The lack of a devolution deal for southern Hampshire has been bemoaned by council leaders.

Southampton City Council’s deputy leader said it was “deeply embarrassing” to be behind other areas in gaining extra powers and resources.

There are set to be 18 devolution deals across England by the end of next year.

The deals give powers and funding for skills and transport to a local level with combined authority mayors given control.

Cllr Simon Letts, the council’s cabinet member for finance, said: “We are the last urban area in the country.

“It is deeply embarrassing to me that we find ourselves in a situation instead of being first in the queue for extra powers and resources, we are at the back of the queue.

“Of course, historically that is due to a failure to reach a consensus locally, not nationally but locally, about how the way that we see devolution working

“Hopefully, this is a step towards achieving what I think we all would want, which is devolution for southern Hampshire and power over our own destiny in terms of areas like transportation and skills.”

Cllr Letts said moving the main functions of Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEP) to local authorities could start the process to securing devolution in the region.

From next month, a new joint entity with Portsmouth City Council and Isle of Wight Council will take over the remit for promoting economic growth and job creation from Solent LEP after government decided to stop providing core funding to the LEPs.

Southampton councillors approved the integration at a meeting on March 20, with leader Cllr Lorna Fielker set to be on the board of the new organisation.