Group members are often passionate about taking action for climate and nature, but with many different reasons for joining, and many different ways of getting involved. We’ve sent out a series of questions to group members, here are their replies.

Meet David – a member of SWaCS – Sustainable Waltham Chase and Swanmore

What prompted you to join this group?

I am a recently retired Architect and have had a personal interest in sustainable, low energy housing for many years. Joining SWaCS has given me the opportunity to continue that interest within the local community and to try and make a difference for local people.

Has being part of this group affected how hopeful or motivated you feel about the climate and nature crisis? How? 

Yes, working with like-minded people in the local community, with the support and greater expertise from WeCAN and affiliated organisations, has given me greater confidence to think that we CAN make a difference in trying to combat climate change.

What activities and events have you joined in with as part of this group?

We opened up our house as part of an Open Home event during Winchester Green Week in 2025. I have participated in OnePlanet training sessions to establish the sustainability goals of the SWaCS group, and I have been involved with thermal imaging camera distribution and briefing to local residents, along with litter picking in Waltham Chase.

Have you taken on any role in this group, if so what are you doing?

I am an Energy Champion, acting for both SWaCS and WeCAN under the My Home Made Better programme.

Find out more about the WeCAN network, groups and events here.

Group members are often passionate about taking action for climate and nature, but with many different reasons for joining, and many different ways of getting involved. We’ve sent out a series of questions to group members, here are their replies.

Meet Lillie – a member of South Wonston Sutainability

What prompted you to join South Wonston Sustainability?

My friends daughter pestering her about looking after the planet, made me realise I wanted to be a good example for my daughter and instill better behaviours in my family. I have always been passionate about circular economy both my prom and wedding dress were pre loved!

Has being part of this group affected how hopeful or motivated you feel about the climate and nature crisis? How?   

I feel more educated so the crisis seems more daunting however I know what we can do as a community to help.

What activities and events have you joined in with as part of this group?

I started by being the courier for blister packs. At its peak I was delivering 8 bin bags a month! I attend a monthly meeting and was part of the initial climate cafes. Also assisted with a Christmas jumper swap and a survey to find out what concerns are in South Wonston. 

Have you taken on any role in this group, if so what are you doing?

I look after the website and monthly entry in a local monthly magazine. I had no prior experience in websites however the group needed one so I said I would have a go…..please visit www.swsustainability.co.uk to see what you think!

What would you say to someone considering joining your group?

Every little helps, what ever time or knowledge you have will make a difference. You will also get to meet some brilliant people who I probably wouldn’t of spoken to before.

Find out more about the WeCAN network, groups and events here.

Join a specially arranged guided walk around Clausentum Fen with the Chair of the Clausentum Fen conservation group. The Fen lies alongside the river Itchen between Winchester and St Cross. This is a unique opportunity to have guided walk round this Site of Importance for Nature Conservation, with chalk stream, fen and woodland habitats..

Saturday 13th June, starting 5pm (for about 1 hour).

The ground is uneven so only suitable for the sure-footed. And we recommend stout shoes because it could be muddy.

Because there is a maximum of 10 people, please register your interest by emailing events@winacc.org.uk

We ask you to give a donation of £5 or £10 if you can.

Local Government Reorganisation is the abolition of county councils and district councils. New unitary councils larger than districts will take their place. All local authorities across Hampshire, Portsmouth, Southampton and the Isle of Wight, including districts as well as the county council and the current unitaries, will be combined into larger unitaries.

What will our new unitary councils be?

Judicial review?

Immediately he was appointed to be the next Leader of Hampshire County Council, at the Council Council meeitng on 21 May 2026, Cllr Nick Adams-King announced that the County Council intended to go for a judicial review of the Government’s decision on Local Government Reorganisation.

What is the County Council seeking review of?

On 25 March 2026, the Government announced their decision (Govt statement in full) about the unitary councils. Unless overturned by a judicial review, the boundaries will be:

• North Hampshire Council (current local government areas of Basingstoke and Deane, Hart and Rushmoor)
• Mid Hampshire Council (current local government areas of East Hampshire, New Forest, Test Valley and Winchester, less the 11 parishes that move to SE or SW Hampshire)
• South East Hampshire Council (current local government areas of Fareham, Gosport, Havant, Portsmouth, plus the parishes of Clanfield, Horndean and Rowlands Castle from East Hampshire and Newlands parish from Winchester)
• South West Hampshire Council (current local government areas of Eastleigh, Southampton, the parishes of Totton and Eling, Marchwood, Hythe and Dibden and Fawley from the New Forest, and Chilworth, Nursling and Rownhams, and Valley Park from Test Valley
• Isle of Wight Council will remain as a separate unitary authority.

This is one of the options in the proposal for five unitary councils which was submitted by Eastleigh, Fareham, Hart, Havant, Portsmouth, Rushmoor and Southampton councils. See the full proposal, and supporting appendices. The Hampshire Chronicle website in March published a collection of comments from local bodies.

What happens next?

In May 2027, elections will appoint new Councillors to each “shadow” unitary council. These elections for new authorities in 2027 will replace any existing local elections planned.

Elections in May 2027 will appoint new Councillors to each unitary council. The first year (2027-2028) they will be “shadow” Councils/ Councillors. The unitaries will be “vested” in 2028 – ie they start to be legally responsible for services in their patch. The Unitary Councillors elected in 2027 will continue for four years. There won’t be elections again for Unitary Councillors in 2028.

Unitary Councillors will be elected all at once every four years from 2032 onwards. The system in some Districts, where one-third of the Councillors are elected each year, will end.

District and county councils will cease to exist on 31 March 2028.

Details about what the Government tells Councils to do in the lead-up to the May 2027 elections to shadow unitaries are in Local government reorganisation: implementation guidance for the first transition period

Details about what the Government tells Councils to do in the shadow year between the May 2027 election to shadow unitaries and the vesting of the new Unitary Councils on 1 April 2028 is in Local government reorganisation: implementation guidance for the second transition period

How will local people engage with the new unitaries?

The Government emphasises that it wants local people to be able to have their voice heard. How this will be arranged is not yet clear.

On one hand, there’s potential for parish and town councils to play a larger role. See more about what parish councils have been thinking nationally.

More parish / town councils may be created – for example, Winchester City Council has consulted on whether to create a Town Council for Winchester town, the only part of Winchester District which doesn’t already have its own parish council.

On the other hand, the Government is suggesting that the unitary councillors in local areas might form a committee for that area.

LGA Devolution and local government reorganisation FAQs quote the Government:  “Local authorities undergoing reorganisation should develop structures that ensure all communities can have a greater say in the services that matter most to them… We expect new neighbourhood structures with a strong role for frontline ward councillors to make improvements in their local areas and to allow local people to raise the issues that matter most to them with their local authorities.”  “Town and parish councils are no substitute for the effective neighbourhood governance arrangements which the government expects local authorities to implement. These should enable local people to take issues or concerns to their local ward councillors, who will have a clear and accountable route to act on them”.

How should climate community groups respond to all these changes?

See some of the thinking about how we respond, to take advantage of opportunities and reduce risks.

Got a question? The Council invites you to their drop-in events: 

• Monday 1 June 2026; The Courtyard, Guildhall, Winchester; 4-7pm
• Wednesday 3 June 2026; Cala Sales Office, Monarchs Mead, Granadiers Road, Kings Barton, SO22 6GR- 3-5pm

What is a “Town Council”?

A town council is a parish council for a town.

Town and parish councils are local people elected to represent the interests of their community. They give a voice to local people – for example, they are consulted on planning applications. And they provide things like play areas, parks and allotments. 

There are town councils in nearby towns such as Alresford, Andover, Whitchurch and Whiteley.

Winchester town now doesn’t have a Town Council. Instead, it has Winchester Town Forum. This is made up of councillors on Winchester City Council elected by residents of Winchester town. 

So Winchester Town Forum will disappear when Winchester City Council is dissolved.

Why does this matter for action on the climate? 

Local Government Reorganisation is creating new larger unitary councils. Winchester City Council – which despite its name, covers a much bigger area than the city centre – will no longer exist.

If proposals for a town council are agreed, a new Winchester Town Council will most likely have its first election in May 2027, at the same time as we elect shadown councillors to the new unitary council.

This change is separate from the introduction of the elected Mayor for Hampshire and the Solent in 2028.

What does WinACC think?

There may be scope for more influence when we are in a bigger unitary. Planning decisions are part of how we respond to the climate emergency. A Town Council would mean there would still be a local voice on planning applications for Winchester town. It would give its views to the Unitary Council on the impact of planning applications on the town as a whole.

Air pollution, traffic and the location of housing developments affect every part of town. With our focus on climate, WinACC feels that we need this overview of what’s needed for Winchester town as a whole. 

We need a forum for all the Town and Parish councills affected by proposals for the city to come together to agree an overview for Winchester as a whole.

Saturday 4 July 2026, 10.00 refreshments and networking, 10.30 – 12.00 meeting at St Lawrence Parish Room, Colebrook Street, Winchester SO23 9LH. Free. All welcome, whether you are from Winchester or beyond. . 

We are inviting speakers offering different perspectives – from bus campaigners to transport officers. Plenty of time to explore which changes will make the biggest difference, and generate new ideas.  

Lower fares will get more people on to buses. But that depends on a new Mayor for Hampshire and the Solent in 2028 who will allocate the money for it.

What else needs to be done? How do we make it happen? What are your priorities:

• Better connections between buses and trains, and between bus routes?
• Fast buses on major routes, or bus routes that provide access from anywhere people live to anywhere they want to go – workplaces, health care, schools, shops, leisure?
• Better bus timetables, better buses, better bus stops or better information about routes – and cancellations?
• Fares and travelcards that cover your whole journey?
• Up-to-date news when buses are late or cancelled?

Useful background reading in this recent government paper Better Connected: a strategy for integrated transport

Devolution is not the same as Local Government Reorganisation, which is creating unitary authorities out of the mix of county, district and unitary authorities in an area. Click here to see the latest on local government reorganisation in Hampshire and the Solent.

“Devolution” is about giving more powers to a new Combined Strategic Authority.

The Devolution Bill is now law – see Government update English Devolution Bill receives Royal Assent. Sadly, the act doesn’t require Strategic Authorities to have a strategy for climate or nature.

The Government postponed the election of a new Mayor for Hampshire and the Solent from May 2026 to May 2028.

Hampshire and the Solent will still have a new Combined Strategic Authority in 2026, over a year before we elect a Mayor. It is called the Hampshire and the Solent Combined County Authority, known as the HSCCA. 

The Hampshire and the Solent Combined County Authority (HSCCA) will formally bring together Leaders of Hampshire County Council, Isle of Wight Council, Portsmouth City Council and Southampton City Council onto a HSCCA Board to make decisions for the whole region. The HSCCA Board will also have other representatives on it – not yet known who. 

The HSCCA will officially be created as soon as Parliament approves necessary changes to the law, which is likely to be before the Parliamentary Summer Recess from 16 July to 1 September. On 16 March 2026 a statutory instrument (SI) was presented to Parliament, which will legally set up the HSCCA and define its initial responsibilities and how decisions will be made. There will be a joint committee from Sept and some decisions will have to be approved by that Cttee. They must be unanimous.

HSCCA website has FAQs and a contact page. You can sign up to get the HSCCA newsletters here. You can also see what the HSCC has said so far about the main issues the HSCCA will be working on:

• Environment and Climate Change
• Transport
• Economic Development and Regeneration
• Health and Wellbeing
• Housing and Strategic Planning
• Skills and Employment Support
• Public Safety

Meanwhile, work is already taking place to prepare for the HSCCA. An Interim Chief Executive, Dr Ruth Adams, takes up post at the end of May 2026, with temporary staff to fill key roles including Chief Financial Officer and Monitoring Officer to ensure legal operations. The recruitment of permanent staff has started. Find out more, and register to get HSCCA mailings.

Timetable

Summer/autumn 2026 – HSCCA is set up officially.

6 May 2027 – elections for Councillors to shadow unitary authorities. The membership of the HSCCA continues to be the “constitutent Councils” – in other words, Hampshire County Council, Isle of Wight Council, Portsmouth City Council and Southampton City Council. Because the new unitary authorities are shadow authorities, they are not entitled a places on the HSCCA Board.

1 April 2028 – the unitary Councils are “vested” – in other words, become legally constituted bodies

4 May 2028 – election of Mayor. The Mayoral Strategic Authority is “vested” on 8 May.

Unitaries become the constitutent Councils, replacing Hampshire County Council, Isle of Wight Council, Portsmouth City Council and Southampton City Council.

What do Strategic Authorities do?

The exact duties and powers of the HSCCA, as a non-Mayoral Combined Strategic Authority, will become clear before summer 2026. HCC Cabinet on 27 February 2026 approved a detailed report exclaiming what the HSCCA could and couldn’t do. It is complicated but helpful. See lots of papers and appendices.

General Power of Competence

All Strategic Authorities – with or without Mayors – will have the General Power of Competence which other local authorities already have. This allows an authority the freedom to do “anything that individuals generally may do”, provided they do not break other laws. 

Strategic Authorities’ Areas of Competence

In addition, Strategic Authorities will have these “areas of competence”:

• transport and local infrastructure
• skills and employment support
• housing and strategic planning
• economic development and regeneration
• environment and net zero
• health, wellbeing and public service reform
• public safety

Note: having the ability to do something means that the Strategic Authority can do it. This isn’t the same as a duty to do something, which means they must do it.

Transport and Local Infrastructure

Strategic Authorities have a key leading role on transport planning and delivery, becoming what is known as the ‘Local Transport Authority’ for their area:

• oversight of local transport networks (e.g. bus networks, or tram and light rail networks) and the powers to manage these networks. This includes a legal responsibility to make sure passenger transport services are provided where appropriate, and powers to manage concessions (discounts or free travel).
• producing and implementing a Local Transport Plan that sets out their transport policies for example bus services. (Day-to-day management of local roads will be the responsibility of unitary councils.
• regulating on-street micromobility schemes through licensing (like e-bikes). 

Mayoral Strategic Authorities must set up and coordinate a Key Route Network of the most important local roads, and can set Traffic Reduction Targets on these Networks. 

Skills and employment support

Strategic Authorities will take over adult education functions, and a grant called the Adult Skills Fund to fund skills training for eligible adults aged 19 and above.

Allocations to Strategic Authorities for this work will be given on a non-ringfenced basis which enables local areas to use the funding in the best way for their areas.

Housing and strategic planning

Important role for Mayors to support Government 1.5 million homes commitment:

• to publish a Spatial Development Strategy (SDS), which sets out the vision for development across their areas.
• Mayors will be able to to refuse or “call in” planning applications of potential strategic importance (e.g. large schemes) when they have an SDS in place.
• Mayors can use Mayoral Development Orders (MDOs) to grant planning permission for a particular development instead of relying on an application to be submitted. Local Planning Authorities will be consulted and be required to approve the MDO.
• Mayors will be able to charge developers a Mayoral Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) if they have a Spatial Development Strategy in place, where a majority of constituent councils approve the charging schedule.
• Mayors of Strategic Authorities will have the power to designate a Mayoral Development Area and establish a Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) to deliver large-scale regeneration and development.

Economic growth and regeneration

Local Growth Plans will provide a focus for other plans to set out how and where they can support economic growth in the region. All Mayoral Strategic Authorities must produce a Local Growth Plan that must contain an economic overview, shared priorities agreed with government, and an investment pipeline. 

Certain public organisations must ‘have regard’ to the shared priorities of each Local Growth Plan whenever they are bidding for government funding, develop a plan that relates to one or more shared priorities, or are asked to by the Mayor. 

Strategic Authorities must work with Local Government Pension Schemes on local projects which deliver social or economic benefits for local communities as well as the necessary financial returns, in order to increase LGPS investment in local projects.

Environment and climate change    

Although the Government website says “Strategic Authorities play a vital role in preparing for the future and safeguarding biodiversity as well as advancing the green transition”, the Devolution Act does not transfer statutory environmental or climate-related functions to Strategic Authorities.

Health, wellbeing and public service reform   

Strategic Authorities must ‘have regard’ to the need to improve the health of people in their areas and reduce health inequalities when they act. “Health inequalities” are defined as inequalities of life expectancy or general state of health resulting from differences in general health determinants like standards of housing, transport services, public safety and employment prospects. When a Strategic Authority uses any of its powers and functions it must minimise negative effects on health or health inequalities to “make sure health is considered in all policies”.

Public safety 

Where mayoral geographies align with police force and Fire and Rescue Authority geographies, Mayors will be, by default, responsible for exercising these functions. 

Mayoral Powers of Competence

New “Mayoral Powers of Competence’ give powers to convene local partners to address local challenges, a duty on local partners to respond to a Mayor’s request to convene, and a duty to collaborate with neighbouring Mayors to deliver projects and strategies together.

Based on ​English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill​: Guidance – GOV.UK.

Functions exercisable only by the mayor from 8 May 2028 include (not a complete list):

• designating a Key Route Network 
• the adoption of a Spatial Development Strategy. HSCCA can undertake preparatory work ahead of its adoption
• Mayoral planning powers e.g. the ability to introduce a mayoral Community Infrastructure Levy or to call-in Local Planning Authority decisions
• appointIng a mayor’s political adviser
• raising a mayoral precept on residents
• sitting on the Council of Nations and Regions: this forum is reserved to elected mayors.

The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner would not transition into the HSCCA until May 2028, when the mayor is elected because PCC powers are explicitly mayoral. However, the government has said that it plans to abolish police and crime commissioners and transfer police governance in 2028 to strategic authority mayors and local council leaders through policing and crime boards (Home Office, ‘From local to national: A new model for policing’, January 2026, CP 1489, p 33). 

Functions that are to be discharged by the Hampshire and the Solent Combined County Authority, exercisable concurrently with constituent councils until 8 May 2028:

Powers in the Transport Act 1985 relating to passenger transport 

Powers to develop and implement local transport plans under the Transport Act 2000 May 2028.

Allocating grants under the Local Government Act 2003 – these include the Local Transport Funding and Highways funding.

Elections for the Mayor

When they published the White Paper on Devolution at the end of 2024, the Government’s plan was to change the voting system for electing mayors. Instead of First Past the Post, they would use the supplementary vote system. This means people vote for a 1st and 2nd choice for Mayor. See detailed description of how this works. This couldn’t be done by 2026 when Mayoral elections were first intended to take place. Presumably, the May 2028 Mayoral elections will be under the supplementary vote system, though WinACC’s not aware of anything being said about this recently.

The first election for the Mayor of the Hampshire and the Solent Combined Authority will take place on 4th May 2028, with the term commencing on 8th May 2028.

Subsequent elections will occur every four years, aligned with the ordinary day of local council elections.

Power Station began in the depths of lockdown, with the question ‘’what could we do from where we live, with the people around us, to build power – of energy and imagination?’

Working to turn a street and local schools solar, Power Station is a scalable in-your-face prototype of community led power. Channelling Withnail and I and Ealing comedy the film charts the financial and emotional trials and tribulations of making change together.  From sleeping on rooftops to growing thousands of sunflowers and attempts at Christmas number one, community spirit and resilience are at the heart of this documentary.

Public screening at The Arc, Winchester – buy tickets here.

Screening hosted jointly by WinACC and Parents For Future Hampshire

A share of the ticket sales will go to helping WinACC’s work on tackling the climate crisis.

The screening will be followed by a 30-minute discussion about the film and what we can do locally.

WinACC’s My Home Made Better project provides free impartial tailored advice on how you can improve your home’s insulation plus answers your questions on solar panels and heat pumps – more details here.

“I can’t recommend this film enough. You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll kickstart a community-led renewable energy revolution.  I will say, without any sense of exaggeration or hyperbole, that this is one of the most important films ever made. Everyone needs to see it.”

– Rob Hopkins, co-founder Transition Network

Hampshire Climate Action Network (HCAN) brings together groups active on climate change in their communities in Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton, and the Isle of Wight.

HCAN supports groups to:

1. learn from each other
2. co-ordinate activities and facilitate work on the climate
3. have a joint voice to local government and other public bodies

Join the HCAN mailing list.

Our next meeting on Sat 18 July is about sharing ideas on community outreach and engagement

Saturday 18 July 2026 in St Lawrence Parish Room, Colebrook Street, Winchester SO23 9LH. 1.00 refreshments and networking, 1.30 – 4.00 meeting.

All groups active in their local community on climate and/or nature are welcome to this important opportunity to share ideas on community outreach and engagement. Time for networking, examples of good practice, and joint problem-solving.

Email hcan@winacc.org.uk to tell us what you want to share – successes and problems are both welcome.

Tea/coffee/cake provided, bring your own lunch. Tell us you are coming so we get enough cake!

This will be a large meeting, with smaller workshops, so being there in person will work better. There will be a zoom link for people who can’t make it.

Local Government Reorganisation

Local government changes could make us stronger if we work together across the coming larger unitary council. We can:

• • share good practice, learn from each other, while respecting our different focusses / skills /interests

• • work together on campaigns across the wider area

• • spend more time on climate action and less on administration if we combine “back office” functions

We need to keep climate and nature high on the Council agenda. If we work with Councils, we can help them to know about the work of climate and nature groups across each unitary, and get the funding and systems in place for them to thrive.

We want each new unitary to adopt best practice. 

We also want to preserve existing good work, and maybe extend the reach of successful projects.

So let’s build trust among ourselves and discuss how to work together in each unitary, and find out which climate and nature groups are active in the unitary you’ll be in.

Fuller notes of the HCAN discussion on this here.

A joint voice to the incoming Mayor

In 2028, people in Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton will elect the first ever Mayor to head a Combined Authority for Hampshire and the Solent, and set strategies that will shape the whole area. More about this on our web pages about devolution.

The Mayoral election is a real opportunity to accelerate action on climate and nature. HCAN has set up VOICE for Climate and Nature, working with partners including the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and others to press the Combined Authority for Hampshire and the Solent and potential Mayors to put climate and nature at the core of all their strategies.

Please go to VOICE for Climate and Nature – see what we’re saying – join us if you agree – sign up to get updates – send us your ideas and feedback.

Learning from each other

HCAN meets four times a year.

HCAN Facebook group shares news and events on climate activities across Hampshire and the Solent.

Informal digital networks share information on these topics:

• • Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation

• • Hampshire County Council and its work on the climate emergency

• • Hampshire Pension Fund Divest – for people in the Pension Fund (whether paying in or drawing their pension)

• • Transport – walking, cycling, public transport and low carbon travel options to be the easiest choices for getting about for education, work, shopping, leisure and tourism.

To join the circulation list for one of these networks or create a new topic network, email hcan@winacc.org.uk

Past meetings

Read the notes of meetings since 2020 by clicking the links below. If you need minutes from meetings earlier than these, email HCAN@winacc.org.uk.

9 May 2026 – (draft)

28 February 2026

25 October 2025

26 April 2025 Section 1: News and links; Section 2 Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation news

18 January 2025

5 October 2024

6 July 2024

20 April 2024

20 January 2024

21 October 2023

5 July on the People’s Plan for Nature, with a speaker from WWF

1 July 2023

25 March 2023. The meeting welcomed this briefing on hydrogen, submitted to the Southampton Climate Commission with the support of HCAN.

21 January 2023

15 October 2022

23 July 2022

30 April 2022

29 January 2022

2 October 2021

5 June 2021

17 April 2021

23 January 2021.

26 September 2020

16 May 2020

29 February 2020

HCAN constitution

Hampshire Climate Action Group was set up in 2013 as an informal network to bring groups together.  So it wasn’t incorporated and had no formal constitution. Groups whose members attend HCAN have their own constitution, policies, activities and campaigns and make their own decisions.

Since 2013, WinACC (Winchester Action on Climate Change) has supported HCAN in the same way as its other action groups, providing:

• • this web page

• • our email address hcan@winacc.org.uk

• • financial management

• • access to zoom.

In April 2026, a new Charitable Incorporated Organisation, Climate and Nature Network, was entered onto the Register of Charities with the Registered Charity Number 1217523.

The intention is that HCAN will be one of the workstreams of the Climate and Nature Network.

This involves setting up new systems for mailings, financial management, and more. So the switch will not be formalised till later in 2026.

Local Government Reorganisation is not the same as devolution to the new Mayor. See more about devolution here.

Local Government Reorganisation will see new unitary councils replacing the current local authorities across Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton. Districts and counties will cease to exist on 30 March 2028, and existing unitary authorities of Portsmouth and Southampton will become larger. 

Read about the new unitary Councils – boundaries, elections etc

What does this mean for local climate action?

Local climate and nature groups need to prepare now for the new environment. How do we respond to the risks and seize opportunities?

The last meeting of Hampshire Climate Action Network on 28 February discussed the coming local government reorganisation. Join the HCAN mailing list.

The meeting felt that local government changes could make us stronger if we work together within each new unitary authority. We can:

• share good practice and learn from each other, while respecting our different focusses / skills /interests
• work together on campaigns
• spend more time on climate action and less on administration if we combine “back office” functions

We need to elevate the role of climate and nature groups across each unitary, and get the architecture in place for them to thrive.

We want our new unitary to adopt best practice.

We also want to preserve existing good work, and maybe extend the reach of successful projects. So let’s build trust among ourselves and discuss how to work together in each unitary, involving the climate and nature groups active in the unitary you’ll be part of.

There’s a lot to think about, a lot of conversations to have and a lot of new relationships to create. These are some of the issues:

• When new unitaries create their policies that cover the whole area, will they level up on climate – or level down?
• New elections for Councillors, who will cover a bigger patch. How do we develop relationships with the new Councillors?
• Will existing funding for climate group activities be ended, or will it be transferred to the new unitary Council?
• When services are combined, maybe there’s be fewer offices and/or fewer staff
• There may be local committees consisting of Unitary Councillors elected for a local area
• There may be changes in parish councils – smaller ones may combine, places without a parish or town council may get one for the first time, parish councils may take over some very local services such as public conveniences or green spaces

Advantages of working together

• A joint voice, a coherent community response and policy influence.
• Share materials with a joint badging, wording of leaflets, images and items for the website, which will save us all time.
• Share equipment eg energy assessment tools (thermal imager), event equipment (projector etc)
• Share information about suppliers – eg trainers, builders.
• Run events jointly badged and advertised 

Some of the practical questions we need to consider:

1. Collaboration with other climate activists:

• Do we know which community climate and nature groups are active in the geography that Winchester is likely to be merged into?
• Who is aiming to do much the same as us?
• Will we achieve more by working together, or separately?
• What mechanisms for working together are worth considering?

2. Our work in our communities

• Can we share good practice, learn from each other, and extend the reach of successful projects? 
• Would we have the resources (money; volunteers) to do so?

3. Influencing 

• What do we know about what happens in the Councils that our district may merge with: local climate groups; parish councils; demography; socioeconomics; political attitudes; urban/rural? 
• What do we know about the approach to climate of the Councils we may merge with? Do they have a climate strategy and plan? How can we get the new unitary to adopt best practice?
• How do we nurture/ build relationships with Councillors standing for election / elected to the new unitary we will be joining?
• How do we nurture/ build relationships with Council officers making plans for the new unitary?
• Do we need to build relations with parish councils?
• Who else do we need to build partnerships with – health services, nature, Combined Strategic Authority, people working on poverty, National Parks, and who else?

4. Governance:

• How do we safeguard core funding from a Council that will disappear?
• How do we keep momentum – avoiding loss of volunteers or staff, and keeping everything going?
• Will changes affect our constitution? membership? volunteering/ staff roles? 
• What changes (if any) are needed in our communication channels such as social media, website, newsletters?

So how do we work together?

Options include:

1. Existing groups continue as separate groups with ad hoc collaborations when appropriate opportunities arise
2. Existing groups continue as separate groups with a Memorandum of Understanding setting out they will work together within the boundaries of the new unitary.
3. Existing groups become members of a new organisation that covers the unitary footprint, giving the option of acting individually or collectively. 
4. Existing groups merge into one charitable organisation covering the whole unitary. This may have advantages:

• Easier to secure commissions and grants for projects
• Saves money  on governance, financial; management, staff management, insurance, audit, software licences and more
• Less personal time spent on the machinery of governance e.g. writing management policies, managing risk.