It has been announced today that Southampton will form part of new unitary authority ‘South West Hampshire’ as part of the Government’s reforms to local government, the biggest in a generation.
Southampton will join Eastleigh, the Waterside, Chilworth, Rownhams and Nursling in a new local authority that will be better reflect the needs and lives of local communities.
As a former leader of Southampton City Council, I know first-hand that the existing local authority structure has held us back from reaching our full potential. It’s why, as one of the local Members of Parliament, I’ve been working hard to ensure these changes better equip local leaders with the tools they need to tackle regional challenges – such as housing supply and affordability, public transport, skills development and health inequalities – in a deep and meaningful way that has been has not been an option for leaders to date.
I’m looking forward to working with government, local authorities, and residents to make a success of this huge opportunity, and will do everything I can to ensure that we finally unlock our potential as a city and a region.