An Assessment of the County Review Process in Hampshire 1929–1932

Under the provisions of the Local Government Act 1929, Hampshire County Council along with other administrative counties was required to review the boundaries of the second and third tier authorities within its borders. As well as being a time-consuming process, it could also be a particularly contentious one. In the event, Hampshire used the opportunity to reduce significantly the number of relatively small second tier authorities, particularly rural district councils, and to adjust boundaries which sometimes gave rise to spirited local opposition. The arguments used by the County Council to justify changes and those resisting them, many of which were aired at an Inquiry conducted by a Ministry of Health Inspector at Winchester in late 1931, are considered.