County council to hold key devolution talks

Councillor Roy Perry has expressed his opposition towards the proposed Solent Combined Authority.

The county council’s cabinet will discuss the future of local government when it meets on November 14 before putting it to the full council 10 days later.

It comes after the county council opened a consultation to get the public’s views on the matter, to which over 5,000 Hampshire residents and businesses responded.

Cllr Perry said devolution was ‘very fluid’ and filled with uncertainty. He added: ‘I remain determined to keep Hampshire together.

‘I’m very grateful to the number of residents who took the time to respond to our open consultation and those who participated in the forums and telephone interviews.　

‘We have always felt very strongly that any devolution deal should achieve the best outcomes for the whole Hampshire area.

‘I remain committed, as I have been all along to working with our partners to achieve this aim.

‘The county council remains strongly opposed to parts of Hampshire joining a Solent Combined Authority.’