Oct 26 Combined JW - Flipbook - Page 5
Community update Hayling Herald
Council reorganisation shelved
THE huge local authority changes which would
have seen Havant Borough Council disappear into a super unitary authority have been
scrapped.
The government announced that legal advice
prompted Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s new
Secretary of State, Angela Rayner, to drop plans
for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in
Hampshire and the New Forest.
South-East Hampshire Unitary Authority
would have been made up of Fareham Borough
Council, Gosport Borough Council, Havant Borough Council and Portsmouth City Council.
Hampshire County Council had begun a legal
challenge against the LGR.
Campaigners had called for a parish council
for the Island, fearing Hayling’s needs would be
overlooked in the new mega authority. Now the
LGR is not going ahead, those against the parish
council are calling for it too to be shelved.
However, Havant Borough Council has confirmed that the Community Governance Review
(CGR) – which led to the parish council being
established – was completely separate to the LGR
and the parish council is still going ahead – but it
is likely to be subject to a legal challenge.
Former Hayling county councillor Lance
Quantrill is also questioning who will pick up the
cost of the work that went into the LGR. He has
asked Hampshire County Council to quantify the
cost and bill the government to get it back.
He said: ‘For months, councils across Hampshire were required to work to Government
deadlines, preparing for a reorganisation Ministers had decided to impose.
‘That meant direct costs — legal advice, consultants and implementation work. But it also
meant something less visible and just as important: thousands of hours of officer time, including
from some of our most senior people.
‘At Hampshire County Council, that is time
which could have been spent entirely on improving services, driving efficiencies, reducing costs
and putting the Council on a more sustainable
financial footing. Instead, significant capacity
was diverted into planning for the abolition of
the county council under a government process
which has now been withdrawn. We cannot get
that time back. Hampshire taxpayers should not
be expected to pay for it.’
Hampshire County Council Leader, Councillor
Nick Adams-King, said he welcomed the decision to withdraw from the LGR.
‘This is the right decision and, frankly, it
demonstrates exactly why Hampshire County
Council was right to challenge the previous process,’ said Cllr Adams-King.
‘That was never about defending the status quo.
Local government can and should change. It was
about making sure that a once-in-a-generation
reorganisation, affecting more than two million
people and the services they rely upon, was lawful, properly evidenced and capable of standing
the test of time. I am therefore pleased that the
new Secretary of State has listened, considered
our view and concluded that the previous decision cannot simply proceed.
‘The government now has an opportunity to reset this process. My view remains that we should
bring Hampshire and the Solent’s councils back
around the table, give them the time and information necessary to develop a properly costed
and financially sustainable solution, and wherever possible build consensus around it.’
Council elections will go ahead in May 2027.
Home Library Service available
DID you know that Hampshire Libraries offer a free
monthly service to anyone
who finds it difficult to access
a library due to ill-health,
disability or caring responsibilities?
The Home Library Service
provides an opportunity for
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of reading, even if they find it
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or maybe digitally excluded.
The service can deliver a
variety of library materials
including books in standard
and large print, audio books
in various formats, specialist
items such as those from our
Reminiscence Collection and
even jigsaw puzzles.
The service is adapted for
each individual and ensures
everyone has access to the
library materials they enjoy.
Specially recruited volunteers are matched to customers in their own communities
and visit their homes each
month.
This service can be a lifeline
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limitations, plus regular contact with a friendly volunteer.
Applying for the service is
easy. If you or someone you
know would benefit from this
service, you can enquire at
your local library or online via
the Hampshire Library website by selecting ‘Access for All’,
then ‘Home Library Service’
and completing a short form.
Applicants then receive a
phone call to discuss their
needs and preferences.
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