The Leader of Portsmouth City Council has written to the Government with a clear message to leave Portsmouth out of future Local Government Reorganisation plans.
In a letter to Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution Jim McMahon, Cllr Steve Pitt reiterated Portsmouth City Council’s view that it is already a sustainable organisation and should not be required to be part of the Government’s Local Government Reorganisation programme which is mainly aimed at two-tier council areas or failing authorities.
Cllr Pitt said: “The government is arguing we are too small and can be more financially stable through Local Government Reorganisation but there is no evidence for that. We have disproved their arguments and continue to tell Government that Portsmouth City Council does not need to be part of any reorganisation.
“Currently Portsmouth is in a better position financially than many other councils and we have significant concerns about what new councils would inherit, given the eye-watering deficits experienced by other local authorities, notably Hampshire County Council with its £136m forecast deficit for 2026-27. I understand the Government’s desire to have unitary councils but Portsmouth is already a sustainable unitary so should be left alone.”
The letter also addresses concerns the Government could force the city to become part of a larger area. It sets out that any reorganisation would need to be based on the areas that residents use as a community when living their lives, whether that be for work, leisure, education, shopping or anything else. The view is a minimum of four council areas would be required to cover the areas currently under Hampshire County Council, Portsmouth City Council and Southampton City Council.
Portsmouth City Council has stated if forced to meet the Government’s target of a 500,000 population, it’s preference would be to combine with Gosport, Fareham and Havant council areas, but consideration should also be given to the immediate areas bordering this.
Cllr Pitt added: “The area covered by Portsmouth, Southampton and Hampshire is huge and needs a minimum of four separate councils to support residents but this should really be looking at where communities exist and how best they are supported. People don’t live their lives within council boundaries drawn on a map decades ago and we need to make sure, if Government forces change on us, it is done in a way that best meets residents needs based on the areas they identify with and use.”