Frequently Asked Questions
Your questions answered
LGR is a national process that looks at how councils are structured in a local area.
In places with a county council and separate district/borough councils (a “two-tier” system), the government wants to instead create single-tier unitary councils that run most local services in one organisation.
The aim of LGR is to reorganise councils so that they have clearer accountability, better join-up of services, and long-term financial sustainability.
On 25 March 2026, the Government announced that it intends to implement Option 1A for local government reorganisation in Hampshire, Portsmouth, Southampton and the Isle of Wight.
This will create five unitary councils, with targeted boundary changes around Southampton and Portsmouth. There are still legal steps to complete before the new councils are formally created.
No. Nothing changes overnight. There are formal legal steps before any new council starts. Council services continue as normal unless we tell you otherwise.
The Government now needs to complete the legal process to implement its decision. This is expected to include a Structural Change Order and then a shadow period, when the new council is elected and prepares to take over.
The current expected timetable is:
- Summer 2026: legislation expected to be laid
- Autumn 2026: Parliament approval expected
- May 2027: shadow authority elections
- 1 April 2028: the new councils formally start
A shadow council is elected before the new council formally starts. It prepares the new council for day one, including governance, senior appointments, budgets and implementation planning.
A unitary authority is a single council that is responsible for almost all local services in an area.
At the moment in most of Hampshire, some services (like education and social care) are run by Hampshire County Council and others (like waste and planning) are run by district or borough councils such as Eastleigh. In a unitary system, one council would do both.
The Government has said it intends to implement Option 1A. In summary, this means five unitary councils across Hampshire, Portsmouth, Southampton and the Isle of Wight, with targeted boundary changes around Southampton and Portsmouth.
Further legal steps are still needed before the new councils are formally established.
Eastleigh supported the 'five-unitary councils' proposal, and within it Option 1A, because we believe it is the best fit for how local people live their lives.
Option 1A brings together communities that already share strong links for work, education, health and leisure. It creates councils that are large enough to be financially sustainable, but not so large that they feel remote or hard to influence.
The proposal lines up new council areas with key services and infrastructure, such as hospitals, ports, airports and major transport routes. It also creates councils with more balanced populations and council tax bases, which supports long-term stability.
Option 1A keeps the Isle of Wight as its own council and maintains a distinct North Hampshire unitary council. Overall, we think this model reflects our local communities and helps protect services.
For now, nothing changes.
You still contact Eastleigh Borough Council in the usual ways. You use the same services and facilities. You pay your bills in the same way.
If Government approves changes, there will be a transition period. We would explain what is happening, when it will happen and what it means for you well in advance.
Services would continue. If new councils are created, staff, contracts and budgets would move to those councils in a planned way. This is how reorganisations have been managed in other parts of the country.
The aim is to keep services running smoothly while the new council structures are set up.
our bins, recycling, parks and local facilities will continue.
In the longer term, a new council might choose to change things like collection days or opening times so they are more consistent across a wider area. If that happened, we would explain clearly what is changing and when.
Assets owned by Eastleigh Borough Council, such as parks, leisure centres and community buildings, would transfer to any new council, unless they are already owned by parish or town councils or independent trusts.
If new councils are created, planning services would sit within those new councils.
Planning applications that are currently decided by Eastleigh Borough Council would be decided by the new South West Hampshire council. Existing Local Plans would transfer to the new authority and stay in force unless and until they are replaced.
New councils could still choose to use local planning committees or similar arrangements so local knowledge continues to shape decisions.
Council tax is set each year by councils within national rules.
Where new councils are formed, Government normally expects council tax to be brought into line over time so people in similar homes pay similar amounts across the new area. Any changes would follow national rules and would be explained clearly.
If services move into a new council, the usual approach is that staff transfer to the new employer under legal protections. The new council would then work with staff and trade unions on future structures. The focus is on protecting frontline services and skills.
Yes, you would still elect local councillors to represent you. What may change are the ward boundaries, the number of councillors and how local committees or area forums are set up.
Parish and town councils would remain. Any new councils would also need ways for communities to have their say, including through consultation and engagement.
Creating new councils has one-off costs, for example new systems, legal work and staff time.
The joint “five councils” proposal sets out expected up-front costs and estimated ongoing savings. The councils believe that, once changes are in place, the new system could save at least £63.9m a year across the area by reducing duplication and sharing services.
These savings are intended to help protect local services over the long term.