New Forest District Council’s new boundaries plan under local government reorganisation set to be discussed next month

DISCUSSIONS on new boundaries including where the New Forest might fit under local government reorganisation are to take place next month.

As reported in the A&T, New Forest District Council is urging the government not to split the area and is pushing to join with a new rural unitary council with mid-Hampshire.

Under LGR the current mix of two-tier systems – county and district/borough councils – will be replaced by larger unitary authorities with populations of around 500,000.

This has come amid the government’s devolution plans which will see powers transferred from central government to local areas through larger strategic authorities headed by an elected mayor.

An interim plan for Hampshire and the Solent Local Government Reorganisation has been jointly submitted by NFDC and 15 other local councils.

The district authority expressed a preference to join with a new rural unitary council in mid-Hampshire in order to “reflect its identity”, but was unable to go into detail about which councils this would include.

Speaking at a meeting of the full council on Monday, leader Cllr Jill Cleary was asked by Cllr Jack Davies when councillors would be informed about the new boundaries.

Cllr Cleary said the government timetable had not been fixed beyond the September date for final local government reorganisation proposals, but added: “I believe the priority ahead remains to protect the distinct identity of the New Forest by looking to form a rural unitary council with mid-Hampshire, preserving the whole of the New Forest district.

“Having only recently secured all of the necessary data, KPMG Consultants are now modelling a set of options which will be discussed by the leaders of the 15 councils in early May and I will update all members when I am able to, as I have done throughout this process.”

Asked by Cllr Davies if a merger in part or full with Southampton – against the council’s preference – would be accepted, Cllr Cleary replied: “I will not accept it, I will fight it to the death if I can, but I do not know if we have any recourse – which is why I am working exceeding hard to keep this forest as one unit. That is my absolute top priority.”

Cllr Mark Clark asked how much the council is spending on local government reorganisation, to which Cllr Cleary confirmed £150,000 had been earmarked for a devolution and local government reorganisation.

She added some would be spent on jointly commissioned work with other councils, while some may be spent on NFDC’s own work with consultants – but neither values were known.

Cllr Cleary added: “I have vowed to keep all councillors informed and this will include sums when they are committed to.”