New Forest District Council confirms push for new rural unitary with mid-Hampshire under local government reorganisation plans

The New Forest must not be split up, and push to join with a new rural unitary council with mid-Hampshire under the reorganisation of local government, it has been urged.

This was outlined at a special meeting of New Forest District Council last night (Thursday) arranged to discuss the way ahead for the New Forest amid government plans to replace the current mix of two-tier systems and unitary councils across the country.

As reported in the A&T, Hampshire County Council’s application to join fast track devolution – along with councils of Isle of Wight, Portsmouth City and Southampton City – was recently approved by the government.

Those councils, and 11 others including NFDC, teamed up to prepare an interim plan for Hampshire and the Solent Local Government Reorganisation, with proposals for the reorganisation due today.

NFDC leader, Cllr Jill Cleary, said at last night’s meeting the biggest reorganisation of local government in half a century was of “fundamental importance”, adding: “We know we live in a unique and special place and we will be looking to secure our place in a new unitary council which reflects this.”

“Some councils seem to favour a move to very large councils – we do not. Some councils want to make a case for breaking up existing districts to start from scratch – we do not.

“We do not believe that a bigger and bigger council further and further away from local people is the right way forward. We want to see local service delivery building on the geography of towns and parishes. And we will not support any option that splits our historic communities or forces us into an urban-led model.”

Members of all parties agreed the district should remain together, rather than being split among other councils, and approved the joint submission to government of the interim plan.

Urging the council to highlight the economic benefits of the district as an argument for it remaining intact, Cllr Malcolm Wade said: “The New Forest has the fourth largest economy in the district, we are the largest geographical district in Hampshire and we have the second largest population, but we have the biggest tax base in the county, so we are a nice big financial fat cow, if you pardon the expression.

“We want to let them know we’ve got a bigger economy than Southampton so we should have a bigger influence, but we wont get that unless we push the economy aspect of it, which is why it is critical to major on the fact we are a strong economic power.”

Cllr Jack Davies said he did not support the joint submission, arguing it put the district in a poor position. He said: “We know Southampton want to take Totton and the Waterside, because they want to expand Southampton port, that will be the basis of their submission to government. Whilst that is a terrible thing for the Forest, it is a strong argument from Southampton’s point of view, which we simply cannot match.

“If we can get the support of Winchester and Test Valley – which we haven’t had a guarantee of yet – there will be an option of [them] with New Forest, possibly with East Hampshire to make up the numbers. When those competing proposals land on the minister’s desk are we seriously expecting the minister to choose the New Forest over Southampton? If we endorse the joint submission, we are opening the door to splitting the New Forest in half.”

Cllr Allan Glass added: “We have to prove we have the economy, stability and people behind us to keep this area linked with people like this area. Because if we link into Southampton, we will end up as a cash cow to bail them out.”

Cllr Jeremy Heron said he “absolutely no way at all” would support a split: “We stand together, and we stand firm on that. There is no question of that.

“We are a rural community and we sit much better with rural communities such as Test Valley and beyond, and I sincerely hope the government listen to that. We must stand firm and deliver a credible alternative that works for our community.”

Cllr David Harrison said his petition against a possible merger with Southampton or Eastleigh had attracted more than 3,250 signatures in 10 days: “I think it says a lot about the mood of New Forest people.”

A meeting of the council’s cabinet this morning also backed the interim plan. Cllr Geoffrey Blunden, cabinet member for environment and sustainability, said: “It is a pivotal moment for our council and communities. While the path ahead may not be entirely within our control, we do have the opportunity to advocate for a unitary authority that reflects the unique and special place we all call home.”

Meanwhile, the New Forest National Park Authority is set to discuss how it should respond to a government consultation on the changes at a meeting next Thursday.

A report to members stated the proposals for the new combined authority should “protect the integrity and resilience of the landscape, ecology and communities of the New Forest”.

It added: “The proposals are fast moving and it is important that the voice of the national park authority is heard. The consultation is silent on the role of the two national park authorities in Hampshire, which represent an important tier of local government for over a third of the county.”

Answers are also wanted on planning responsibilities, with new combined authorities taking control of spatial development strategies from national parks.

The report continued: “In addition to our planning responsibilities, there are other elements of the proposed remit that justify a clearer role for national park authorities. For example, the combined authority would have a strategic role on net zero and would play a leadership role in local nature recovery strategies.

“This is a priority area where national park authorities are key – as acknowledged in Hampshire County Council’s own consultation response. Hampshire’s two national park authorities will be important stakeholders and delivery partners on the world class environment, health and well-being for the new combined county authority.”

The national park will call for investment in health and well-being, active travel and natural capital as part of the vision for the future new authority, is says, adding: “With over a third of Hampshire falling within nationally designated landscapes, our national parks should be seen as an asset for the county.

There are “potential benefits” from the proposals, it adds, such as a new combined authority being responsible for transport across the whole area making it more effective and able to improve delivery of plans to reduce transport emissions more cost effectively.