Portsmouth has cemented its opposition to national plans to rearrange councils.
Portsmouth City Council’s Cabinet agreed to reject the government’s local government reorganisation, and a formal response to government was to leave the city alone.
Councils across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight were asked to submit proposals for the future of the region’s councils by 26 September.
The government wants to replace the current system of councils – including Hampshire County Council, the 11 district and borough councils and the existing unitary councils – with new unitary councils, each covering an area with an average population of 500,000, that would be responsible for all services in their areas.
Portsmouth’s formal response was made in a letter from the Council Leader, Cllr Steve Pitt, to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Steve Reed MP, submitted before the 26 September deadline.
The council acknowledges a risk the government will ignore the city’s request, in case this happens the proposed letter also notes Portsmouth’s preferred option should reorganisation be forced upon the area.
Work by 12 councils across the region has shown having four new councils covering mainland Hampshire would be the best way to meet Government’s demands while providing services in a meaningful way for local communities.
The back-up option put forward would see Portsmouth merged with the areas covered by Fareham, Gosport and Havant councils, along with a request for the Secretary of State to modify some boundaries to include some additional areas bordering Havant, to reflect community ties in those areas.
The proposals are in line with local opinions. In a recent survey, 82% of nearly 4,000 respondents said they’re against Portsmouth being forced into local government reorganisation and having to merge with other councils. Of those who expressed a preference, 61% agreed that, if forced, Portsmouth should merge with Fareham, Gosport and Havant councils.
Cllr Pitt, said:
“We have consistently said Portsmouth should be left out of local government reorganisation, because we already have a single council that is financially stable and delivers strong local services to residents. This view is backed by our residents.
“If the government does force change upon us, Portsmouth agrees with the vast majority of Hampshire councils that the best option for reorganisation is not to have less than four mainland unitary councils. This would create councils that are big enough to meet the government’s criteria, and therefore a geography based on Portsmouth, Gosport, Havant and Fareham would be the best way to achieve that here if we are forced to.”
Press release updated to reflect the Cabinet decision taken on 25 September to formally reject Local Government Reorganisation in Portsmouth.