Last Thursday and Friday, I joined Hampshire County Council leader, Nick Adams-King, at public meetings in Alton and Rowlands Castle to discuss the upcoming plans for devolution and local government reorganisation.
It’s important to clarify that these are two distinct processes, though they are often conflated.
Devolution is about transferring powers from central government to local areas, through a directly elected mayor. These powers cover strategic oversight of things like transport, local infrastructure, economic development, and skills and employment. The goal is to give areas like our county greater control over their own priorities and resources.
In contrast, local government reorganisation is about changing how services are delivered at a local level. Currently, Hampshire operates under a two-tier system with some services provided at county level and others at district level – in our case, through East Hampshire District Council (EHDC). In future, these will be merged to form unitary authorities (though town and parish councils will remain).
Under the last government, local areas could voluntarily put forward devolution proposals. Quite a few came forward, but no one was forced to. However, this government is accelerating the process, making it mandatory for all regions that haven’t yet adopted these changes.
Ironically, whilst both devolution and reorganisation are intended to promote localism, they are being driven by central government. Local authorities have no choice but to comply. But there is at least some choice about sequence.
In response, Hampshire has wisely, in my opinion, opted to be an early adopter. By moving sooner rather than later, we stand a better chance of shaping the process somewhat.
A highly controversial aspect of the government’s approach is its decision to delay local elections by a year as part of the reorganisation process.
In my view, this is deeply problematic. In a democracy, electoral terms should not be extended mid-term, except in cases of war or national emergencies. Making this a condition of devolution is the wrong approach.
There are certainly opportunities to be gained from devolution. Hampshire and the Solent region - encompassing Portsmouth, Southampton, and the Isle of Wight - has a population comparable to Northern Ireland and an economy similar in scale to Wales. Devolution could empower us to really punch at our weight, attracting investment and creating jobs.
However, local government reorganisation is more contentious, with potential downsides. The government has imposed strict rules on the size of unitary authorities. They consider Hampshire, as a whole, too large to be a unitary, but East Hampshire too small.
As a result, areas will likely merge with neighbouring authorities. EHDC leader, Richard Millard, is right to insist that any decision must be based on facts, not opinion, ensuring a financially sustainable structure that genuinely benefits residents.
Hampshire stands on the brink of a new chapter in local government. Whilst there are promising opportunities, there are also significant risks. The road ahead will undoubtedly involve challenges and upheaval, but it is vital that the focus remains on what is best for Hampshire’s residents, not simply on meeting central government demands.
