THE battle lines have been drawn in the fight for the future of Hampshire.

Seven leaders representing its southern areas have hit back at county leader Roy Perry over proposals that could see a huge “super council” created.

It is the latest round of a long-running battle sparked by the Government’s decision to negotiate a devolution deal with the Solent region, as opposed to the whole of Hampshire.

Last week Cllr Perry announced that a new report by consultants Deloitte, commissioned by the county council, spelled out six options for how Hampshire could be governed in the future.

They included creating one huge council for the whole of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, including Southampton; creating a unitary council but excluding Southampton and Portsmouth; and creating four or five new unitary councils to cover the “Greater Southampton”, “Greater Portsmouth”, “North Hampshire”, “Central Hampshire” and Isle of Wight areas.

The report says the changes could save tens of millions of pounds every year, as well as reducing council tax bills.

However, the plans were attacked by the leaders of the Solent group which remains in discussions with the Government about its devolution deal.

If agreed this summer it could see £30m extra funding given to the region each year as well as greater responsibility for areas such as transport, skills and housing.

A second devolution bid has been handed in to Government which could see Winchester, New Forest, Test Valley, Rushmoor and Basingstoke and Deane form a “Heart of Hampshire” combined authority.

Both new combined authorities would have directly-elected mayors.

The leaders of Southampton, Portsmouth, Fareham, Eastleigh, Gosport, East Hampshire and Havant councils have issued a joint statement responding to Cllr Perry’s announcement.

In it, the seven leaders say the plans “amount to localism in reverse”, adding: “It exceeds the Government’s own standards for scale and manageability, is a clear threat to town and parish councils and would further distance our populations from the services they and their communities rely on.

“We would prefer to look at bringing existing councils together to work to improve outcomes for people and bring extra powers and resources for the area – as being explored in plans for both the Solent and Heart of Hampshire combined authorities (which between them cover Hampshire and the Isle of Wight).”

Speaking about the Solent devolution bid, they added: “Bringing these responsibilities together in the Solent area will simplify and strengthen support for business growth and innovation."