Hampshire devolution deal on the horizon following election

The “once-in-a-generation” plans to potentially secure new powers and investment of £1.14 billion to the region from a Pan-Hampshire County Deal was withdrawn last year.

It was as the unitary councils in Portsmouth, Southampton and the Isle of Wight Council withdrew from planned discussions with the government and rejected the prospect of a single deal for the wider Hampshire area.

READ MORE: Hampshire County Council leader urges new MPs to 'work together'

Cllr Lorna Fielker (Image: Southampton City Council)

However, at Southampton City Council’s overview and scrutiny committee Thursday, July 11, leader Cllr Lorna Fielker said that the devolution deal will finally come to the region, and all thanks to the new change of leadership across the county, which allowed for different discussions that didn’t have in the past.

Cllr Fielker said: “There is a change of leadership across the county essentially, and it’s the basis of new relationships being formed. Different discussions being had which don’t have any of the past attached to them and that’s really helpful. It’s taking advantage of that.

“There’s a recognition of where things have gone wrong in the past and also about not throwing out the baby with the bathwater because of those deals that were being put together previously there will be good stuff in there. It’s how we make sure that we get what’s good. How do we make sure they’re far more ambitious? We need to be as ambitious as possible and ensure that everybody feels comfortable with it and can be signed.”

The leader said that the much-needed devolution deal will finally come to the region since it “is absolutely fundamental to our future prosperity” and is where the Solent area gets “the money and powers”.

“We’ve had two failed devolution deals in the past, and we need the next one not to fail,” she added.

At the moment, conversations between authorities are focused on building trust. A trust that “has not always been” on the table and resulted in failed deals, but this time, Southampton’s leader is “hopeful”.

“Different actors are now leading within the region, and there’s a program of work to build trust to get the best deal,” she said.

“I’ve been meeting with leaders across Hampshire, the unitaries, Hampshire County Council and districts and boroughs to look at how we’re going to come together to work on a plan that we can all agree on and we can present to government as quickly as possible and get what we need and deserve here in this region.

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“It’s really important for us. I’m absolutely heartened by how strong the relationships are between different parts of this area. We have a huge number of political traditions, but we’re able to put those politics to one side in order to make sure we’re working for the people of the region, and that good productive relationships are taking place.”

Cllr Fielker said that the new Labour government is “keen” on devolution deals, but she wanted to hear more about the details on whether it is going to be “the same just three tiers which the Conservatives offered” or whether there will be “some different flexibilities in how those combined authorities upward together”.

The deals usually give powers and funding for skills and transport to a local level with combined authority mayors given control.

Cllr Fielker said: “We just need to get a bit more detail, but in the meantime, we are working hard on deciding what is needed in this region […] because devolution is essentially about bringing growth and prosperity in those town centres and cities.”