On 6 February 2025, the Government announced that Hampshire County Council, Portsmouth and Southampton City Councils and Isle of Wight Council had been successful in their joint bid for inclusion on the Government's fast-track Devolution Priority Programme.  

A regional Mayor will be elected in May 2026 to head up a new Strategic Authority across the wider region.  The mayor will be responsible for driving local economic growth, strategic planning and infrastructure, strategic transport and other areas.  Their powers and funding will be transferred from government departments. 

As part of the devolution proposals, Hampshire County Council asked for the County Council elections, due this May, to be postponed for 12 months.  This has now been agreed. 

Alongside devolution, Hampshire County Council has been asked to work with its partners to outline proposals for local government reorganisation, to replace the current two-tier council system, which is in place across most of the region including Hart, with several new unitary councils.  

Local authorities need to submit high level proposals showing how they will work together to address the government criteria as part of the local government reorganisation by 21 March 2025. 

To enable parish and town councils to have an input into the process, an online meeting has been arranged for Wednesday 26 February 2025 at 7.00 p.m.  The session will allow town and parish councils to be fully briefed, take part in discussions and put forward views.