County's Homelessness Cuts Delayed

Action by Cllr Martin Tod has forced Conservative-controlled Hampshire County Council to u-turn on planned cuts to homelessness support in Hampshire.

The Conservatives in Hampshire proposed withdrawing all support for homelessness services in early 2025 – leaving organisations and service providers in the lurch.

However, the Conservatives are still pushing forward with withdrawing support in 2026.

Years of Conservative leadership at a county and national level have left Hampshire struggling to provide even the most essential services, with £640 million in cuts over the past decade affecting everything from road repairs to bus services and even social care.

This is in the backdrop of Hampshire’s budget deficit set to rise to £183mn – the highest of any council in the country. 

Martin says, “I am glad that the Conservatives have seen sense to avoid the cliff-edge for these vital services, but they must ensure that there is continued support going forward. We need a council that can manage finances without sacrificing essential services.”