31/10/2026
Local Government Reorganisation: Hampshire deserves better.
This morning’s ministerial update confirms that council reorganisation is still going ahead. Hampshire faces another three to four months before a decision is likely, with no confirmed date.
The latest timetable is:
🗳️ Borough elections in May 2027, for a two-year term.
🗳️ Elections to shadow councils and the regional Mayor in May 2028.
📅 New councils taking over on 1 April 2029.
Ministers chose a structure for Hampshire, required councils to prepare for it, then withdrew their decision following updated legal advice in the face of Hampshire County Council's Judicial Review. Now we face more uncertainty while they reconsider the proposals.
Frankly, the Labour Government’s handling of this process has been a colossal waste of time, public money and scarce council resources.
Let me be absolutely clear: I will not support spending another penny of taxpayers’ money on this process unless the Government can demonstrate, with objective evidence, that it is robust and will deliver sustainable outcomes.
That means resilient, financially sustainable councils, high-quality services and genuine financial savings for Hampshire’s residents. The figures must include the full costs of transition and stand up to scrutiny.
I will challenge any decision that fails those tests.
Thousands of hours of officer time have already been devoted to reorganisation. That is time which could have been spent improving services, developing innovation and strengthening our finances.
Meanwhile, more older people need social care, more children and adults need complex support, and families need better provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities.
Those challenges need our attention now.
The Government’s so-called Fair Funding changes will take around £28 million out of Hampshire’s funding in 2027/28, making an already difficult financial position worse.
My priority, and that of the County Council administration I lead, is making our own services even better.
We will keep transforming how we work, developing better local care and SEND provision, supporting independence, challenging costs and using innovation to make residents’ money go further.
Hampshire needs reform that improves people’s lives and makes services financially sustainable.
That is where I want our time, effort and taxpayers’ money focused.
