The Rushmoor Borough Council Overview and Scrutiny Committee met on 4 September 2025 to discuss the local government reorganisation, and to review the committee's work plan. Councillor Gareth Williams, Leader of the Council, was invited to attend the meeting to discuss local government reorganisation. The committee was also scheduled to confirm the minutes of the previous meeting and to appoint a new member to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Progress Group.

Local Government Reorganisation

The committee was scheduled to discuss Report No. ED2505, which concerns the council's response to the government's proposals for local government reorganisation (LGR) in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. The report was intended to allow for pre-decision scrutiny ahead of a Cabinet meeting on 16 September and a council meeting on 25 September.

The government is seeking to establish a single tier of local government across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. The council has been working with KPMG and 11 other councils across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to develop a business case for the proposals, which was due to be submitted to the government by 26 September 2025.

The report sets out how four new unitary councils on the mainland would meet the government's criteria, by:

• driving economic growth and housing delivery
• delivering high quality and sustainable public services with a focus on innovation and transformation to improve outcomes for communities
• achieving significant savings while being large enough to be financially sustainable
• unlocking and maximising devolution arrangements, working effectively alongside the Isle of Wight Council and the new elected Mayor for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, as constituent members of the strategic authority
• effectively engaging, empowering and serving their local communities by providing opportunities for residents to shape local decisions.

The report also includes a summary of how the proposal meets six assessment criteria, including achieving a single tier of local government, being the right size to achieve efficiencies, prioritising the delivery of high quality public services, demonstrating how councils have worked together, supporting devolution arrangements, and enabling stronger community engagement.

The council undertook a consultation with residents, businesses, and other stakeholders to gather their views on the proposals. Despite talking with over 950 local residents, the council noted that response to the LGR consultation surveys was relatively low .

The council considered three options for the four new mainland unitaries, with the Isle of Wight remaining independent. All three variations include a North Hampshire Unitary Council encompassing the areas covered by Rushmoor, Basingstoke and Deane, and Hart. Option 3 was recommended as the council's preferred option, as it:

provides a more balanced population split across the proposed mainland unitaries and aligns most closely with the principles of establishing new unitary councils based around the major population centres and urban economies.

The Cabinet report was scheduled to recommend that the council approve the full proposal to government, confirming that a five-unitary council structure would best meet the government's criteria. It also recommended that a unitary council based on the areas of Rushmoor, Hart, and Basingstoke and Deane is the recommended option for Rushmoor.

Work Plan

The committee was scheduled to consider the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Plan for the 2025/26 municipal year. The work plan is intended to plan, manage, and co-ordinate the ongoing activity and progress of the committee.

The committee was scheduled to receive updates on the work of the Registered Providers Task and Finish Group, the Council Tax Support Scheme, and the Farnborough Airport Task and Finish Group.

The committee was also scheduled to discuss issues currently being progressed in line with the council delivery plan for 2025/26, including skills, economy and business, homes for all, community and wellbeing, pride in place, and the future and financial sustainability.

The workflow for June 2025 to March 2026 includes items such as appointments, the Registered Providers Annual Report, the Housing and Homelessness Prevention Strategy, Local Government Reorganisation, Police and Community Safety, Community Engagement, the SERCO Walk this Waste Pilot, Leisure Centre pre-decision scrutiny, finance, and regeneration and the Civic Quarter.