Eastleigh joins councils across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to launch major public survey on the future of local government
A chance for residents to have their say on what matters
Eastleigh Borough Council is working with 11 other local councils to ask residents how they want local government to work in the future.
From Monday 30 June, a new survey will give everyone in the area a chance to have their say on what matters most, from local identity to how services are run and decisions are made:
https://ourplaceourfuture.commonplace.is
The Government has asked councils in areas like Eastleigh, where services are currently split between borough/district and county councils, to propose simpler structures. The aim is to create new “unitary” councils that would be responsible for most local services in one area. Parish and town councils would continue to exist and provide services at the very local level.
Councils across the area have worked together to develop ideas that reflect how people live, work and travel today. The preferred option would replace the current 15 councils with four new unitary councils on the mainland and keep the Isle of Wight as it is. Eastleigh has made clear that a small Southampton-Eastleigh unitary would not work for local people, and would fail the financial and service tests.
The online survey is being run independently, and all responses will help shape the proposals submitted to Government later this year.
Councillor Keith House, Leader of Eastleigh Borough Council, said:
“This is the biggest shake-up of local councils in 50 years, and it’s being driven from the top down. But we’re determined to make sure that local voices are heard.
We’ve been clear we won’t back a model that puts short-term savings over local identity or service quality. Bigger doesn’t always mean better. What matters is that the new councils reflect real places and work for the people who live there.
Now we need residents to get involved. Whether you care about where decisions are made, how your bins are collected, or what happens to local parks, this is your chance to help shape the future.”
The survey launches on Monday 30 June and runs until Sunday 27 July. It takes around 10 minutes to complete and is open to all residents aged 16 or over.