Southampton and Portsmouth leaders drop Solent authority plan

A combined authority has extra powers from government to set transport, economic development and regeneration policy

The idea of creating a combined local authority to represent the Solent coastal region has been dropped in favour of a pan-Hampshire bid.

In 2014 Portsmouth and Southampton's city council leaders said they were "very supportive" of seven coastal councils becoming a combined authority.

A combined authority grouping of councils receives extra power from central government.

All Hampshire's councils have now agreed to pursue the objective.

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Local Government Association (HIOWLGA) unanimously agreed to support a proposal covering Hampshire County Council, the 11 district councils and the three unitary councils of Portsmouth, Southampton and the Isle of Wight.

A combined authority is created voluntarily and gives a group of local authorities extra powers from government to set transport, economic development and regeneration policy.

The existing structure of local government is unaffected.

In November Portsmouth and Southampton council's issued a joint statement saying they would set aside historical rivalries to bring joint benefits for a so-called "Solent City" region.

Leader of Portsmouth City Council Donna Jones said a Solent region authority was still her "dream" but she would support the "pragmatic approach" of a pan-Hampshire bid.

"I'm hopeful the Hampshire-wide authority can deliver what we want it to, if it doesn't there is still the potential for the seven councils along the south coast to talk.

"No individual council would change from how it is now. This is simply about the people in Hampshire having more say over central government spending. It's about how we utilise that money better."

The leader of the county council, Roy Perry, has written to Greg Clark MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, saying the councils will be preparing a devolution submission.

Individual councils are due to discuss the issue at meetings throughout the summer.