Computing in One Social Services Department

Abstract

Hampshire Social Services Department (from now on ‘the Social Services’) covers the entire county of Hampshire. It is a large department, with a population catchment of over one and a half million people. In 1971, when the Social Services Act came into operation, there were three independent social services departments, in the county of Hampshire and the county boroughs of Portsmouth and Southampton. The boroughs were the main urban centres, but were nevertheless a lot smaller than the county. A proposal that as part of the local authority reorganisation planned for 1974 the three councils should merge into one was strenuously opposed at a political level, partly because the boroughs were fearful of being swamped, partly on account of the party political make-up. The county has a tradition of Conservative management, whereas the boroughs have shown more tendency to waver. A combined authority would have a built-in Conservative majority.