Here is a summary of the items scheduled for discussion at the Hart Council Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on 9 September 2025. The main item on the agenda was a presentation on the final proposal for local government reorganisation in Hampshire and the Solent. The meeting also provided an opportunity for public participation.

Local Government Reorganisation

The committee was scheduled to receive a presentation on the final proposal for local government reorganisation (LGR) from the 12 Hampshire councils involved.

The councils involved are:

• Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council
• Eastleigh Borough Council
• Fareham Borough Council
• Hart District Council
• Havant Borough Council
• Isle of Wight Council
• New Forest District Council
• Portsmouth City Council
• Rushmoor Borough Council
• Southampton City Council
• Test Valley Borough Council
• Winchester City Council

The proposal, titled Close enough to be local, big enough to stay strong, outlines a strategic plan for the future of local government in the region. It proposes three options for creating four new unitary councils¹ for mainland Hampshire, each with an average population of 500,000, grouped around the major population centres of Southampton, Portsmouth, Winchester and Basingstoke. The Isle of Wight would remain a separate unitary authority.

The vision is designed to better drive economic growth, deliver redesigned public services tailored to local needs and empower communities by enabling residents to shape local decisions. It is backed by the 12 councils as the best way to unlock and maximise devolution arrangements with the new councils working effectively with the Isle of Wight Council and the new elected Mayor for the whole region.

The presentation was intended to ensure that committee members had a clear understanding of the vision ahead of a discussion at a full council meeting scheduled for 25 September. The agenda stated that there would be no debate about the merits of the proposal at this time, and no intention to contrast the vision with alternative proposals.

The agenda indicated that the full proposal and supporting appendices were available to view online.

Public Participation

The agenda included an opportunity for members of the public to make statements to the committee on items on the agenda. Anyone wishing to speak was asked to contact Committee Services at least two clear working days before the meeting.