Apply for a Rural Grant now!

EHDC’s Rural Grant scheme is open for applications until 27 August 2025. More information can be found on our website

Ask about our employment support programmes

EHDC can help you to employ new staff, from a trial placement through the Kickstart Scheme to employing an apprentice (of any age) and helping you meet those employment costs

Find out how to sign up to our Kickstart scheme below

And find out all about our Apprenticeship Scheme here

Find out about our business support

From September our business support programmes will start again – covering everything from recruiting and retaining staff to future planning through finance and technology. An opportunity to exchange ideas with The Board You Can’t Afford. To express an interest please email business@easthants.gov.uk.

Hampshire Chamber Events

Business support events from the Hampshire Chamber of Commerce can be accessed here

Green growth programmes for small businesses to save money

Find out how sustainable practices can save your business money

Understand how AI can help your business

Sign up to Innovate UK’s AI mapping tool, to understand what more you could be doing to help your business

Be cyber secure

Fareport Training has just launched its Cyber Secure Bootcamp for Hampshire employers.

Find out more below

Skills support morning

Come along to a free Skills Support Morning at BASE Bordon, held on 13 August 2025, 10am to noon.

The event will offer advice from Hampshire County Council to help you explore skills training, funding opportunities and incentives that can support personal and business growth.

Pop in to BASE Bordon, 60 Barbados Road, GU35 0FX. It's completely free and impartial advice.

Sign up below

Have your say on how councils will operate in the future

We need businesses to tell us what they think about our proposals for local government reorganisation so that our updated proposal truly reflects the business viewpoint.

We're exploring how 15 councils across Hampshire and the Solent can be reorganised to create four new councils that deliver all your services. What do you think about our preferred option?

Take a few minutes to have your say www.easthants.gov.uk/lgr

Would you like to become a mentor for start ups, or a speaker at a school?

Find out more through Innovate UK’s programme: Digital Boost: become a mentor

Dispose of your business waste responsibly to avoid a fine

Every business that produces waste in the UK has a legal ‘duty of care’ to:

• manage it properly until it's recycled or disposed of
• always use a registered waste carrier or register to carry your own waste
• keep the correct paperwork for at least two years

If your business waste is fly tipped and you don’t have appropriate paperwork, you could receive a £400 fixed penalty notice or, if convicted in court, the maximum fine is unlimited, and you could face 12 months in prison.

GOV.UK has information on disposing of business or commercial waste and your responsibilities. Find out more on the GOV.UK website https://www.gov.uk/dispose-business-commercial-waste

Your Councils – A better future: Have your say on simpler, stronger, secure local government in our area

East Hampshire District Council is asking residents to help shape the future of local services across Hampshire and the Solent – making councils simpler, stronger and secure.

Councils shape our daily lives, from collecting bins and running schools to helping with housing and providing care. Now, with Government calling for change, EHDC is asking residents to have their say on a bold new plan to make local services easier to access.

The proposed changes would see the current 15 councils across the Hampshire and Solent area replaced by four new unitary councils (three on the mainland, and the Isle of Wight remaining a standalone council) – each responsible for delivering all local services.

This would mean fewer layers of bureaucracy, better value for money, and services that are easier to access for local people and communities.

A vision for the future

The proposed unitary councils would be:

• North and Mid Hampshire (Basingstoke and Deane, East Hampshire, Hart, Rushmoor, Winchester)
• South-West Hampshire and Solent (Eastleigh, New Forest, Southampton, Test Valley)
• South-East Hampshire and Solent (Fareham, Gosport, Havant, Portsmouth)
• Isle of Wight (remaining as a standalone unitary council)

These proposals are based on extensive data analysis, community feedback, and public sector insight – to create a model that is fair, financially sustainable, and fit for the future.

Leader of East Hampshire District Council, Councillor Richard Millard said:

“Local government plays a crucial role in people’s everyday lives, from emptying the bins and educating children right through to protecting our most vulnerable residents.

“That’s why it’s vital that residents, businesses, community groups, sports clubs, councillors and all other stakeholders have their say on shaping how these services are delivered in the future.

“With pressure growing on public finances and the Government urging councils to reinvent themselves, we need a model that delivers excellent services in a way that’s financially sustainable and easier to access. These proposals aim to reduce bureaucracy, deliver excellent value for money and improve service provision.

“This is your chance to help us reshape local government in a way that reflects modern needs while protecting the services you rely on so please tell us what you think.”

Councillor Nick Adams-King, Leader of Hampshire County Council, said: “Government wants all areas of the country to become unitary councils, and we have a duty to secure the best possible future for the people we serve through councils that work efficiently and effectively. Working closely with East Hampshire District Council colleagues, we’ve carefully examined the evidence, listened to local voices, and developed proposals that strike the right balance – protecting local identity, simplifying how local government works while protecting essential services, and ensuring every community is heard.

“These plans would not only make councils easier to access and more responsive but also deliver around £50 million in annual savings – money to help protect vital services, especially for those in greatest need.

“This is a pivotal moment for our area. We want to hear from residents, businesses, communities and organisations we work with across Hampshire and the Solent area.

“Your views will help shape a model of local government that is simpler, stronger, and secure – the best possible design that’s built to last and built for you.”

Why this matters

The proposed changes would:

• Save money – fewer councils, costing less to set up and quicker financial returns
• Protect local identity – councils shaped around real communities across rural and urban areas, empowering local voices
• Deliver better value – proven systems, fairer services, and less duplication or disruption
• Strengthen services – one-stop access, faster help, and joined-up support
• Secure the future – stable finances and long-term savings

How to have your say

Everyone is encouraged to take part in the public engagement process which runs between Monday 21 July and Sunday 17 August 2025.

You can give your views on our ideas for Local Government Reorganisation, including providing suggestions for the name of the new local authorities, by completing the survey.

For a copy of the information or survey in another language or format (e.g. paper, Braille) or if you have any queries, please contact insight@hants.gov.uk or call 0300 555 1375 (calls from a landline will be charged at the local rate. Mobile phone charges may vary.)

Next steps

The responses and feedback gathered during this public engagement will be carefully analysed and used to shape East Hampshire District Council’s final proposal for local government reorganisation.

This updated proposal will then be considered by EHDC’s Full Council and Cabinet in September 2025. If approved, it will be submitted to central Government which will then review all submissions and carry out its own public consultation before making a final decision on the future structure of local government in our area.

Other ideas

12 other councils in the Hampshire and Solent area are also asking people what they think about their different ideas for how local councils could be run in the future. These will all be sent to the Government later this year, and Ministers will decide which one to take forward.

Hampshire County Council and East Hampshire District Council’s proposal is different. It recommends creating four unitary councils across the area. It has also been developed by looking carefully at the facts and figures and considering what would actually work best for residents in real life. The aim is to come up with a plan that’s fair, makes sense for both towns and countryside, keeps services running smoothly, and uses public money wisely - helping to build a stronger, more sustainable future for everyone.

ENDS

If you would like to download a poster to share in your community then please choose from these links:

• A3-size poster for printing
• A4-size poster for printing
• A4-size digital poster

Damian Hinds MP, East Hants MP, Sarah Quarterman, CEO of Basingstoke & Alton Cardiac Rehab Centre, and Cllr Robert Mocatta, EHDC Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Prosperity

The next Rural Grant Scheme is open!

EHDC has opened its Rural Grant Scheme to projects that promote local tourism and support our local communities.

Applications for grants of between £5,000 and £50,000 will be accepted until 27 August 2025.

More information and an application form can be found on our website below

The Rural Grants scheme, now in its third year, was launched at a breakfast meeting at Basingstoke & Alton Cardiac Rehab Centre, where CEO Sarah Quarterman spoke about her successful Rural Grant application and the difference it has made to the visitors to the centre.

Sarah said: “We now have air conditioning in our meeting room, which means we can welcome more health and community groups to host events here, and the new outside exercise area provides us with more space to help our clients rebuild their strength and gain the support they need to lead more active and healthy lives.”

Sarah was handed a Rural Grant plaque by Cllr Robert Mocatta, EHDC’s Portfolio Holder for Regeneration & Prosperity. Cllr Mocatta has seen the successful grant applicants from previous rounds use their funds to great effect for the community.

A huge range of projects have been supported by Rural Grants over the last two years

He said: “I couldn’t be more proud of the outcomes these grants have delivered – from a community kitchen which has decreased loneliness in and around Passfield to this example of partnership working which will benefit so many residents requiring support as they regain their health from not just heart problems or strokes but also debilitating viruses like Long Covid.”

The morning also launched a programme to help employers with recruiting, interviewing and retention strategies; AI training to make businesses more resilient and strategically agile, and supporting local people into the job market through Kickstart and Fedcap’s employment programme.

Damian Hinds, MP for East Hampshire, opened the breakfast event and said: “Four years ago the government set up the Shared Prosperity Fund and the Rural England Prosperity Fund – and all of these great programmes which are being supported by these funds show how determined the businesses and community groups in East Hampshire are to make the most of every opportunity out there.”

For more information on any of these programmes please email: business@easthants.gov.uk

EHDC's Business Breakfasts are a great opportunity for the business community to meet up and share ideas and opportunities over a cup of tea - Download our photos

East Hampshire District Council reaches next stage in Local Government Reorganisation

East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) has progressed to the next phase of local government reorganisation by narrowing down the options for new unitary councils to four.

The reorganisation is part of a central government requirement for all ‘two-tier’ council areas across the country to transition to single-tier unitary authorities. Under these proposals, district and county councils would no longer exist, with unitary councils delivering all services in their areas instead.

In March, EHDC submitted its initial proposals to central government alongside the other 14 local authorities covering Hampshire, including Hampshire County Council, the city councils, and the other district and borough councils.

Since then, EHDC has worked in partnership with Hampshire County Council (HCC) to develop an evidence-based proposal for a preferred option. This process has involved rigorous analysis of detailed data and qualitative information to refine the potential scenarios to four. The four options are:

Option one

Option two

Option three

Option four

EHDC and HCC are currently undertaking a thorough assessment of the data using a robust methodology. This includes a comprehensive financial appraisal that considers implementation costs, payback periods, and the broader economic context of each area. Key data being analysed includes population size, levels of deprivation, employment statistics, and potential business rates revenue.

These four options are now being robustly assessed using a detailed options appraisal, with the aim of selecting a preferred option. This recommendation will be considered by councillors at both EHDC and Hampshire County Council on 17 and 18 July.

Once a preferred option has been selected, there will be a period of public engagement to allow residents to provide feedback – this will be launched later this month. This input will help shape the final proposal, which will be considered by councillors again in September, before submission to central government on 26 September.

EHDC and Hampshire County Council will be launching an engagement process later this month, and residents are encouraged to take part in this important consultation.

Meanwhile, other district and borough councils across Hampshire, along with Southampton, Portsmouth, and the Isle of Wight, have launched their own engagement around alternative proposals. Their suggestions differ from those being developed by EHDC and Hampshire County Council, as expected. They are currently exploring three options – each proposing the creation of five unitary councils to replace existing districts and boroughs.

Further information about their engagement can be found at: https://ourplaceourfuture.commonplace.is/

Cllr Richard Millard, EHDC Leader, said: “Our work to develop evidence-based options is progressing at pace. “We are now in a position to dig into the detail of four options and consider which best meets central Government criteria.

“Once this next stage of robust analysis has been completed, we will propose a preferred option from these four, which will be considered by our councillors.

“When the preferred option has been selected we will seek residents’ views to further develop our proposal.”

Cllr Nick Adams-King, HCC Leader, said: “The Government is requiring us to make these changes and it’s vital we get this right for everyone. By simplifying how councils work across the area we can make services better and easier to access, more joined-up, and deliver great value for money for taxpayers, all while protecting what matters most to local people.

“We’ve already been carefully examining all the facts and data, talking to people who use public services, and the people who run them - taking the time to understand what will work best for our residents, and we look forward to hearing what residents think of our ideas as we shape the best possible future for our area.”

Ends

EHDC enforcement success restores National Park beauty in Catherington

The owners of an eye-sore on a pristine national park landscape in Catherington have agreed to take the building down and return the land to its original condition.

Local residents were outraged to see a wooden log cabin, with fully-insulated walls, roof and floor, built on a beautiful viewpoint on land west of Lovedean Lane.

East Hampshire District Council’s Planning Enforcement Team, working on behalf of the South Downs National Park Authority, investigated the development and over a series of months, including escalating legal proceedings, worked to stop the development.

The structure on land near Lovedean Lane - download the image

Between September 2024 and February 2025 officers served a Planning Contravention Notice, two Enforcement Notices and a Stop Notice to Andrew and Deborah Melbourne, of Waterlooville, who own the land.

In May, ahead of a scheduled High Court hearing in June, the Melbournes signed a legally binding contract agreeing to remove the building, take away the log cabin and all its resulting materials, gates, fences and other forms of development, including the groundworks and paths and return the landscape to its original condition.

Cllr Angela Glass, EHDC’s Portfolio Holder for Planning and Enforcement, said: “We are delighted this legal agreement has been signed and we now expect the development to be cleared over the next couple of months.

“This is the culmination of many months of complex legal and enforcement work by our determined team of officers to reach this position.

“I want residents to understand that if people breach planning rules, then we have the means to take action against them.”

Cllr Sara Schillemore, ward councillor for Catherington, said: “Residents were appalled to see this unsightly structure being erected in one of the most picturesque and valuable viewpoints in East Hampshire.

“It’s vitally important that we protect our precious landscape and residents will be thrilled to see the development removed.

“East Hampshire Enforcement Officers worked hard for many months to achieve this result, and I sincerely thank them.”

Tim Slaney, Director of Planning at the South Downs National Park Authority, said: “I’m delighted we’ve reached a resolution to this breach of planning that was harming this wonderful nationally-designated landscape.

“I would like to thank East Hampshire District Council which pursued this enforcement case with determination, making it clear we will not tolerate blatant breaches of planning.”

The agreement sets out a 56-day deadline to carry out the work. Failure to comply with this type of legal agreement can lead to enforcement proceedings in the High Court which can lead to costly legal fees and even a custodial sentence.