- What is local government reorganisation?
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Local government reorganisation is the process in which the structure and responsibilities of local authorities are reconfigured. The government has set out plans to move away from the current two-tier system of district and county councils.
In Hampshire, this means creating unitary councils to deliver all local government services in their areas.
- What is the difference between devolution and local government reorganisation?
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Devolution is the transfer of powers and funding from national to local government. Local government reorganisation is about how the responsibilities and funding that sit with local government are organised between councils.
- Why is local government reorganisation and devolution being proposed?
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The government’s long-term vision is for simpler structures, which make it much clearer for residents who they should look to on local issues, alongside more strategic decisions to unlock growth and deliver more joined up services for communities. The government believes that devolution over a large strategic geography, alongside local government reorganisation, can drive economic growth while delivering optimal public services.
- What are the timelines for local government reorganisation?
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The new unitary council is expected to take over from April 2028.
- What does local government reorganisation mean for Basingstoke and Deane?
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The changes mean that from April 2028, a new North Hampshire Council will deliver services currently run by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, Hart District Council, Rushmoor Borough Council and Hampshire County Council. Town and parish councils will not be affected by these changes.
The new council will be responsible for all main council services across the area, such as education, transport and highways, adult and children’s social care and health, housing, planning, waste collection and disposal, libraries, environmental health and trading standards.
- What is a unitary authority?
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Unitary authorities are a single tier of local government responsible for all local services in an area. They may cover a whole county, part of a county or a large town or city. For example, London boroughs are all unitary authorities.
- What would new boundaries be in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight?
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Following the government’s decision in March 2026, four new councils will be created across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight from April 2028. From this date, the new councils delivering services across the county will be:
- Northern Hampshire
- Mid Hampshire
- South West Hampshire
- South East Hampshire
- Isle of Wight (remains a standalone island authority)
- Are there other areas of the country that already operate in the way that Hampshire may be structured in the future?
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There are many other areas of the country that have unitary authorities rather than county and district councils, including London, Manchester, Leeds, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cheshire, Dorset, Northamptonshire, North Yorkshire, Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire.
- Are parish and town councils affected?
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Parish and town councils will not be affected structurally by the changes. They will not be abolished.
The government’s white paper states that local government plays an essential role in convening local partners around neighbourhoods to ensure that community voices are represented, and people have influence over their place and their valued community assets.
- Will this affect my services that you provide?
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The changes mean that from April 2028, a new North Hampshire Council will deliver services currently run by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, Hart District Council, Rushmoor Borough Council and Hampshire County Council. Town and parish councils will not be affected by these changes.
The new council will be responsible for all main council services across the area, such as education, transport and highways, adult and children’s social care and health, housing, planning, waste collection and disposal, libraries, environmental health and trading standards.
We will be working closely with Hart District Council, Rushmoor Borough Council and Hampshire County Council to ensure that residents see no change in our day-to-day services while we get everything ready for the new unitary council to take over.