District councillors met last night (Tuesday) to hear the latest on a bid for government to devolve power to a body representing Hampshire district and city councils, and Hampshire County Council.
In a pre-briefing report, council leader Cllr Ferris Cowper said: “Within two weeks I expect the bid to be dead.”
Just before the private meeting, an East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) spokesman told the Post that view was still current.
One negative for the devolution group was the Government’s insistence on an elected Hampshire Mayor if devolution went ahead.
It’s likely this ‘overlord’ would have had the final say on how to spend the millions of pounds of government funds devolution would bring to Hampshire.
The condition that more homes must be built across Hampshire was another issue. They would be extra to existing government targets, such as the ‘minimum’ of 700 new homes in the Petersfield Neighbourhood Plan.
From the start of the devolution process last year, some EHDC councillors said they wouldn’t agree to more houses, or a county mayor.
At a meeting in Rowlands Castle, Cllr Malcolm Johnson said: “It’s unlikely to go ahead given the Government’s insistence on more housing.”
Cllr Marge Harvey added: “The Hampshire bid excludes a mayor and this seems to be the sticking point, but we’ll know sooner rather than later.”
But if the bid collapses, a “full scale” local government reorganisation is likely.
Hampshire is run by three council tiers, county, districts such as EHDC, and town or parish councils including Petersfield Town Council or East Meon Parish Council.
Cllr Cowper said: “The view is that this system will not last the term of this government.”
It’s thought the district councils will suffer most.
Cllr Cowper added: “The financial model of local government is so badly broken it can’t last many more years in its current form.
“EHDC’s strategy has been to refinance away from grants and taxes.”