IT could be one of the biggest shake-ups Hampshire has seen in decades.

But now a war of words has broken out between two council leaders over the future of local government in Test Valley.

Hampshire County Council leader Roy Perry and his Test Valley Borough Council counterpart Ian Carr have clashed this week over plans to completely reshape the way the area is governed.

The feud began after Cllr Carr voiced his “deep concerns” about HCC’s decision to launch a consultation asking residents what changes they would like to see for local government across the county.

The Conservative politician slammed the options on the public consultation as “narrow” and “self-serving” and described the document as “premature”.

He also warned residents could end up “paying more for less” in regards to services.

In a statement, Cllr Carr said: “At a time when the government is advising councils to work together, I am particularly disappointed that HCC have refused to undertake a joint consultation with all the other district and borough councils in Hampshire.

Hampshire Chronicle:

“I do not believe that it will be in the interests of Test Valley residents to spend their time completing this one-sided consultation – or, if they do, I would suggest that they tick the box for creating NO new unitary authorities on the grounds that they simply don’t have the evidence to make an informed decision at this point in time.

“It is vital that we do not rush into a quick ill-informed assessment of something that will last for years and have a significant impact on the quality of our residents’ lives.”

Cllr Carr’s comments come following the launch of HCC’s public consultation into possible changes to the structure of local government in Hampshire.

Cllr Perry wants residents’ views on a range of other proposals that, if implemented, could sweep away the existing system of councils in Hampshire and lead to a major change in how services are run.

He hit back at Cllr Carr’s recent jibes.

He claims his preferred option, which is to turn Hampshire into a unitary authority, similar to the current system in Wiltshire will reduce council tax and save more than £40million per year.

Hampshire Chronicle:

“I am disappointed at his reaction to the county council’s decision to consult with the residents of the county before potentially, far-reaching decisions about local government in our county are taken,” he said.

“As leader of the county council, my simple commitment is to listen first.

“There is a developed bid by the Solent cities – under the guise of devolution – to establish new governance arrangements for their area which they aim to subsequently embrace parts of the county area. 

“This would have the effect of splitting the county council and potentially the county of Hampshire and putting crucial services like highways and then child care and adult care at risk. 

“I don’t think that would be good for the area as a whole and I believe many people agree with me.”

Romsey-based Test Valley Borough and Hampshire County Councillor Mark Cooper has also weighed into the fray.

Hampshire Chronicle: Cllr Mark Cooper, pictured on Botley Road playing fields, in front of Whitenap Fields where there are plans to build 2000 new homes (55624305)

He said the borough council “seems to have completely misunderstood where the government was going on this one”. 

He has backed Cllr Perry, even if it means Test Valley loses some of its 48 district councillors, which he sees as “way too many”.

“Because there is no recommended model, Hampshire holds the high ground and Test Valley and its leader, Ian Carr, look as if they’re objecting to ‘consultation’ as a process.

“I support Hampshire on this one. Solent and Heart of Hampshire declared themselves without a smidgeon of public consultation. Hampshire has gone for consultation first and will put a model to government at the end of the consultation. That, I think, is the moral high ground.” 

He added: “Test Valley Borough Council always was a construct of residual bits ofn Hampshire. I’ve served on TVBC for 30 years; I wouldn’t miss it.”

Cllr Perry stressed that he is not setting out a preferred option for what should happen, but that he wants to hear what the county’s residents want.

Already the county council has spent £150,000 on the consultation and a report by consultants Deloitte spelling out seven different options, all of which would see some councils disappear or be fundamentally changed.

They include: 

  • Setting up one huge council which could provide all of the services for Hampshire, including Portsmouth, Southampton and the Isle of Wight, which are currently unitary authorities; 
  • One council without those areas but spelling the end for the district and boroughs; 
  • One dividing the county in western and eastern halves.

If any of them come to pass and a new unitary authority, such as one that provides all services in an area, is created, it would bring together services such as waste collection and street cleaning from boroughs and districts, and adult’s and children’s social care from the county council.

At the same time three other councils – Southampton, Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight – are set to press ahead with plans for a historic devolution deal that they say could give the region “control over its own destiny”.

Originally, the whole county was set to follow the lead of Greater Manchester and take control of hundreds of millions of pounds in funding that is currently allocated and spent by the government.

But a bitter row over former chancellor George Osborne’s insistence on a directly-elected mayor to head up the new combined authority, as it will be called, led to the break-up of the Hampshire-wide bid.

Since then the government has pursued setting up the new authority with Southampton, Portsmouth, the Isle of Wight and the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership – and Eastleigh, Fareham, Gosport, Havant and East Hampshire then expected. 

With Test Valley, and other boroughs in Hampshire not involved, Cllr Carr and fellow leaders of authorities such as the New Forest believe their “Heart of Hampshire” proposal will best serve residents in their boroughs.

The concept would result in authorities such as Test Valley leaving HCC to form their own joint authority and creating ‘trusts’ which would take over responsibility of current county-led services.

If the proposals for a Solent Combined Authority’s go ahead it will change the way those councils receive funding, with government grants replaced by business rates.

Southampton City Council leader Simon Letts says the deal will result in “better jobs, better homes and better prospects for our residents”, with the authority also able to set aside money to develop people’s skills and training.

Although the authority would be on the edge of Romsey, people in Romsey can’t have their say on it.

Cllr Carr has previously said he would not want to Test Valley split in half by the new authority.

The county council’s Serving Hampshire consultation for residents living in the county council area ends at 11.59pm on September 20.

You can take part at www.hants.gov.uk/servinghampshire.

The consultation on the combined authority proposals for residents in Southampton, Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight closes on Sunday, September 18.