The council, explained
Portsmouth City Council is a unitary council: it runs almost every local service, from bins to social care. 42 councillors, 3 for each of 14 wards.
Who runs it
Liberal Democrat majority (23 of 42 seats; 22 is a majority).
Seats
Leader: Steve Pitt (Liberal Democrat, Milton). Deputy: Darren Sanders.
By thirds: one councillor per ward is elected in three years out of every four; councillors serve four-year terms. Next election: May 2027, 14 seats, existing ward boundaries.
ModernGov web service: GetCouncillorsByWard · checked 23 September 2026
Decision withdrawn
Local government reorganisation
Was to merge with Gosport, Fareham and Havant
MHCLG · 7 Sept 2026 · programme under government review
Checked 23 September 2026Money and service signals
£22.3m
General fund working balance
Against a minimum of £12m
Portsmouth City Council · 2026/27 forecast
Checked 23 September 2026 · next 28 February 2027~60p in every £1
Share of service budget on adult and children's social care
Children's services and adult social care combined
Portsmouth City Council budget reports · 2025/26 service budgets
Checked 23 September 2026 · next 28 February 2027937 incidents
Recorded fly-tipping incidents
Incidents of fly-tipping in Portsmouth have fallen by 14.2%, while incidents across England have risen by 9.1%.
Defra · 2024/25
Checked 23 September 2026 · next 15 December 202611%
Homes delivered vs required, Housing Delivery Test
Any council below 45% loses the presumption against unwanted development. Portsmouth is at 11%.
MHCLG · Housing Delivery Test, 2025 measurement
Checked 23 September 2026 · next 31 December 202642.9%
New EHC plans issued within 20 weeks
England 45.5% — now almost level
Department for Education · 2025
Checked 23 September 2026 · next 15 June 2027