The future shape of local government

Published: 01 July 2025

Press release from Hart District Council:

Help us shape your future council

The Government has asked councils across England to look at how local government is organised, with the aim of improving services and making better use of public money. We’ve launched a survey so we can hear from people across Hart on these proposals and their priorities for local government reorganisation.

For Hampshire, this means local councils will join together to form new, bigger authorities, providing all services in future. A group of 12 of the 15 councils in the county, including Hart District Council, has been collaborating on developing options that would work best for their residents, businesses and the wider community.

These proposals would replace the current 15 councils with four new unitary councils, with the Isle of Wight remaining as a single unitary authority. As part of the four unitary model, a new unitary council for north Hampshire is being developed, bringing together the areas of Hart, Basingstoke and Deane and Rushmoor.

Get involved

We want to know what’s important to you about your local area and how you feel future local councils should operate.  

Our survey is open from Monday 30 June to Sunday 17 August. Please give us your thoughts at https://online1.snapsurveys.com/north-hampshire-councils-survey

Paper copies of the survey are available at the council offices. Alternatively email communications@hart.gov.uk or call 01252 622122 to have one sent to you.

As well as our survey on the proposal, there is also a survey open on the plans for the whole of Hampshire, closing 27 July. This feedback will be used in the proposals the 12 councils submit to Government in September 2025. You can respond at https://ourplaceourfuture.commonplace.is

Councillor David Neighbour, Leader of Hart District Council, said: “It’s vitally important that residents and businesses across Hart feed back on these proposals. We believe a new unitary council for north Hampshire gives the best of both worlds: a council that is big enough to deliver strategic services, but local enough to understand communities so it can tailor services more closely to their needs.

“We want to understand how residents, businesses and community groups feel about the changes to ensure the proposal we have to submit to Government reflects their views.”

More information on local government reorganisation is at www.hart.gov.uk/local-government-reorganisation

Communications

Corporate Services

Hart District Council