Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation
Key messages
In December the Government announced a major programme of reform for local government including two related but separate initiatives:
- Devolving powers and funding from Whitehall to local areas by establishing regional Mayoral Strategic Authorities with populations of 1.5 million plus in all areas of England which don’t already have them
- Ending two-tier county and district council arrangements by reorganising local government to create new unitary local authorities with populations of at least 500,000
Devolution
For Southampton this will likely mean a new strategic regional Mayor for Southampton, Portsmouth, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
A new Mayor will have responsibility for driving local economic growth, strategic planning and infrastructure, strategic transport and other areas with powers and funding passed down from government departments to the Mayor.
This will be a big change for Southampton and will bring tens of millions of pounds of new investment as well as access to additional powers to improve for economic growth, skills, transport and collaboration across our region.
The Mayoral Strategic Authority will not replace local councils, they will work closely with local authorities in the region to develop and deliver their plans with most of their focus on responsibilities which are currently held by Whitehall.
Southampton, Portsmouth, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight have submitted an application to join the Devolution Priority programme which would mean a new Mayoral Strategic Authority for the region is set up early next year with Mayoral elections in May 2026.
Local Government Reorganisation
Government intends to end the current two-tier system of counties and district councils in some areas by creating unitary councils across the whole country with populations of around 500,000.
Southampton City Council is a unitary already but is surrounded by district councils and has a population of 265,000 so a larger unitary authority will need to be created as part of the reorganisation.
While there has been quite a lot of speculation about potential combinations, it is still very early days, and no decisions have been made.
We will be working with neighbouring local authorities to develop proposals for our area over the coming months. Formal proposals need to be submitted to Government in the Autumn with the new council arrangements likely to come into effect in 2027 or 2028.
Frequently asked questions - Devolution
When will we elect a Mayor for Southampton, Portsmouth, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight?
SHOW
Southampton, Portsmouth, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight have been working together to develop proposals for a regional Mayoral Strategic Authority for some time. We have recently been accepted onto the Government’s Devolution Priority Programme which means that elections for a new regional Mayor should be held in May 2026.
What will the new Mayor do?
SHOW
The new regional Mayor will be given powers and funding from government to coordinate and drive improvement our region with a particular focus on economic growth, improving transport connectivity, investment in infrastructure and setting the strategic planning framework for the area. They will also represent and champion the region with Government, nationally and internationally.
Who will the new Mayor be?
SHOW
Elections for the new regional Mayor will be held in May 2026 with residents across Southampton, Portsmouth, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight eligible to vote. The Mayor will be elected for a four-year term.
Will the regional Mayor be responsible for council services like bin collection or social care?
SHOW
No, local councils will continue to be responsible for the services they run now. The Mayoral Strategic Authority will primarily be responsible for functions currently held by national Government like strategic transport improvement and economic growth and investment.
Will a Mayoral Strategic Authority mean more funding for Southampton?
SHOW
Yes, the new Mayoral Strategic Authority will mean significant amounts of government funding devolved to a regional level. This will mean more investment in the infrastructure of our region focused on local, rather than national, priorities.
Does this mean Southampton, Portsmouth, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight councils are merging?
SHOW
No, the new Mayoral Strategic Authority is a regional level of government which will primarily take on roles currently held by national government departments. Local councils will continue to exist and deliver the services they currently provide. The government is separately making some changes to the setup of local councils – see Local Government Reorganisation – but this is not related to setting up a Mayoral Strategic Authority.
How can I have my say on the proposals to set up a Mayoral Strategic Authority?
SHOW
The Government intend to run a public consultation on proposals for Mayoral Strategic Authorities in the early part of 2025. Once this is launched Southampton City Council will promote the consultation on its communication channels and with community groups to ensure everyone can have their say.
Frequently asked questions - Local Government reorganisation
What is the Government changing about councils?
SHOW
Government wants to end the current two-tier system of counties and district councils in some areas by creating unitary councils across the whole country with populations of around 500,000.
What is the difference between county, district and unitary councils?
SHOW
Some areas have two councils – a county and a district council which split responsibility for different services between them. For example, if you live in Brockenhurst you would be part of the New Forest District Council and Hampshire County Council. Other areas have just one council – a unitary council responsible for all services. For example, residents in Southampton are only part of Southampton City Council.
County councils provide strategic services which cover the whole county such as education, waste disposal and adult social care.
District councils are smaller and provide local services such as refuse collection, environmental health, and leisure facilities.
Unitary councils are responsible for all local government services in their area.
Is Southampton City Council a unitary, county or district council?
SHOW
Southampton City Council is a unitary local authority.
How will Local Government reorganisation impact Southampton City Council?
SHOW
Southampton City Council has a population of 265,000 and is surrounded by district councils which will no longer exist so it will be impacted by local government reorganisation.
The Government would like new unitary councils to have populations of around 500,000 so it is likely that as part of local government reorganisation a larger unitary authority will need to be created.
Does that mean Southampton City Council be merged with other councils?
SHOW
The Government have asked councils to work together to develop and submit proposals to create new unitary councils including setting out what they think the geographies of each council should be. The criteria the Government would like councils to consider has not been confirmed yet other than that councils should have populations of around 500,000 or more.
When will proposals for new council boundaries be finalised?
SHOW
Government has asked for final formal proposals to be submitted in the Autumn for them to consider. A date for when the Government will make its final decisions has not been announced however they expect the new councils to be in place for April 2027 or April 2028.
How will proposals be drawn up?
SHOW
Southampton City Council will be working with neighbouring local authorities to develop proposals for our area over the coming months. These will be based on criteria which the Government are set to announce early this year.
Who makes the final decision on local government reorganisation proposals?
SHOW
Councils have been asked to work together to submit proposals, however final decisions will be taken by Government Ministers.
