Winchester to consider next step for Local Government Reorganisation
The interim proposal which has been developed by the 15 councils in Hampshire and the Solent region outlines guiding principles that should be followed when developing plans for local government reorganisation across the Hampshire and Solent area of councils. It outlines how the councils are working together and seeks clarity and assurance from government on five specific challenges.
The interim proposal does not contain proposals for what the new unitary councils will look like or what geography they will cover at this stage. However, it does state that analysis will consider existing economic geographies, principally those around Basingstoke, Winchester, Southampton and Portsmouth. Further detailed work is needed before this can happen and importantly, the opportunity for the public to have their say before final plans are submitted.
As well as the interim report to government, the report also sets out the council’s commitment to its council plan and ensuring staff, policies, services and assets that would be transferred are in the best possible position for integration to a new authority. Alongside the priorities in the Council Plan, key highlights include delivering Central Winchester Regeneration, adopting the Local Plan, ensuring council homes are well managed and securing Winchester City status alongside protecting the historic position of the Mayor of Winchester.
Leader of the Council, Cllr Martin Tod says:
‘It’s a real strength that we have got all 15 councils working together across Hampshire and the Solent and have come to a common set of principles to work against.
Agreeing these principles early puts the focus on the needs of our local communities and recognises the importance of using a sense of place and identity to set boundaries. Importantly for us, they recognise the importance of Winchester and its economic geography.
But this is going to be a hugely challenging project. We have highlighted five barriers that we need absolute clarity and assurance from government on if reorganisation across Hampshire and the Solent is to succeed.’
From my perspective, the first thing we need clarity on is the Isle of Wight. Can they be a council on their own? Local council leaders all agree on this. It's an island. It makes no sense for them to be in a council with someone else. If the Government can't reassure us on that, the next stage of the process becomes almost impossible.
The second problem is the money. Hampshire is broke. Reorganising councils won't stop them being broke. And there's no point in creating new unitary councils if they immediately go bust.
The third problem is pressure on services. The rapid increase in adults needing care, children needing special educational support and the travel to get to it, and people becoming homeless and needing somewhere to live means councils' costs are going up much faster than the money coming in. We need an answer from the Government on that too.
The fourth problem is the size of councils and whether we have to use boundaries of the districts created in 1974. Some of these are out of date and don't reflect where and how people live now - and the communities they identify with. We need to know whether and how we can change them.
And finally, there's timing. We did this initial work in a month. We need the time to properly design new services and consult those local communities that will be most affected. Not loads of time! But even moving from September to November will help.
The City Council will be deciding next week whether this direction of travel makes sense. And whether the work we're doing as a council makes sense. If we have assurances from the Government on the five challenges, and we can keep working together productively as 15 councils, I believe we can find a way to better, stronger plans that will better service people in Hampshire and the Solent - and here in the Winchester District.'
The paper will be debated at full council on 19 March, before being referred to Cabinet for a decision on 20 March