Could parish councils help save local services?

People living in parts of Hampshire are set to be asked if they want a new layer of local government.

Residents associations in Hayling Island and Emsworth are considering setting up town councils, which could be responsible for parks, recreation grounds, bins and public toilets.

Chair of Emsworth residents association Dwynwen Stepien said: "Local government re-organisation in Hampshire makes this urgent, to make sure decisions stay close to the people."

There are already 260 parish councils in Hampshire, but none in the Havant district currently.

The local government reorganisation currently being worked on for Hampshire would see districts, boroughs and the county council replaced with a few larger unitary councils.

But parish and town councils could still exist.

They have fewer statutory responsibilities than districts and boroughs, but can charge households in their parishes council tax for services within the postcode.

More than 70 people voiced support for a town council for Emsworth at a meeting earlier this month.

One of the buildings the town council would want to take on is the sports pavilion at Hollybank recreation ground.

"It's been neglected and is in urgent need of repairs to the kitchen, showers and toilets, which we could do as a town council, with grants and volunteer effort," Mrs Stepein said.

She said 11 youth football teams used the recreation ground but were not able to use the facilities.

"We already feel we aren't being listened to about the urgent need for renovation and we're losing players to other teams," she said.

"We fear a bigger unitary authority with all the big things to worry about should get on with that, and leave us to do the things we can do."

Anne Skennerton is from Hayling Island residents association and has started a campaign for a town council for the area.

She said: "Local government restructuring will affect people in ways they don't yet know so a town council would give Hayling a voice in any new authority because it will be a statutory duty for it to heed the parish or community councils."

Chandlers Ford parish council is one of the most successful in the county.

It operates three open spaces with wildflower meadows, two pavilions, four tennis courts, three football pitches, two allotments, eight playgrounds, two multi-use games areas and two skate ramps as well as Hiltingbury sports hall which it built in 2019.

Its council tax charge for a band D property for 2025/6 is £66 a year.

Parish Clerk Hilary Blaker said: "Every penny we raise from the precept is spent in this postcode. We only have four full time members of staff so it's run efficiently."

The Hampshire association of local councils supports parish and town councils with advice and training and acts as a collective voice liaising with the county, district and borough councils.

Chief Executive Dawn Hamblet said she understood concerns it was an extra level of bureaucracy, but said there were benefits to town councils.

"It's the level of government most immediate to residents, without the huge statutory demands on the council, and has freedom to do what people ask for really close to where they live," she said.

Havant Borough Council said it was actively engaging with groups showing interest in developing town and parish councils, but as yet no formal application for a community governance review had been received.

It added the Hollybank Pavilion was well used and maintained to a standard suitable for its current use.

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