus on the future. We are clear that proposals for local government in our area must build on our strengths, not force us into an artificial structure that does not reflect our local identity.”

“Although we do not feel that local government reorganisation is necessary to deliver growth and prosperity for the area, we have been working together as requested by government and I will be recommending the interim report to the council for consideration before cabinet [meets] on 21st March.

“There is more work to be done to develop a proposal and we know there will be different views from councils and communities.

“If local government reorganisation is unavoidable, I believe the best model for the Forest is a rural-focused unitary council, bringing together the New Forest area with mid-Hampshire to form a sustainable and balanced authority that respects our heritage, supports our economy, protects our unique environment and can deliver high-quality local services building on our strengths in and partnership working.

“We will not support any option that splits our historic communities or forces us into an urban-led model.”

The interim report says the expected cost of implementing a three-year local government reorganisation programme will be in their final submission, but “preliminary benchmarking” showed it could be the most expensive delivered to date.

While the region’s current deadline for the submission of a full proposal is 26th September, council leaders are asking for an extension of more than two months, to 28th November. Trying to meet the September deadline “posed a risk to the engagement and analysis” needed for an “effective” proposal, the document added.

Clarity is also wanted from government on a target for new unitary authorities to have a minimum population of 500,000 and whether boundary changes would be acceptable.

A petition has been launched by the Lib Dem opposition against a possible merger with Southampton or Eastleigh, which has attracted over 1,800 signatures. Cllr David Harrison is urging people to sign to avoid the “most likely” outcome, which he branded a “forced marriage”.

The petition states: “As residents of the New Forest, we want to preserve what makes it such a unique and special part of Britain. We are concerned that being merged with Southampton will make the New Forest nothing more than a part of greater Southampton.

“From bins to housing, the local decisions that affect the New Forest should be made in the New Forest, not in Southampton by politicians who don't understand our way of life.”

• What do you think? Have your say on our letters page – email news@advertiserandtimes.co.uk