Issue - meetings

The Leader made the following statement:-

Ahead of the expected White Paper on Levelling-Up and Devolution in the Autumn, the Government last week invited County and Unitary Councils to express interest in being a pilot area for new devolution deals, under which certain powers, responsibilities and funding would be passed from Central Government to local areas in the form of groups of councils working together. 

The deadline was very short and a letter from the City Council had to be submitted to the Minister of State, Luke Hall MP by last Friday 13 August, which will be published with the minutes of this meeting.  Expressions of interest were also submitted by Hampshire County Council and Portsmouth City Council and we look forward to working with our neighbours in discussions with Government over the coming weeks and months.