Concerns have been raised a council is taking ‘painful’ steps to address its challenges only to be ‘hit round the back of the head’ by the prospect of a merger with other local authorities.

The government’s English Devolution White Paper covered local government reorganisation (LGR), which would see the two-tier system replaced with larger unitary authorities.

This could lead to major changes in Hampshire, which currently has a mix of a two-tier system and unitary authorities in Portsmouth and Southampton.

No details on potential mergers and timelines have been released but the prospect of change is already on the minds of councillors.

Cllr Pat Evemy, who represents Banister and Polygon ward, raised the subject at a Southampton City Council governance committee meeting on Monday, January 13.

The session largely focused on progress in addressing the council’s financial issues and delivering transformation, with reports from the chief executive Andrew Travers and improvement board chair Theresa Grant.

Cllr Evemy said: “Are we going through all this pain, getting everything sorted, getting ourselves in a situation where we are fine, when surrounding us are Hampshire County Council with their problems, Eastleigh council with their problems?

“I have no idea what’s going on in Test Valley or the New Forest, but I am sure they are not finding it an easy time either and we’re going to expand and we’re going to be taking on some of these problems and we are going to be taking on different cultures and different outlooks.”

She asked council leader Cllr Lorna Fielker and Ms Grant on how robust the council was going to be when it came to the merger and working in partnership with other authorities.

Cllr Evemy added: “Are we going through a lot of pain getting ourselves sorted only to be hit round the back of the head?”

Cllr Fielker said: “The work we have been doing will help to ensure we are match fit for that (LGR).

“We have worked very rapidly over a year to do huge amounts of change in terms of culture, our ways of working.

“We have matured as an organisation and we need to make sure we have those really good clear conversations with others.”

The council leader said she believed the authority will have a clearer view on its values and how it works as a result of the transformation programme.

Ms Grant said: “You are absolutely right to be concerned and I would be concerned as well.

“I think the work that has been put in to get the organisation to a stable position has been a lot of hard work and now we have got all of that coming down the line towards us.

“The more preparation that you do for that, the better it will be for the organisation and the more you will gain from it.

“I think it is critical that the city council is well positioned to gain maximum from that.”

LGR is separate to plans that are moving forward on devolution, which could see a new strategic authority created with an elected mayor.

Hampshire, Southampton, Portsmouth and Isle of Wight councils submitted an interest last week in the creation of a strategic authority covering the Hampshire and Solent region.

The elected mayor could have responsibility for areas such as transport, housing growth, skills and employment but councils will continue to deliver the range of services already in place for residents.