County Council leader vows judicial review over reorganisation plans if re-elected

In March, the Government announced plans to back reorganisation proposals that would see the county divided into five new unitary authorities, replacing the 15 county, district, borough and unitary councils currently serving the county.

These new unitaries would be:

• North Hampshire: Basingstoke, Hart and Rushmoor
• Mid Hampshire: New Forest, Test Valley, Winchester and East Hampshire
• South West Hampshire: Eastleigh and Southampton
• South East Hampshire: Portsmouth, Havant, Gosport and Fareham
• Isle of Wight

The proposal differs from the model supported by the county council, which would have seen four unitary authorities created, three on the Hampshire mainland and one for the Isle of Wight.

In an online post on Thursday (30 April), Cllr Adams-King said: "If the Conservatives are returned to control [Hampshire County Council] on May 7th, we will pursue a Judicial Review to challenge these Local Government Reorganisation plans.

"Because let’s be honest — that is the only way this gets stopped. The Government has already ignored consultations. They’ve ignored survey responses. And I fear they’ll ignore petitions too.

"This now requires legal challenge — and we are ready to take that on."

He said the Government's proposals ignore local identity and the views of locals, while also splitting long-standing communities.

The plans will also draw money away from rural areas and into city authorities, according to Adams-King, who added: "Around 50% of Test Valley's business rates, and 54% of those from the New Forest, come from the areas proposed to move to Southampton.

"What's left behind is a large, predominantly rural, Mid-Hampshire without that economic base."

The legal threat comes two weeks on from New Forest District Council voting to explore its options on challenging the plans, including potential litigation.

The discussion took place after a petition calling for the council to seek a judicial review of the plans amassed more than 14,000 signatures.

The petition raised particular concern that the proposals, which include two unitary councils across the district's area, would "break the New Forest apart".

In a full council meeting, the district's leader, Jill Cleary, said she shared the “frustration” and “hatred” of the decision, stating: “Because you can’t hate it more than I do.”

She later added: “Let’s wait and see what counsel comes back with as to whether we can challenge it, how we can challenge it.”

Adam Carey