A Hampshire council was “ill-prepared” for a major shake-up, a serving councillor has said.
Cllr Michael Thierry said New Forest District Council (NFDC) had “little, if any, contingency planning” in place for local government reorganisation.
His concerns come weeks after it was announced that the district would be split, with the Waterside area of the New Forest set to join the South West Hampshire council in 2028.
This council will comprise the existing Southampton and Eastleigh councils, the Waterside, and an area of the Test Valley.
But leader of the council, Conservative Cllr Jill Cleary, said she and the local authority as a whole have been proactive in the face of change.
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Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Cllr Thierry, Independent for Ringwood North, said: “The council made its submission on the basis that it was unlikely that any internal district boundary changes would take place.
“In the event, the council was ill-prepared for the minister’s decision when it came.
“It would appear, unless the leader informs the council otherwise, that there was little, if any, contingency planning.”
He added that councillors and members of the public should be allowed to see a copy of the letter Cllr Cleary plans to send to Steve Reed, secretary of state for local government.
Cllr Thierry said: “Surely the situation warrants a face-to-face with the minister [Steve Reed]? A verbal discussion is far more powerful than a ten-page letter.
“What would have been the council’s response had there not been the petition organised by the Hartley-Binns? They saved the day, not the council.”
The petition, entitled New Forest Together, has amassed more than 19,000 signatures.
It was brought before full council on April 13, and a motion to consider the petition was unanimously passed.
Addressing Cllr Thierry’s concerns, Cllr Cleary said legal advice was sought before the petition was brought before councillors.
She added: “Whilst working to develop an option that the whole council could agree with and submit to Government, we also focused on keeping the Forest whole.
“We have sought legal advice when we needed to, in fact, before the petition came to council and will agree the right steps for our council and our residents as cabinet.”
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