Basingstoke and Deane

Political control

The council has been under no overall control since 2022. Following the 2023 election a minority administration of the Liberal Democrats and the "Independent Forum" (at the time, comprising local party the Basingstoke and Deane Independents, two Green councillors and the independent councillors) took control of the council. Paul Harvey of the Basingstoke and Deane Independents was appointed leader of the council and Liberal Democrat leader Gavin James was appointed deputy leader (but styled "co-leader").^[13] Labour voted in favour of the new administration forming, but does not form part of the administration itself, with all positions on the council's cabinet held by Liberal Democrats or members of the Independent Forum.^[14]

The first election to the modern council was held in 1973, initially acting as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new arrangements took effect on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows:^{[15][16][17][18]}

Leadership

The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Basingstoke and Deane. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 2003 have been:

Composition

Following the 2024 election,^[32] and subsequent changes of allegiance up to May 2025, the composition of the council was:^[33][34]

The Basingstoke and Deane Independents, the Green councillors, the All In Party councillor and the independent councillors sit together as the "Independent Forum" group, which forms the council's administration with the Liberal Democrats.^[35] The next election is due in 2026.^[34]

Premises

The council is based at the Civic Offices on London Road. The old Basingstoke Town Council had bought a large eighteenth century house called Goldings at 5 London Road in 1922 and converted it to become municipal offices. Following the creation of the new council in 1974 a new office building incorporating a council chamber was built west of Goldings, opening in 1976 and now being called Deanes. Additional offices to the east of Goldings were subsequently added c. 1990 called Parklands. Goldings is now used as a register office with the council being based at Deanes and Parklands, with the two buildings together being called the Civic Offices.^[36]

Television

The area is served by BBC South and ITV Meridian with television signals receive from the Hannington TV transmitter.^[38]

Radio

Radio stations for the area are:

• BBC Radio Berkshire
• Heart South
• Greatest Hits Radio Berkshire & North Hampshire

Newspapers

Local newspapers are the Basingstoke Gazette, and Basingstoke Observer, and Hampshire Chronicle.