RESPONSES to Hampshire County Council’s public consultation have made it clear residents have little appetite for adding extra tiers of local government across the county.

County council leader Roy Perry said: “We have weighed up some important matters around the issue of devolution and local government reorganisation.

“In particular, serious consideration was given to the feedback we received from more than 5,000 residents, businesses and key stakeholders who responded to our Serving Hampshire consultation held earlier this year. Essentially, the main messages were that there was very little support for breaking up Hampshire by creating additional tiers of government.

“Instead, people care more about the services they receive – easier access to all council services and more value for money.

“I am pleased to say these views endorse the position that any deal should achieve the best outcomes for the whole area – which we believe can only be achieved by keeping Hampshire together. Remaining as one whole county protects the quality of vital county-wide services, such as highways and health and social care, and delivers value for money for the taxpayer.

“Splitting organisations inevitably adds costs as it takes away efficiencies and economies of scale.

“This is why Hampshire’s cabinet remain opposed to joining a Solent Combined Authority, as it is currently proposed with the intention of including just parts of the county to join the three unitary councils of Southampton, Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight.

“That would lead to services the county council currently provides to the whole of Hampshire, being broken up and handed to a Solent mayor. The disruption and uncertainty that would inevitably follow, not just to southern Hampshire, but to the rest of the county, makes this option unsatisfactory for residents.

“Our residents tell us they prefer the status quo. But if the actions of others mean we cannot retain the status quo, we may have no option but to reconsider our position in order to protect the prosperity of residents across the whole county and the future of public services, on which people depend.

“The county council’s position on devolution and local government reorganisation will be considered at a meeting of the full council on November 24.”

Portsmouth, Southampton and the Isle of Wight have all voted in the last month to press ahead on launching a bid to become a combined authority, although the latter originally looked as if it might decline to join the two big south coast cities after a difference of opinion among senior officers on the island.

Under the deal, they would leave the current government funding system, but would be handed business rates worth £210m per year. They would also secure £900million from Whitehall to spend over 30 years on infrastructure.

The three councils would retain their existing powers but they would also be equal members on a board, led by an elected mayor responsible for those functions currently provided by Hampshire County Council.