What it means for residents

What local government reorganisation means for you

From collecting rubbish and recycling, ensuring safe roads and planning our towns and cities, to providing good schools and education, social care, libraries and much more, local councils provide a wide variety of important services that people access every day.

As we transition to future councils and beyond, most of these services will continue to be provided in the same way. For example, your bins will continue to be collected, and your local library will open and operate as usual. Over time, the future councils may make changes to the services they provide. They will keep you informed.

Until the future councils come into effect on 1 April 2028, you should continue to contact your current council(s) for services, information and support as normal.

Once the future councils are in place on 1 April 2028, the services in your area will be provided by your area’s new council. At that point, who you need to contact will change.

The aim is to make things simpler for residents. If you live in an area currently served by two councils, you will only need to contact one council in the future to access all council services.

Our shared priority is to make sure we continue to deliver services effectively while the preparations for the future councils take place. We will share further details about any service changes well before they happen.

Having your say

In May 2027, everyone living in Hampshire will have the chance to vote for new councillors to represent them on their future council.

Before the new councils begin operating on 1 April 2028, these councillors will continue the work of the joint committees to prepare for the transition. On 1 April 2028, they will officially take office and serve a four-year term.

Find out more about the elections on our Elections page.

Keeping you updated

We encourage you to check this website for the latest Hampshire-wide information about local government reorganisation.

As the programme progresses, we will publish updates, key milestones and details of any changes that may affect council services.