Representatives of Basingstoke council held meetings with the local authority in the capital to discuss taking London overspill housing, it has been claimed at a public meeting.

The claim came as councillors were debating the future strategy of homebuilding in Basingstoke and Deane, and the meeting heard that 'government-imposed' housing targets were too high.

But several councillors at the meeting talked about "discussions" with the Greater London Authority (GLA) about building more houses here in order to reduce the number of houses that need to be developed in the capital.

Council leader Ken Rhatigan said that it was not him or any of his cabinet that were in discussions with the council, and confidently said: "It is not happening on my watch."

The Gazette understands that it was an unnamed "official" of Basingstoke council that was in these discussions.

At Thursday's meeting of the economic, planning and housing committee, leader of the Basingstoke and Deane Independent Group, Cllr Paul Harvey, had said that he understands that BDBC had a "duty to co-operate" with the GLA.

He said: "We understand from one of our members of parliament, Maria Miller, that the emails have been exchanged regarding this is that there are discussions taking place with the GLA by this council.

"We also understand that the leader before you, Cllr [Clive] Sanders, was involved in those negotiations and discussions.

"You may not be yourself, but clearly on the one hand we have somebody say this, and on the other you saying the other, you surely can understand why the public are confused?"

Cllr Rhatigan had told the meeting: "As for taking some London overspill in the 60s and 70s, that is not true.

"If it is from MPs then I implore them not to give false information to you the public or for them to play on fears and concerns that people have, that we will not be producing housing for our own local residents.

"People who grew up here, who want a house here, who are prepared to come and do jobs here - that is for the housing needs of our people and I believe we will build those homes for local residents and people who want to do those jobs.

"As for London Overspill, it is not happening on my watch.

"I am sure that Maria Miller or any other MP listens, but they don’t deal in the local context. They are MPs for small areas of this borough.

"My feeling is that this duty to co-operate, doesn’t mean that we are not interested in what is happening in other places.

"But will we be providing homes for other areas, West Berkshire, Hart, Winchester? Well we will resist it of course because we do not believe the sites we have are deliverable in the sense that other places are required to do.

"But of course we are at the mercy of central government and if I get the knock on the door I will keep the door shut."

A report prepared to go alongside last Thursday's meeting reveals that "reasonable alternatives" must be found to allow for "any additional requirement as a result of the duty to co-operate".

According to the government's website, the duty to co-operate "places a legal duty on local planning authorities... to engage constructively, actively and on an ongoing basis to maximise the effectiveness of local plan... in the context of strategic cross boundary matters".

Basingstoke underwent massive growth after World War II as a result of it being part of the London Overspill scheme.

The market town had a population of around 25,000 after the end of the war, but as of 2012, now has an estimated 87,000 residents.

The wider borough is estimated to have a population of just over 175,000 as of 2019.