Leader warns of 'disruptive' council changes

Hampshire County Council leader Nick Adams-King

Plans to overhaul the local government system could be "hugely disruptive", Hampshire's council leader has warned.

The government has announced plans to reduce the overall number of councils and give more powers to mayors.

It said the reforms were a "turning point" in delivering local infrastructure and services.

Hampshire County Council's Conservative leader, Nick Adams-King, said devolution could help with planning and public transport but he was in "despair" over plans for local government restructuring.

Announcing the plans, deputy prime minister Angela Rayner described the UK as the "most centralised" country in Europe and pledged to end "micromanaging by central government".

The proposals to streamline local authorities could see the borough and district councils in like East Hampshire, Eastleigh and Test Valley abolished.

The areas grouped together would have an elected metro mayor who would decide how to spend government money on things like transport and infrastructure.

In most of Hampshire, the county council is responsible for schools, waste tips and social care, while district councils look after parks, leisure centres and rubbish collections.

Southampton and Portsmouth are unitary city councils which provide the full range of council services.

Havant Borough Council leader, Labour's Philip Munday, said the plans were "not unreasonable", particularly if the government provided extra resources.

"There would be advantages in some cases ... like the collection of rubbish from your house which is done by Havant, but where that rubbish goes and how it is processed is done by Hampshire, which I can see could cause a waste of resources.

"However, I am worried that our government is quite local so it will be important when we talk about this to make sure that we get the best deal for Havant."

Conservative leader of New Forest District Council, Jill Cleary, said the authority was reviewing the implications of the proposals, adding: "My commitment remains to ensure the New Forest has a strong voice in the discussions to come."

New Forest District Council leader Jill Cleary said the authority was reviewing the implications

Mr Adams-King said: "That idea of giving strategic powers to a mayor - enabling us to do planning better, to do public transport better, to do health better - that is a good idea.

"The idea of trying to reorganise councils at the same time is the bit that leaves me in a bit of despair - that's hugely disruptive.

"We risk losing any of the benefits that the government are talking about in terms of saving money with the disruption and the uncertainty."