December marks the end of 2025 – and the start of the government’s consultation on reorganising local councils in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. And this will be our very last opportunity to influence what that looks like.
Back in September, we submitted our proposal to Whitehall after the government enforced changes to the current council setup. Right now, services in places like Test Valley are split between your borough council and Hampshire County Council. The government wants to replace this with new unitary authorities that provide all services in their area.
Like most councils in Hampshire, we support creating five new unitary authorities. Four on the mainland and a separate Isle of Wight. Our preferred option would see Test Valley join Winchester, New Forest and East Hampshire as part of a new authority for mid-Hampshire. You may remember that we asked you for your feedback in the summer, and most people in Test Valley who responded to that survey shared our preference.
As I type this, we know that the government has indicated that it is likely that it will be consulting on all the options put forward. These include the five unitary model backed by 11 councils, and an alternative from Hampshire County Council and East Hampshire District Council to create four councils.
The HCC and EHDC option joins Test Valley with Southampton and Eastleigh as well as the New Forest, and I’ve said before that I don’t want that to happen.
We’re expecting the government to launch the consultation imminently, so by the time you read this, it will likely be up and running.
Whichever option you support, I would encourage each and every one of you to have your say and help shape the biggest change to local councils in a generation.
Despite reorganisation not being our choice, we have worked closely with councils of different political make-ups and different demographics across Hampshire to come up with what we believe is the best option for our communities.
Creating five new councils could save more than £63 million every year by streamlining services and cutting duplication. Importantly, it would group councils around similar communities and economies, giving us the chance to transform services and improve lives. And this, for me, is critical, as it means that Test Valley remains with other, largely rural, areas that have a shared understanding of the opportunities and challenges that brings.
We believe that five new councils would strike the best balance: small enough to stay local, big enough to stay strong.
We expect the government to announce its chosen option in spring 2026. Whatever the outcome, our community’s best interests will always be core to our approach.
So, as 2025 draws to a close, I would urge you to look to the future and decide what you think would be best for you, your loved ones, and your local area. And respond to the government’s consultation to make sure they hear that message loud and clear.
Cllr. Phil North
Leader of the Test Valley Borough Council
