Voters across Hampshire will go to the polls in May after the Government confirmed that local elections will take place as planned.
Elections for Hampshire County Council, Southampton City Council, Portsmouth City Council and the Isle of Wight, along with other authorities, will all go ahead. The confirmation was issued today by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.
The announcement ends months of uncertainty, with speculation that planned local government reorganisation could lead to a delay.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Rt Hon Steve Reed OBE MP described the changes as a landmark moment for local authorities. He said the reforms would cut through two-tier bureaucracy, allowing faster decisions on housing, simpler access to services and more money to be spent on priorities such as road repairs, tackling crime and supporting older people.
Mr Reed said the decision followed careful consideration of concerns raised during consultation. He thanked those who shared their views on issues including capacity, reorganisation and democracy.
The Leader of Hampshire County Council, Nick Adams-King, welcomed the confirmation. He said he was pleased the Government had made the right decision and that elections would go ahead in Hampshire, adding that democracy should not be set aside when it becomes difficult.
