The Isle of Wight Council is poised to put forward exceptional circumstances to remain “as is”, amid plans for local government reorganisation.
The move aims to preserve the council's current structure, reflecting the Island's unique geography and identity.
Next week councillors will consider an interim report on the progress of local government reorganisation proposals in the area.
Produced collectively by the 15 unitary and district councils covering Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, the draft report sets out the guiding principles the councils have agreed should inform the next stage of the process.
These include financial sustainability, a clear sense of place and identity, and community feedback and engagement.
The report seeks an early indication from ministers that the Isle of Wight will be granted an exception, allowing it to maintain its status as a separate unitary authority.
If agreed, the interim report will be submitted to the government on 21 March. Further work between the region’s councils will continue over the coming months to develop final proposals.
The government's reorganisation blueprint aims to establish unitary authorities with populations of at least 500,000.
However, the Isle of Wight, with a projected population of 148,000 by 2028, argues that its unique circumstances warrant an exception.
Council leader, Councillor Phil Jordan, explained:
"While we will continue to explore opportunities for shared service arrangements, the submission, drafted in agreement with all local authorities in the Hampshire and Solent area, makes it clear that the Isle of Wight should remain exactly as is, in structure and size.
"For mainland authorities, new boundaries are not yet proposed as there remains work to collate data to assess appropriate boundaries.
"The Solent, however, creates a natural boundary that makes our situation on the Island unique.
"The cost of delivering services here is inherently higher due to our isolation and detachment from the mainland which, in turn, produces a smaller market size for service delivery.
"We believe these factors make a strong case for the Isle of Wight to be treated as an exception.
"Additionally, our residents have a distinct cultural identity that does not align naturally with those on the mainland.
"Our submission will ensure that we present to Government our exceptional circumstances and the firm case that we remain consistent and unchanged in our services delivery on the Island, for the Island and by the Island."
Full Council will consider the report on Wednesday, 19 March, before it is presented to the Cabinet for a decision on Thursday, 20 March.
The final proposal for local government reorganisation in Hampshire and the Solent area is to be developed and considered by Full Council later this year before being submitted to government and will include local community and stakeholder engagement.
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