It seems that like it all not the government plans the local government in Hampshire is to be reorganised.

first is devolution, where powers are transferred from central government in Whitehall to local areas, creating a Hampshire wide strategic authority with an elected Mayor. Secondly, under  the government’s plan, the two-tier system of Borough/District Councils and County Councils will be abolished. Larger unitary authorities, each covering a population of approximately 500,000 people, will be established in the region. For us in Emsworth this means that Havant Bourgh Council will be subsumed into one of four unitary authorities to be called South-East Hampshire, in some documents referred to as South-East Hampshire and Solent. 

This new unitary authority will become responsible for those services that its constituent components are currently responsible for plus those that are currently the responsibility of Hampshire County Council such as Education, library services and road maintenance (excluding motor ways and trunk roads) amongst others. Hampshire County Council will cease to exist and will be replaced by a Hampshire wide strategic authority.  The cost of setting up the new unitary authorities is estimated to be £40. Yet, as yet there is no indication of neither where the unitary Headquarters will be nor how matters such as transport and the environment which will cut across the new boundaries will be coordinated although presumably this will be the Hampshire wide strategic authority.

What would be the outcome of the public consultations be if turned out that the majority of local residents, businesses and organisations were not in favour of the proposed reorganisation but preferred the governance to remain as it is?

But, not to worry there are plenty of ongoing consultations for you to give your views! Those that are most relevant to us in Emsworth are:

§  Hampshire County Council follow the link HERE  (Consultation ends on Sunday 17 August 2025)

§  Havant Borough Council (Conultation Closed)

The first elections to these new authorities will be held in 2026.

And there is more, the Emsworth Residents asked the question “Should Emsworth become a Town Council”? There is a lot of debate about the pros and cons of developing a new Town Council. Local people wonder if they will have a voice when Emsworth becomes part of an authority of more than half a million people  in 2027/8. On 5th June, members of the Forum voted to consult all residents to find out people think is best for Emsworth. If the outcome favours developing our own council, we will request that Havant Council undertakes a governance review.

A town council for Emsworth  would give the town its own voice to work with the new authority and local groups, helping protect local democracy. It can focus on what matters to us—protecting our identity, using our local spaces and buildings better, and helping our town grow in the right way.

Fortunately, this is a much more straight forward consultation and the advantages are clearly laid out in a consultation document published by the Emsworth Residents Forum:

Petition for an Emsworth Town Council follow the link HERE

This is a petition that simply asks does Emsworth want a Town Council? Emsworth Online’s opinion is that it most certainly does to give  greater influence over decisions on matters that directly affect us locally. 

To let us know your views please email them to info@emsworthonline.co.uk.

Emsworth Online 28th July