c/o Cllr Donna Jones
Leader of Portsmouth City Council
Civic Offices
Guildhall Square
PORTSMOUTH
PO1 2AL
Cllr Roy Perry
Leader of Hampshire County Council
The Castle
WINCHESTER
SO23 8UJ
25th October 2016

Dear Roy
Solent Combined Authority
Thank you for your message of 21st October 2016. You will be aware that all three Councils
have now resolved to make a formal request to the Secretary of State to set up the Solent
Combined Authority to deliver the Solent Devolution Deal. Now that we have reached this
stage and completed our respective consultations with the public we repeat our offer for
Hampshire County Council to join the Solent Combined Authority as a full member. We
make this offer in an open and honest way and have taken the trouble to copy in all
members of the County Council so that they are aware of our current position and hope that
collectively you agree to reconsider your position.
To this end we would wish to state again that we value the contribution that the County
Council plays in improving the lives of citizens across Hampshire and appreciate the
expertise that it has both politically and professionally. We accept that the County Council
continues to have some reservations about the deal but feel that these can be addressed by
negotiation. In particular we feel that three areas can be worked on:
1. HCC's continuing role in relation to the key roads network
2. Arrangements to secure the early retention of business rates with the County Council
3. The participation of the County Council in the negotiations that will follow to ensure
the area receives the best possible deal.
Should you continue to feel unable to take up full membership, we have of course also
extended our invitation of non-constituent membership to the County Council along with the
Solent District Councils.
We remain committed to securing a devolution deal, including the new additional £30m per
year for 30 years for the Solent area, and we hope that you will reconsider your position and

 ensure that your members are fully briefed on the opportunity that is open to them. We
would be very pleased to discuss the issues and opportunities with you further when we
meet on 9th November.
Yours sincerely

Cllr Jonathan Bacon
Leader of Isle of Wight Council

Councillor Simon Letts
Leader of Southampton City Council

Cllr Donna Jones
Leader of Portsmouth City Council