“KEEP Hampshire together to deliver the best outcomes for residents” is the strong message delivered by the leader of Hampshire County Council.

Roy Perry has reiterated his call for the county to remain as one so it can deliver the best services possible for the people of Hampshire.

And for the need for a public consultation on the thorny issue of devolution.

Speaking at a Hampshire and Isle of Wight Local Government Association meeting in Winchester last Friday, where he passed on his two-year term as chairman of the group, Mr Perry said: “While devolution discussions have seen proposals for combined authorities considered in the south and north of the county, we remain of the firm view that before any changes are proposed there must first be a proper independent, thorough and objective consultation exercise to find out what the residents of Hampshire want – particularly as research we have commissioned shows that keeping Hampshire united could deliver £40m of savings to the public purse.

“This whole-Hampshire solution offers greater strength, capacity and scale than a deal that cuts the county in half, and residents must be given a say, instead of ploughing ahead with unitary or combined authorities at polar ends of the county.”

Mr Perry warned: “A decision on the future structure of local government will affect generations to come. Any proposal to split Hampshire, and fragment hundreds of high-performing services, should not be based on a decision pushed through by just Portsmouth, Southampton and the Isle of Wight and their desire to join in a combined authority.

“And such a decision shouldn’t be made without asking the people of Hampshire what they want, which is why I have today re-extended my offer to district and unitary councils across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to join us in undertaking a full, public consultation to look at the options available.

“It’s vital that we listen first and decide later, not the other way around.”

Mr Perry concluded: “With the public purse facing immense pressure in the years to come, we have an opportunity to safeguard the delivery of services for all of Hampshire’s 1.9 million residents, but we can’t do this unless we work together.”