HAMPSHIRE County Council has launched an eight-week public consultation on how its residents would like to see local government operate – and if they support plans to split the county.

The ‘Serving Hampshire’ consultation sets out potential options for how the county and its 11 district councils could change to meet ongoing funding cuts by Whitehall in the face of rising demand for services such as social care for children and vulnerable adults.

Residents can also respond to proposals for a Solent combined authority involving the councils for Portsmouth, Southampton and the Isle of Wight with the potential to include some of Hampshire’s district councils in the future.

County council leader Roy Perry said: “We want everyone to have their say on an issue which will affect generations to come,

“It is particularly relevant as the priorities for Sajid Javid, the new Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, include devolving decision-making powers to local areas and helping communities deliver excellent public services.

“I’ve written to Mr Javid to tell him of our consultation, and hope to meet with him and discuss how to help people in Hampshire to take more control of their own future.

“Since the proposal for a Solent combined authority emerged involving the councils for Portsmouth, Southampton and the Isle of Wight with the potential to include district councils in the future, we face the prospect of the county being split, and the damage this would do to high-quality, county-wide services.

“Feedback from our consultation will help to inform decisions about how vital services could be protected in future, such as roads, rights of way, social care for vulnerable children and adults, and essential infrastructure to support new housing - without damaging delivery or compromising on performance.

“Before any changes are agreed for Hampshire, I am determined to listen first and decide later – not the other way around.

Mr Perry added: “I note the unitary councils of Portsmouth, Southampton and the Isle of Wight are asking people for their views on the proposals for a Solent combined authority, but our consultation is different in so much as we are asking people what they think before any proposals are made.

“We have always been a staunch advocate of the two-tier local government system and have worked to engage with Hampshire’s 11 district councils on our proposals and encourage them to join us in our consultation.

“Unfortunately, it hasn’t been possible to reach an agreement with them, but we hope all the districts will engage with this exercise, in the interests of the communities they serve.

“Local people know what’s best for their communities, which is why we are undertaking this objective, careful, independent consultation exercise to find out what the people of Hampshire want.

“I urge everyone to provide their views.”

The consultation will be carried out by independent researchers Ipsos MORI, and the findings will help Hampshire consider what recommendations to make to central government, to ensure any proposals for change or local government reorganisation that might be taken forward are informed by the preferences of residents and other interested groups.