COUNCILS in Hampshire are to get more than £750,000 to help “adapt to changes caused by Brexit”, the government has revealed.

As part of a £56.5 million national funding pot, authorities in the county will be gifted the cash over 24 months – starting from the 2019/20 financial year.

This will include both Southampton City Council and Portsmouth City Council receiving £210,000 each, with an additional piece of a £1.5 million port-impact fund to follow.

Hampshire County Council will get £175,000 through the fund.

Elsewhere, district authorities will also receive cash, with Eastleigh Borough Council, East Hampshire District Council, New Forest District Council, Test Valley Borough Council, and Winchester City Council being given £35,000 each.

The government has said it hopes the cash will also help local authorities to protect “vital local services” following Brexit on March 29.

It comes just days after MPs voted to block a ‘No-Deal’ Brexit, as part of a series of ballots on amendments to Prime Minister Theresa May’s bill.

Parliament members did however authorise Mrs May to go back to Brussels to try to renegotiate the deal – which EU leaders indicate they won’t allow to happen.

Councillor Roy Perry, leader of Hampshire County Council, said: “Our role as the County Council is to deliver the highest quality services we can to the people of Hampshire, while keeping the council tax precept as low as possible.

“Although we welcome news of any extra Government funding, we need to assess how this limited funding can best support the wide range of planning underway and the additional Brexit related burdens expected for local authorities.

“We will continue to work closely with our partners in the Local Resilience Forum to ensure that our collective resources are used to benefit all those who live and work in Hampshire.”

Leader of Southampton City Council Christopher Hammond said: “Whatever your views on Brexit, we all want to try and ensure that the process is undertaken with a minimal amount of disruption.

“Through the cross-party contingency planning meetings that have been held between the Leaders of Portsmouth, Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Southampton councils we’re ensuring that the voice of Southampton is heard in government.”

The city authority confirmed that the cash it receives will be used to “support the additional pressures on the council relating to planning and preparing for Brexit”.

Local government minister James Brokenshire said: “This funding will help councils to adapt to changes caused by Brexit, while still protecting vital local services.

“This will not be the only resources councils receive to fund Brexit costs. Government has been clear that Departments will assess and, if appropriate, fund any potential new burdens arising on councils as part of EU Exit work they are undertaking.”

The announcement comes two months before the UK is to leave the EU on March 29, with the impacts of leaving, and how the country is going to separate from its European counterparts, still very much unclear.