Portsmouth is ‘a good council that is performing well’
About the council
Portsmouth City Council is a forward-thinking, ambitious unitary authority, that is committed to providing exceptional services for our residents and is proud of the strength of its partnerships across the city.
Our most recent LGA peer review in 2021 found us to be a ‘good council that is performing well’ with innovative work and evidence of good performance across many key services and engagement with local communities.
Democracy and governance
The council has 42 elected members, one third of the council being elected each year for three consecutive years, with the fourth year a fallow year. The city has 14 wards. Each ward is represented by three councillors and one councillor in each ward is elected each year. The next fallow year is 2025.
We operate a cabinet model of decision making within a financial and policy framework set by the full council. The Cabinet comprises 10 elected members including the Leader, each of whom has responsibility for a specific portfolio of services, functions and policies.
Portsmouth’s political composition:
| Party | Members |
|---|---|
| Liberal Democrat | 18 |
| Conservative | 8 |
| Labour | 8 |
| Portsmouth Independents Party | 6 |
| Portsmouth Community Independents | 2 |
Everything we do is guided by our values. Our values set out who we are, what we stand for and how we act, and were developed in consultation with staff and stakeholders.
Our values are supported by a behaviours framework that creates a guide for everyone to encourage and model the behaviours we want to see.
Respect – we treat everyone with respect, considering the feelings, wellbeing, safety, and rights of others.
Integrity – we are accountable, can be trusted and take responsibility for our actions.
Collaboration – we work together as a team and with our colleagues, residents, partners, and communities to achieve more.
Inclusive – we recognise diversity, are open, fair and provide equal opportunity to all.
People-focussed – we put people first and ensure our customers are at the heart of everything we do.
Structure
Economy, Planning and Transport forms one of ten directorates.
Staff
The council overall employs 3,796 staff, excluding those in schools, and each member of staff helps play a vital role in creating a workplace culture where inclusion, diversity and equality are paramount and where everyone knows that their personal contribution is valued. Our staff are not only highly skilled and dedicated, but also passionate about delivering great services. They take huge pride in the city they serve and which many live in.
Circa 460 staff – 12% of our workforce – form the Economy, Planning and Transport directorate, working across infrastructure, planning and economic development, property and investment, transport, and business support.
Budget
The council has a long history of robust financial management which was recognised in the recent peer review and is reflected in the council’s recently approved Budget for 2023/24 and Budget Forecast to 2026/27.
The council’s gross expenditure for 2023/24 (Revenue & Capital) amounts to £900m with savings of just £2m required to offset the extraordinary costs of inflation and demand related pressures. The forecast for future years indicates a broadly balanced position albeit recognising the potential for future volatility. Nevertheless, the council’s financial position is sound and it is well placed to face the future uncertainty that exists. More detail of the budget proposals can be found below.
Council plan
The council’s current plan sets out how we will work together with partners and communities to deliver the city vision, focusing on being champions for Portsmouth, taking action to improve the lives of residents, and protecting and enhancing our environment. Also at the heart of the plan is providing the services that residents rely on, and the support services that enable these to be provided effectively.
Our overall council plan is supported by projects and strategies that set out the council’s focus across key areas of our work.
Local MPs
Portsmouth is served by two members of parliament: Stephen Morgan, Labour (Portsmouth South) and Penny Mordaunt, Conservative (Portsmouth North).
Peer challenge report
In October 2021 Portsmouth City Council welcomed a Peer Challenge team from the Local Government Association (LGA) to look at how we work strategically as an organisation. To have a team of experts look at and assess the way you do things is incredibly useful. The Peer Challenge team found that Portsmouth is a good council, that is performing well and that they found the City Vision to be ambitious, clear and well-articulated.