Concerns Portsmouth International Port could face 'real damage' after Brexit unless its future is decided by government soon

Despite 'significant' preparation that would be required, the council is still unaware whether Portsmouth International Port will have to deal with an increase in border checks after December 31.

City politicians have demanded a response from the government's transport secretary Grant Shapps after writing to him in November.

Speaking at a cabinet meeting Richard Lee, the council's environmental health officer, said: 'The port deals with low-risk products, hence the need for a low number of officers.

'Any increase in the responsibilities will obviously be relatively large. Any increase in demand for regulatory services down at the port will be unable to be matched by the sources currently available.

'Should those checks be required, even if the funds are made available, waiting times to employ staff would be significant.'

Council leader, Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson, suggested writing to the Local Government Association and local MPs to 'chase' an answer from Mr Shapps.

He said: 'We gave a copy of this briefing to Grant Shapps, the secretary of state for transport, in November. He was keen for more trade to coming through Portsmouth International Port.

'It's now February and we still don't have a response, that's not so good.

'It seems to me it would be prudent for us to be prepared for the UK moving onto world-trade organisation rules with trade with the EU.’

Cllr Lee Hunt agreed. He said: 'The likelihood is there has to be more presence down at the port in due course. If that is the case it has to be funded.

'That means funding with either have to come from government or from council taxpayers.'

Cllr Darren Sanders added: 'There will be real damage to the port unless government stumps up the money, it should not be the people in this city who have to pay because of government policy.'

Portsmouth International Port was re-designated as a border control post in December, meaning it can carry out checks on a wider range of products entering the country.