This is not the sort of issue that excited most people during the recent holiday season.
BUT – something transformative is stirring which will affect all of us in the very near future.
The councils that collect our bins, who we turn to if we need help with aged parents, where new houses are going to be built, deal with potholes, libraries, footpaths, school places, and in effect make or break the quality of our lives are all set to change.
When compared to most Western democracies and despite the creation of the Welsh, Scottish and Northern Ireland administrations, the UK is still a very centralised country.
READ MORE: Hampshire County Council’s cabinet makes final call on devolution plans
Yinnon Ezra has given his view on plans for devolution (Image: Supplied) The government wants to change this and has started a “consultation” on “devolution”.
The current structure consists of “unitary” councils – who do almost everything – two-tier (sometimes three) county and district councils including some unitary counties and more recently elected mayors.
But to many, this is still often confusing when trying to work out who does what.
Add to this the many other arms of government like the Environment Agency, the crime and police commissioner, the NHS – to name just a few – and one begins to get dizzy.
The government is asking local politicians to get together and create unitary authorities of around half a million people with elected mayors who can provide some “strategic leadership” particularly around transport, planning, economic development, and skills.
The latter would require a population of 1.5 million as a minimum.
SEE MORE: ‘Devolution would be a beneficial move for Hampshire’
The reason for the population numbers is to give the “new” authorities a viable tax base.
The good news is that the councils in Hampshire have been talking together.
One leader described the journey as the government providing the vehicle but leaving the steering to local politicians to resolve the model quickly.
It is essential that this process does not drag on.
In past reorganisations, the involvement of a “commission” that spent many months deliberating about what were the best combinations of areas often left staff and citizens in limbo – this has to be avoided.
Hence, pragmatism based on what is best for local people must drive any outcome.
This is a wonderful opportunity with the proper use of technology to provide a “one-stop” service to local people.
SEE ALSO: An undemocratic future for Hampshire? Devolution questioned
Not just carrying on as we have always done but looking at new ways of delivering services closer to local communities.
Some unitary authorities have created “area committees” who deal with local planning matters and some service issues.
Parish and town councils will presumably continue to exist with their feet firmly in their local area – although they vary, some make an enormous contribution to their community.
The merging of various districts with the county will unlock cash.
But all the Hampshire districts are very different; some have good assets, others carry debt.
Also, any reorganisation must deal sensitively with the staff and councillors of all councils.
In the short term, these changes will cost money.
Any thought that these savings will fill the huge demands of social care needs forgetting quickly – this vital area of concern requires a strong national lead.
Hopefully, some of the local savings could find their way back into the many services that have been seriously cut.
The whole county of Hampshire with Southampton, Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight are on an important journey.
Hopefully, with imagination, kindness and an eye firmly on what is best for local communities, it will end with something we can all be proud of.
So YES, we should care!