“The case for a North Hampshire unitary council is still the strongest and best choice to meet the needs of Basingstoke and Deane residents and businesses” – that’s borough council Leader Cllr Paul Harvey’s response to the government announcing that the restructure of councils in Hampshire is still being reviewed by ministers.

Minister for Local Government, Devolution and Regional Growth Jim McMahon OBE told Parliament yesterday (Thursday 29 October) that the government remains committed to the local government reorganisation programme. Ministers are still considering the best way forward for the areas where it paused reorganisation in September, including Hampshire, with an outcome promised by early next year.

The original government decision, announced in March but now withdrawn to be reviewed, would have replaced the 14 existing county, city, borough and district councils in Hampshire with four new unitary councils. For the borough, this would have created a North Hampshire Council covering Basingstoke and Deane, Hart and Rushmoor and providing all council services.

The minister said: “I have committed to this being a full, considered review, and to giving colleagues in councils and local people clarity on their future as soon as possible.”

Responding to the announcement, Leader of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council Cllr Paul Harvey said: “We have made a thorough and robust case for a North Hampshire unitary council, and this was overwhelmingly supported by our residents, businesses, community and voluntary sector, and public service partners. This proposal was also backed by most of the councils and MPs in Hampshire.

“Local government reorganisation gives the opportunity to bring services together and rethink how they are delivered. This would mean important services currently provided by Hampshire County Council, including social care and education, could be redesigned around the specific needs of North Hampshire, rather than currently being based on 'one size fits all' across a huge and diverse county.

“The government would be rowing back on everything it has said about growth in every postcode, empowering communities and devolving power to local areas if, after the review, it were to go with the much larger and more remote unitary council for our area proposed by the county council.”

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said that local elections will go ahead in May 2027 on existing council boundaries, with new councils still being established for 2029 and elections to shadow councils in May 2028.