Hampshire County Council is the upper tier of local government for approximately 1.4 million people, covering 11 districts, including Hart. It covers the traditional area of Hampshire County, apart from Southampton and Portsmouth (which have their own unitary authorities). The council offices are in the county town of Winchester.
Main areas of responsibility include education, social care, and highways. Years of under investment by the Conservative led council have led to the current dire problem across the county with potholes.
The Hampshire County Council budget for the 2024/2025 FY was £2.9 billion. Schools accounted for £1.2 billion of spending, and social care a further £800 million. This majority of funding is through over £1.5 billion in grants from central government, and £826 million from Council Tax.
There are 78 county councillors for Hampshire. They represent 76 electoral divisions, 5 of which are in Hart, with 2 being represented by Liberal Democrats: Stuart Bailey is the councillor for the Yateley East, Blackwater and Fleet North, and Richard Quarterman is the councillor for Hartley Wintney & Yateley West.
Until the May 2026 election, Hampshire was controlled by the Conservatives who held a majority. After losing 29 seats since the 2021 elections, the Conservatives were reduced to 27 councillors in May 2026. Reform gained 20 seats.
In the May 2026 election The Liberal Democrats increased their number of seats from the 2021 election result by 9 to 26. Labour and the Greens are on just 1 seat each. There are 2 other councillors representing local community parties, and 1 independent.
The last elections for HCC were held in May 2026. HCC will be replaced by the new North Hampshire Council (NHC) in April 2028. Elections for the NHC will be held in May 2027, with the new NHC Councillors acting as “shadow Councillors" from May 2028 until April 2028, at which point they will take power and commence their four year term of office.
Residents across Hart and the wider Hampshire area are set to see the biggest change to local government in over 50 years as plans to create new, larger councils and a regional mayor move forward. Have your say on the planned changes.
Years of financial mismanagement by the HCC Conservative administration have left Hampshire's budget in a perilous state, with the imminent prospect of deep and damaging cuts now having to be made to important services.
Conservative Council plans to close Hartley Wintney HWRC once again blocked by united local opposition.