CIVIC chiefs are seeking assurances that the “turmoil” at the heart of Government will not threaten plans for the devolution of powers to the Solent.

Eight councils in the Solent region are working with the Government to set up a new combined authority that would have power over an extra £1 billion of funding.

An announcement had been expected next month, but in the light of the referendum result and the uncertainty sparked by Prime Minister David Cameron’s resignation, one council leader says he will be “seeking assurances” over the bid.

Another says the situation could lead to changes over key elements of the bid, such as the need for a directly-elected mayor that sparked a major battle over the future of the county.

The Solent deal, involving Southampton, Portsmouth, Fareham, Eastleigh, Gosport, Havant, East Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, could see the Government hand over control for £30 million of funding every year as well as extra transport, skills and housing powers.

After some council leaders, including county leader Roy Perry, opposed the Government’s insistence on having a mayor, ministers decided to negotiate with the Solent region instead of Hampshire as a whole.

When asked if he thought the uncertainty in Westminster could impact on whether the bid goes ahead, Southampton City Council leader Cllr Simon Letts said: “It is possible. We will be seeking assurances. We think that as Government takes powers from the EU it should look to pass some down to local areas.”

He added that he believes an announcement on the deal, scheduled for next month, may now be delayed.

Fareham Borough Council leader Cllr Seán Woodward believes that may change in light of the upheaval sparked by the referendum result and Mr Cameron’s resignation.

He said: “We expected an announcement in early July but the Government is in turmoil.”

He said a lot about the deal now “depends on what happens to the two key players”, Chancellor George Osborne and Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Greg Clark.

“For example, George Osborne has a preoccupation with elected mayors. he has clearly been pursuing that agenda for a long time now.”

“That was seen as being right for the cities in the north [which have already had devolution deals announced] but whether that is the right inside Hampshire, who knows.

“If George Osborne isn’t long for this world then perhaps other people might have a slightly different take on that [elected mayors].”

Saying he felt Mr Clark was “more relaxed” on elected mayors, he added that while he doesn’t think the bid is at risk that “we really need to get on with it and not be distracted by different arguments such as that put forward by Hampshire about a big unitary authority”.