Havant MP Alan Mak has pledged to back Hampshire’s bid for more powers following a meeting with Roy Perry, Leader of Hampshire County Council at County Hall.
The Havant MP has backed more powers for his local Havant Borough council and local councils across Hampshire as part of Chancellor George Osborne’s “devolution revolution” announced at Conservative Party Conference in Manchester last week.
Hampshire submitted its bid for more powers to Chancellor George Osborne and Communities Secretary Greg Clark in early September 2015, and await the outcome of the government’s review.
Mak has pledged to support the bid in Westminster, believing greater powers for the area can help to create a “Southern Powerhouse” boosting jobs and economic growth.
Hampshire bid document focuses on four key themes: boosting business and skills for work; accelerating housing delivery; investing in infrastructure; and transforming public services.
The bid also asks for full devolution of business rates which would allow local councils such as Havant Borough Council keep the rates it collects from local businesses rather than the proceeds being garnered by the Treasury and then redistributed back to locally via grants to local government. This step has been approved by the Chancellor and links the prosperity of the public sector to the success of local businesses
Alan Mak MP said, “Havant’s economy is strong and we have exciting regeneration and growth plans, for example the redevelopment of Market Parade and Dunsbury Hill Farm. Devolution of power and tax receipts from Whitehall to Hampshire would give us more local control over our future, boost economic growth leading to higher living standards. That’s why I am backing Hampshire’s devolution bid which Roy and his colleagues have worked very hard on.”
Alan Mak MP added, “It’s right that the Government is creating a Northern Powerhouse and giving Northern cities more control over their affairs. I believe Hampshire should enjoy the same freedoms too. We can be a new “Southern Powerhouse” with Havant at its heart.”
Cllr Perry says, “Alan is a hardworking local MP and a strong voice for Havant. Alan and I are committed to working together to benefit his constituents and residents across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, and I’m delighted he is supporting our bid.”
“Hampshire is a prosperous area but we could do even better if the devolution bid is accepted. More powers for Hampshire as a whole give us more capacity, scale and strength to create jobs, invest in infrastructure and plan for the future.”
Mak has also played a leading role in co-found a new Parliamentary group for Hampshire. The group will be launched before Christmas and will work on cross-cutting county-wide issues such as transport, education and policing. Details of the new group will be published exclusively in The News in due course.