Leader confirms rural unitary authority as preferred Local Government Reorganisation option
21 March 2025
At our special meeting of Cabinet today (9am, Friday 21 March 2025), councillors reiterated their position on Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), backing a rural-focused unitary authority as the best option for the New Forest area.
Councillors have made it clear that they do not feel LGR is the right thing for the New Forest and would not benefit the residents of the district. There is consensus across the Council that Members should work together to develop proposals urgently, that work across Hampshire and the Solent, and that keep the New Forest together.
Council Leader Cllr Jill Cleary and her Cabinet, with input from Council (20 March) and cross-party support, agreed to approve the joint submission to government of the Interim Local Government Reorganisation Plan for Hampshire and the Solent.
Cllr Cleary confirmed that her priority with LGR 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, saying at the Council meeting the evening before,
"I know this issue before us tonight is one of fundamental importance. The Minister himself has said this is the biggest reorganisation of local government in half a century.
"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."
Councillors reviewed the interim plan, developed with the other Hampshire councils in the LGR process, which will be submitted to Government on 21 March.
Cllr Cleary, talking about why a rural model is favoured, said,
"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."
This followed debate at the Council meeting the evening before, where Members referred to the New Forest's unique market town and village economy, rural in its nature with a coherent historic identity, focused on the Forest and not considered to be compatible with an urban economic geography.
The interim plan, which can be read on our website, establishes guiding principles that all Hampshire councils have added their support to.
Summing up, Cllr Cleary said,
"It may not be fully in my gift, but I promise you I will make it my top priority to represent the Forest through the next stage in discussions."
We have set aside £150,000 to support the LGR programme with the aim of protecting local services.
We will now wait for feedback from government.
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