HAMPSHIRE County Council believes it now has a clear guide on how to address the challenge of devolution and local-government reorganisation.

At a meeting last month, county cabinet members looked at the feedback received from more than 5,000 residents, businesses and key stakeholders who responded to a Serving Hampshire consultation held earlier this year.

According to council leader Roy Perry, the message conveyed by the consultation was clear: “Keep Hampshire together – it’s the services that count, not extra levels of bureaucracy.”

Following the meeting, Mr Perry said: “We have weighed up some important matters today around the issue of devolution and local-government reorganisation.

“In particular, serious consideration was given to the feedback we received from our Serving Hampshire consultation. 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 Hampshire area, which we believe can only be achieved by keeping Hampshire together.

“Remaining as one whole county protects the quality of vital countywide 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, said Mr Perry, was why the council cabinet remained opposed to joining a Solent Combined Authority, which would comprise the three unitary councils of Portsmouth, the Isle of Wight and Southampton, with the intention of annexing off other parts of Hampshire, such as East Hampshire District Council.

He said: “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.

“A Solent Authority – as currently proposed by Southampton, Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight and based on just the three unitaries – is a matter for them but clearly is too small to be strategic., said Mr Perry.

Even if it includes a number of southern districts from Hampshire, it would still be too small to be strategic, and it ignores important economic and geographic factors.

“The Solent economy is based on north-south links rather than east-west.

“British exports going through the two ports come from the north-south road and rail networks.

“A body whose raison d’etre is to address infrastructure deficiencies in this area needs to be able to address the bigger picture. Our residents tell us they prefer the status quo.

“However, 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.”