THE future of county councils will be explored at a meeting in Winchester later this month.

With the Government looking at revamping local government alongside potential devolution do county councils like Hampshire and Dorset have a future?

That will be the key question when Winchester University welcomes one of England’s most respected county council politicians to explore the future of county level local government at an event hosted by the University’s Centre for English Identity and Politics.

Paul Carter, leader of Kent County Council, presents The Future of the English County Council on Thursday March 9, in the centre’s latest event on the theme of the governance of England.

Devolution deals, which bring more powers over local services to county and city regions, are a key part of the government’s policy agenda for local government.

However, to date, many English shire counties, including Hampshire, have either failed to agree a deal or say that too little is currently on offer.

Alongside devolution, more radical changes to shire counties are also the subject of debate, including abolishing district councils and forming smaller, single-tier councils. Another idea is for district councils in Hampshire, such as Winchester or Eastleigh, to be replaced by one unitary authority.

It is an issue that at the moment has yet to attract much public interest.

John Denham, Professor of English Identity and Politics at the university and the former Southampton Itchen MP and Cabinet minister, said: “As English shire councils around the country grapple with the prospect of devolution and radical local government reorganisation, a key question is whether they have a future ahead of them or are facing extinction.

“With 20 years of experience as an elected politician for Kent County Council and chairman of the County Councils Network, Paul Carter is ideally placed to explore what might lie ahead for county level local government.”

Mr Carter was appointed leader of Kent County Council in 2005 and has overseen massive change and transformation in the delivery of front line services to Kent residents, successfully delivering some £400 million of efficiency savings to the government’s austerity programme.

He is currently working on health and social care transformation and hoping to see the development of dramatically expanding primary and community health and social services that support patients 24/7 and help reduce avoidable admittance into hospital.

The event is the latest in a series hosted by the University’s Centre for English Identity and Politics focusing on the theme of the governance of England.

The centre, which is headed by Prof Denham and is part of the university’s Department of Politics and Society, explores the relationship between a growing sense of English identity and the development of local and national politics in England.

The Future of the English County Council takes place on Thursday, March 9 from 6.30pm to 8pm in The Stripe, King Alfred Campus, University of Winchester, Sparkford Road, Winchester, Hampshire, SO22 4NR.

The event is free to attend but registration is essential. Register online at: www.winchester.ac.uk/carter.