East Hampshire District Council’s bid to bow out as one of the authorities which shaped local government reorganisation in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight is nearing completion.

While Gosport Borough Council has stood aloof from the process after rejecting reorganisation, and 12 other councils have combined on a plan for five unitary authorities to replace the current 15 councils, East Hampshire and Hampshire County Council want to cover the area with four unitaries.

Following public consultations with around 5,000 people and organisations this summer, East Hampshire’s full council will consider the proposal on September 25, with cabinet expected to confirm it the next day before submission to the government.

The government wants to replace the two-tier system, where county and district councils provide separate services, with unitary councils providing all local services.

East Hampshire and Hampshire’s proposal is the same as that put together by the group of 12 councils in some respects, with Portsmouth, Gosport, Havant and Fareham linked together and the Isle of Wight standing alone.

But it differs in wanting to cover a vast area from Ringwood to Farnborough with just two huge councils combining nine of the existing authorities.

Yet East Hampshire believes this model has “local identity and community voice at its heart” as well as being “simpler, stronger and more secure”.

East Hampshire District Council leader Cllr Richard Millard said: “By proposing the four-unitary model we are setting the stage for a stronger, more sustainable and more responsive system of local government.

“It enables us to safeguard essential services, achieve meaningful savings and modernise local democracy for future generations.

“Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their thoughts with us. It is essential that residents have a stake in the future of their local councils and your views will help form the final proposals to be discussed by councillors at the end of September.”

Hampshire County Council leader Cllr Nick Adams-King said: “We’re approaching a key moment in shaping a better future for local government in Hampshire and the Solent.

“I want to thank everyone who took part in our summer engagement. Your feedback is helping to shape a proposal that county councillors will be considering very soon, before our final choice is submitted to government later this month.

“It will then be for government to decide on which options they formally consult the public. This is about securing a better future for Hampshire and the Solent, and I’m proud of the important and detailed work we have done to get to this point.”

The proposed model aims to give better value for money, strengthen local leadership, bring services closer to communities, save around £50 million per year, protect front-line services for those most in need, ensure long-term financial sustainability, and unlock the area’s potential to innovate and grow the local economy.

The government is expected to consult the public later this year, with a final decision in spring 2026.