Council chiefs across the region are waiting to learn if proposals for devolution have met the government’s statutory tests.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is expected to confirm this month (June 2025) if the planned regional authority and elected mayoralty can continue to the next phase.
Devolution? What it means for the Isle of Wight: An explainer
Mayor for Hampshire and the Solent
As part of the government’s priority programme, work is ongoing to create a new mayoral combined county authority (MCCA) for Hampshire and the Solent.
If all goes to plan, elections for the first regional mayor would take place in May next year.
This individual would likely have responsibility for areas such as skills, transport and strategic planning, with funding and powers transferred down from Westminster.
News by mid to late June
MHCLG ran a public consultation, which closed in mid-April, on the devolution proposals.
The next stage involves ministers confirming if statutory tests have been met and a decision on this is due in mid to late June.
If the tests have been met, it is expected the government would confirm their intention to lay the relevant legislation for the new mayoral authority to be created.
Regional programme board had
A regional programme board had already been established, with representatives from the four upper tier authorities (Hampshire County Council, Isle of Wight Council, Portsmouth City Council and Southampton City Council) and two of the 11 districts.
A number of key work streams had also been set up with leads agreed across the region.
Timeline for devolution
The timeline for devolution in Hampshire and the Solent is as follows:
- Mid to late June: MHCLG will confirm whether their statutory tests have been met and if they intend to pursue the laying of the relevant legislation to establish a mayoral authority.
- Late October: The first release of mayoral capacity funding will take place once the statutory instrument has been laid in parliament.
- Early 2026: Councils need to submit assurance frameworks for review and the MCCA will be legally established.
- 30th March 2026: The notice of election needs to have been called by this point for polling day to take place as planned.
- May 2026: The election for the first regional mayor of Hampshire and the Solent takes place.
Local government reorganisation
The devolution process is separate from work ongoing around local government reorganisation (LGR). The government’s national LGR plans are to end of the current two-tier structure through the creation of larger unitary authorities that deliver all council services.
In March 2025, Isle of Wight wrote to the Government department to ask for clarity on whether the Isle of Wight, with a population below 500,000, could meet the criteria to remain a separate unitary authority.
The council received early feedback from the MHCLG (see full letter below). The section relevant to the Isle of Wight read,
Isle of Wight exceptional circumstances
You asked for an early decision on the position of the Isle of Wight and to discuss an ‘Island deal’. As set out above this is not a decision-making point so we cannot make any judgments at this time. We welcome the additional thinking conducted regarding the Isle of Wight. If pursuing this option, it would be helpful to build on the existing rationale and provide a full assessment against each criterion in your final proposal(s).
Article edit
2pm 4th Jun 2025 – MHCLG letter added
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which OnTheWight is part of. Read here to find about more about how that scheme works on the Island. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
