Portsmouth council may sue government over ‘south east’ merger

Ministers have confirmed their plans for Local Government Reorganisation, a central government effort to streamline local government structures.

Under the proposals, two-tier areas would be replaced with larger unitary councils providing services to populations of around 500,000.

The government chose “option 1A” which would merge Portsmouth with Havant, Gosport, Fareham, a single “South East” council.

They will also be joined by as well as Newlands in Waterlooville which currently comes under Winchester and the villages south of Butser Hill which currently come under East Hampshire.

The administration in Portsmouth has warned the plans could leave the city facing a funding gap of £67m from the outset of the new authority.

Portsmouth has operated as a unitary council since 1997 and has previously sought to be excluded from LGR, citing what it describes as a stable financial position.

Council leader Steve Pitt said: “We have always said this is a bad deal for Portsmouth. The city gave its preference for the least damaging option, but the reality is that this is still a disaster for local services.

“I have told Keir Starmer’s ministers time and again that we want nothing to do with this. Now, my message to the government as Leader of the City Council is simple – this is not right for our city, and we’ll see you in court.”

Responding, Reform UK councillor George Madgwick added: “LGR is a disaster for our city however our council’s administration has fully cooperated and complied with the process.

“They shout ‘Hands off Portsmouth’ meanwhile engaging entirely with the process and submitting proposals. I doubt any legal process they submit will be successful.

“Equally Cllr Pitt was the person whom originally pushed for for 1A option that has been selected.”

While stating Reform UK does not support LGR and would “do what we can to stop it” if in control, he added that in reality “the government will do what it wishes to do” with limited scope for local authorities to change the outcome.

Cllr Simon Bosher, leader of the Conservative group, criticised the government’s timing, describing it as “very cynical” that the announcement was made on the first day of the local election pre-election period, when communications from the council are strictly limited.

“Having been part of this journey for the last couple years - they just choose not to respond to anything we ask, there’s been copious letters gone to government about this process, challenging it, asking how it’s going to work

“We’ve either been greeted with no answer, not even a courtesy of a response, or they shrug their shoulders and say they don’t know.

“The whole thing has been a total and utter mess from day one.”

Cllr Charlotte Gerada, Portsmouth Labour group leader, added: “Let’s be clear, while the Lib Dems are now criticising these plans, this is their plan, the one they worked on, negotiated, signed and submitted.

“Instead of owning that, they’ve turned to scare stories and political stunts.

“Portsmouth residents deserve better than that.”