Hart District Council's cabinet met on 16 September 2025, and endorsed a plan for local government reorganisation, approved a draft local plan programme, and agreed on an approach for budget setting. The cabinet also approved the designation of Eversley Parish as a neighbourhood area and endorsed in principle an action plan following feedback from the Local Government Association (LGA).

Local Government Reorganisation

The cabinet recommended that the full council endorse the submission of the council's proposal for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) to the government by the 26 September 2025 deadline. The proposal, titled 'Close enough to be local, big enough to stay strong', outlines how a single tier of local government could be established across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight (HIOW).

The council is recommending a five-unitary council structure, with four new mainland unitary councils plus the Isle of Wight, as the most effective solution. The preferred option for Hart District Council is to be part of a unitary authority combined with Basingstoke and Deane and Rushmoor (referred to as Northern Hampshire in the proposal). This is conditional on the government approving a modification to the original Option 1 proposal to incorporate Option 1A, which includes boundary changes that the council believes better meet government criteria.

Councillor David Neighbour, Leader of the Council, proposed an amended recommendation, which was seconded by Councillor Richard Quarterman, Portfolio Holder - Climate Change and Corporate Services. The recommendation included a request that a covering letter be submitted to the Secretary of State, highlighting Hart and Rushmoor's 'Silver' Award in recognition of their efforts regarding the Military Covenant¹ and Natural England's acknowledgement of their collaboration in protecting the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area (TBHSPA).

Councillor Graham Cockarill, Portfolio Holder - Planning Policy, voted against the recommendation.

Draft Local Plan Programme

The cabinet agreed to proceed with work on a new local plan in line with the Project Initiation Document (PID). They also approved a budget of £2,421,000 for expenditure on the local plan to the end of March 2028, with an additional £1.421m being allocated from the general fund working balance. The updated Local Development Scheme (timetable) was also approved for publication and immediate effect.

The plan aims for adoption by October 2028, coinciding with the anticipated local government reorganisation. The timetable and project plan are based on the new plan-making system introduced through the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023.

Councillor Cockarill introduced the draft local plan programme, highlighting the need for a new local plan due to changes in national planning legislation and housing numbers. He noted that these changes have affected the district's ability to demonstrate a land supply to planning inspectors.

Members raised concerns about the challenging timeframe, the future of the local plan post-reorganisation, and the feasibility of a joint local plan among merging authorities. They emphasised the importance of progressing the plan swiftly to protect residents from speculative development.

Budget Strategy

The cabinet agreed on the approach for budget setting for 2026/27 and beyond. Councillor James Radley, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder - Finance, introduced the report, which sets out the approach and high-level actions aimed at supporting the budget-setting process.

The council anticipates a budget shortfall exceeding £1 million and plans to address this through savings and reserves to avoid abrupt reactions. The strategy includes cautious assumptions and preparation for unknowns such as government funding for food waste collection and the fairer funding review.

Members discussed the length of the settlement period, whether planning performance agreements would be considered self-funding and outside the standard budget growth, and the need for proper resourcing to ensure agreed service standards continued to be met.

Corporate Peer Challenge Action Plan

The cabinet endorsed in principle the Action Plan arising from the Local Government Association (LGA) 2025 Corporate Peer Challenge (CPC) feedback report for Hart District Council. Councillor Neighbour introduced the draft Action Plan, noting that it includes updating the corporate plan with a refresh rather than a full rewrite, given the limited remaining council term of 2.5 years.

The focus includes service delivery improvements, customer experience, and preparing for the transition to the new authority. The Corporate Plan will be refreshed in November 2025.

Members discussed consultation fatigue due to ongoing LGR-related surveys and emphasised realistic expectations about the scope of updates. They also discussed the importance of the peer challenge's recommendations to maintain ambition and service quality, as well as AI efficiencies and service transformation.

Designating Eversley Parish as a Neighbourhood Area

The cabinet approved the designation of the parish of Eversley as a neighbourhood area, as proposed by the Parish Council in its application. Councillor Cockarill introduced the proposal, noting that Eversley Parish is one of the few remaining parishes in the district without such a plan. The entire parish is proposed as the neighbourhood area, aligning with regulations.

Members questioned alternative boundary definitions, especially considering a proposed housing development adjacent to Yateley. They heard that the parish could define its neighbourhood plan area differently from its boundaries, but any changes must be agreed upon and cannot arbitrarily alter parish boundaries.