Portsmouth has secured '˜not one penny piece' from government

Outlining the council’s strategy to generate cash in a speech about budgets, Donna Jones declared: ‘As an administration, we have made income generation a top priority.

‘We have set a clear mandate to the directors and the CEO – we want you to create more income.

‘We want you to ensure we are getting the maximum return from our assets.’

She referred to the council’s property investment scheme pot – which will now be increased by £73.1m so properties can be bought in return for a rental income.

Yet Lib Dem group leader Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson said the government this week gave councils an extra £416m to spend – and Portsmouth got nothing.

Speaking at the full council debate, Cllr Vernon-Jackson said: ‘Hampshire, West Sussex and Dorset have all got millions of pounds extra from the government.

‘Shall I tell you how much money the leader of the council has secured for Portsmouth? None. Nil. Zilch. Zero. Not one penny piece.’