CITY leaders in Southampton are set to discuss whether to go ahead with plan for a new ‘super council’.

An extraordinary meeting is due to be held next Wednesday where the council will decide whether to push forward with the plan.

It comes after Portsmouth City Council agreed to proceed with the move at a meeting this week.

The decision to apply to government for the creation of a combined authority was taken at a special meeting of Portsmouth City Council’s Cabinet following discussion of the proposals at yesterday’s full council meeting.

The meetings come after a public consultation saw 71 per cent of respondents say they were in favour of moving power and funding for the economy, transport and jobs from central government to groups of local councils working together, under a Solent Combined Authority.

Donna Jones, Leader of Portsmouth City Council, said: “I am delighted that we have agreed to progress plans for a Solent Combined Authority, this is something that will deliver huge benefits for residents of Portsmouth, Southampton and the Isle of Wight.

"I am confident councils in Southampton and the Isle of Wight will follow suit in the coming weeks and look forward to formally submitting our application to government.”

More than 2,500 people gave their views on the proposed Solent Combined Authority that would oversee a budget of £30m a year over the next 30 years with responsibilities for improving roads, helping create jobs and delivering quality new homes.

They supported the idea of a combined authority with the funds needed to boost business, improve transport and acquire new responsibilities for skills and employment.

Cllr Simon Letts, leader of Southampton City Council, said the results of the consultation gave the move a positive platform. He said: “The response to our consultation gives us a clear sense that the people of the Solent support our aspirations to take powers and funding from the government in London and use them locally to make life better for those who live here.”

Cllr Jonathan Bacon, leader of the Isle of Wight Council, said if all the councils were in agreement it would then be up to central government to agree the bid. He said: “We still need the government to confirm the detail of its final devolution offer to the Solent area.

“We need the mechanism of the combined authority to be agreed so that when the right deal is offered it can be accepted.”