County council leader repeats authority bid

THE county council leader has reiterated the county's stance on submitting a bid for a Combined Authority.

Leader of Hampshire County Council, Councillor Roy Perry, has made it clear only a Combined Authority is being proposed by the council.

Cllr Perry said: ‘Contrary to some recent claims, at no point have I stated that I wish to re-open talks on a ‘Mayoral Combined Authority’.

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‘We strongly believe there is scope for enhancing the original Combined Authority bid to cover more co-operation between all tiers of local government, on housing delivery and with the health authorities, particularly for social care - but this would be in the context of a Combined Authority, not a Mayoral Combined Authority, or a Unitary Council.’

A Combined Authority bid was originally made in September 2015 for all of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight

Cllr Perry added: ‘I feel that a Hampshire-wide approach offers the best and only realistic opportunity of a platform for real devolution to aid economic development.’