Basingstoke and Deane borough councillors have voted to tell the government that scheduled elections should go ahead as planned next year.

Elections are due to be held for 18 of the 54 seats on the borough council in May 2026.

But the government yesterday invited areas that are currently going through local government reorganisation to give their views on the potential postponement of local elections in their areas.

As part of this, the Minister wrote to the council’s Leader Cllr Paul Harvey with the deadline of 15 January to give views on delaying elections.

The Leader raised this at a meeting of all councillors last night and they voted to tell the Secretary of State that they don’t want to delay the borough council elections.

Council Leader Cllr Paul Harvey said: “At our Council meeting last night I asked councillors to be absolutely clear that we will not ask the government to cancel the elections in Basingstoke and Deane.

“We will not cancel democracy. We have a duty to ensure that residents have their right to vote in May next year. The view around the Council Chamber was clear and unambiguous.

“I will now be writing, with Cllr Gavin James as the council’s leaders, to the government to make it clear that we want our elections to go ahead as planned and we have the support of Council in confirming that to the Minister.”

The decision at the Council meeting came after an amendment to a scheduled debate to express concern at the delay the government had already announced to the elections for a new Mayor for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, which are now due to be held in 2028.

The government plans to devolve some of its powers and funding to a new strategic authority under this elected Mayor, making decisions across the wider Hampshire and Isle of Wight area.

Alongside this the government has launched a consultation on major changes to how the councils who deliver services across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight are structured. The consultation asks for views on four proposals.

Three of the proposals would see five unitary councils for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. All of these proposals would see the creation of a new unitary council for North Hampshire, bringing together the existing areas of Basingstoke and Deane, Hart and Rushmoor.

These proposals were put forward to the government by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and 10 other councils in the county working together.

The fourth proposal being consulted on by the government was submitted by Hampshire County Council and East Hampshire District Council for four unitary councils. This proposal would join Basingstoke and Deane with East Hampshire, Hart, Rushmoor and Winchester.

The government consultation runs until Sunday 11 January 2026.

More information on local government reorganisation and the consultation is on the council’s website at www.basingstoke.gov.uk/future-councils